Straits Golf Course at Whistling Straits

The price may scare some people away, but it is worth it as a bucket list course. Top notch everything. Not a bad hole on the golf course and some excellent views.

Wow, this course was brutal with the wind blowing consistently over 20mph the entire day. The fairways are fair, but if you are having trouble finding the fairway the course shows its teeth. I didn't have my best game and with the wind blowing the course was a brute from the green tees. I made a tee time only 2 days before hand as a single and surprisingly when I showed up in the morning it was just me, sent out as the first group of the day. I basically had the course and caddie to myself, typically a caddie carries two bags, so we managed to play in about 3.25 hrs. This is a bucket list course, but this does not come cheap. The Straits course requires a caddie so expect to spend at least $120 on top of the steep $380 green fee. I would love to play this course again, but I think I would do so as part of a package to try and lower the somewhat exorbitant price.

I can finally cross the Straits Course off my bucket list. It's everything I thought it would be -- incredible views, difficult and very Pete Dye. Was it necessary to put 1,000 bunkers on the golf course, especially since half or more really don't come into play? Probably not, but that's Dye for you. With that said, I found the course to be imminently interesting, even though it is a little over the top. It's certainly an experience I'll never forget. And despite it's intimidating feel, I never lost a ball (the caddies told us that might be the case before the round). I actually found it more playable than two of Dye's other more recent works -- Pound Ridge in NY and his course in French Lick, Indiana. And yes, it's expensive, but this is one of those golfers every avid golfer should get to once in his or her lifetime simply to experience it.

A bit over the top, but a course that any serious golfer has to play. Half of the bunkers never come into play. I expected an unfair, quirky course, but actually, it's fair but difficult. Fairways are much wider than they look from the tee box. Greens are fairly easy to read and extremely consistent. Played front 9 with no wind and shot even par. Lots of wind on back 9 and shot 43...different course in wind. Absolutely beautiful scenery. Great caddies. VERY pricey.

So obviously this is a bucklist with a high price tag and I had high expectations entering the round. The course not only met them all, it exceeded them. Probably got a big break given it was about 72 degrees with minimal wind and sunny. The atmosphere is first class and the sheep roaming the course are a nice touch. Amazing vistas from just about every hole. The pace of play was pretty slow, not due to slow play, but because of course length. There aren't too many better finishing holes than #18 Dyeabolical

The Straits Course is, quite frankly, a tribute to excess: excessive land moved, five-something-thousand bunkers and also (at least for most of us average hacks) excessive balls lost during a round.

While I certainly respect and appreciate what Herb Kohler and Pete Dye have done here, and the views are spectacular, I can't say it's one of my favorite courses in the world. I don't think it feels like "Ireland." It looks like a bomb went off in Ireland. I've never been completely on board with how severely and jaggedly Dye shapes courses and this is a prime example. Maybe one day, should I get down to scratch, I'll appreciate the challenge made here for the Ryder Cups, PGAs,etc. Until then, I'll stick to Blackwolf Run or the Irish Course, both of which I prefer (and both of which are far more affordable).

Play it once to get the point, then head across Lake Michigan and play Arcadia Bluffs for half the cost.