Destination Kohler/The American Club

The Straits Course at Whistling Straits tends to take the spotlight, but the Irish supplies its fair share of challenging, scenic golf with the typical Pete Dye flair. Severe mounding and pot bunkers abound, but if you play the right set of tees and keep the ball in the decently generous fairways, you can get around without too much harm done. Spray the ball, though, and you'll be in for a long round.

Pete Dye has always been one of my favorite modern architects. His daring - and sometimes controversial - features and courses have done much to advance golf course design as an art form over the last half-century-plus. Meadow Valleys is true to its name: the front nine occupies open, rolling grasslands and features big, broad bunkers at every turn. The terrain for the back gets bolder, and the confines narrow up, making for an interesting progressive journey.

Saved this course for last on Dye-abolical package. Wind was up all day to make it tougher but it was not unfair. PLAY AN APPROPRIATE TEE. They tell you this at the beginning, so listen. Just stand on the first 2 teeboxes where the pros hit from and mosey on up to the green or white tees. Scott Flowers was our caddy again and he is a phenomenal green reader and just all around great guy to walk with for 5+ hours. It takes awhile. Enjoy it. Hands down, prettiest course I have ever played. A top 3 for me. Pony up the dough and do it.

Played as part of Dye-abolical package so Value is slightly skewed.

Wonderful layout. Slick greens. Great opportunities for risk/reward. Tough and fun. Definitely the easier of the 2 Blackwolf courses (neither are easy).

Again, played as part of Dye-abolical package.

Greens were very tough but immaculate. Had to be very creative in some spots. The forecaddie was great and had lots of knowledge to help you save strokes. No layups. But lots of fun. :)

Not sure if it is because we played it first as part of our package, or because it was the least wind we had on our trip, but this course was INCREDIBLE. Perfect conditions. The only course that was more breathtaking was Straits. Our caddy, Scott Flowers, was the BEST. Best green reading caddy I have ever played with. In fact we requested to have him when we played Straits (just call Kohler concierge and they set it up). One of my top 3 favorite courses I have ever played.

I have been very fortunate to get up to play at Kohler a couple times and it never disappoints. We played the Irish course which was in very good shape considering the time of year. We had a voucher for a cheaper rate so decided to play the TIPS!!! Yikes was that a tough walk holy buckets. Par 3's and Par 5's weren't to different but most all par 4's were in the 450 to 490 range which is rough. Still alot of fun though. Back nine is so great with the views of Lake Michigan, and you cant beat 2 of the closes par 3's around on the back 9. 11 is a cool little hole with gigantic deep bunkers surrounding it. 13 is cool because you cant see the flag you just have to pick a giant mound and hope you guessed right. All in all this place is amazing and a joy to be at every now and again. Oh and the sheep were out and about which is so cool. Kohler you again have amazed me great work.

This place words can hardly describe. I have played great courses like Bethpage Black and Erin Hills and this place takes the cake. The conditions were top notch the service was amazing and the sites are breath taking. We got in what they call the Kohler fall challenge so you get to play both the Straits and the River in a Best Ball format. Those 7 or so holes that run along Lake an so cool they look like they are floating out there. The other 11 are terrifically designed. There isnt a bad or even average hole on this course. A plus plus in my book. A bucket list course for sure.

This was a bucket list course for my daughter and I and what a great place. All the staff were just awesome. We didn't get a caddy due to our tee time at 3:40 so we carried, what a mistake, wow tough track to walk much less carrying your own bag. Much respect to the caddies here. The course was mind blowing. The landscape was unreal, loved it. Only issue I have is it's a little tough to pick a line your first time around and trust it, insert caddy help here. Regardless it was a great experience one we won't forget.

The River Course at Blackwolf Run. Man, that's a heck of a moniker - and this course lives up to every word. The holes are named: Burial Mounds; Made in Heaven (which is); Cathedral Spires and Unter Der Linden are but a few. Great golf courses have seemingly unforgettable golf holes that indelibly etch themselves into one's mind after they've been played. The River Course legitimately has 5 or 6 such holes. And every aspect of the experience (The American Club or Inn at Woodlake), the food, the staff, the surrounding Kohler/Sheboygan area has a similar effect. While there will always be Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Streamsong and others, a trip to Wisconsin and a sampling of the symphony that is Herb Kohler and Pete Dye's Ode to the Love of Golf should be on your bucket list

Yes its famous, yes its got some truly memorable holes, yes the lake views are special.

But seriously, its $1,000 for a twosome, with caddie and tip.

And IMO links golf in 90 degree direct sun with no trees anywhere is not that appealing.

Caddie (Oscar) was outstanding, though ... definitely assisted our play and made the experience more fun, plus he does an awesome Borat impersonation.

Oh, and btw it is ridiculously hard, especially with 20 MPH wind all day.

Glad I got it off the bucket list, but I think River is the better course.

IMO, links golf that is not on the ocean/lake in the Midwest when its 90 degrees in the summer just isn't that appealing. This course had few really memorable holes ...not at all unique like the lake views at Whistling Straits. Mostly I find it really boring when there are no trees to frame the hole and provide a little shade and contrast.

Oh, yeah, and $200 greens fees plus cart caddies and everything else is a little excessive.

Skip it and play the River course ...that's my advice.

I can't say enough great things about the course! Great practice area, friendly staff and really challenging course. The course was in great shape. Walking the course with your caddy was a lot of fun too! My caddy was Gilberto and he was fantastic. Great personality and really knowledgeable about the course. Jason was the other caddy in our group and was excellent as well. I didn't play well but it was probably the best golf experience of my life.

The river is fantastic. Definitely deserving of one of the top 20 courses in the country. With so many holes cut along the sheboygan river it makes for great sites on 3/4th of the holes. The front side plays a bit tougher as it is a par 37. The back is no slouch, it may be a par 35 but wit par 3 like #10 and # 14 where you have to fly the ball over the river and around trees it is nowhere near easy. The finishing hole is awesome with the giant club house in the back. Had lunch after which was delicious with terrific service. This is a place you must visit.

Prince recently died and one of my favorite Prince's songs is "I would die 4 u." The Straits course is designed by world famous Pete Dye and I'd die here while I watch my T-shot going straight into the hole in par 3s. Then, I hope that my golf buddies bury my body under one of 1,1000 bunkers.

Yes, the course is so beautiful and the scenery along Michigan lake is surreal as if I'm walking on another planet. Caddies in white uniform sing "fore" like angels and the wind whistles in harmony. This course is a grave yard for your precious balls yet a perfect place to bury your favorite golf memories.

With no disrespect to the Straits, the River is the best course at the American Club. The reason I say this is because it is a much more playable and fair course. And while the Sheboygan River is no Lake Michigan, it still offers scenic views throughout the course, especially on the tee box of Hole 5, arguably Kohler's signature hole. The first two holes (opening par 5 and a short par 4) allow you to get off to a good start, but then the challenge begins. Other great holes include Holes 4 (beautiful par 3), 8 (reachable par 5), 9 (par 4 with plenty of options), 11 (long par 5 along the river), 13 (long, difficult par 3 on the river), and 14 (short par 4). And the closing three hole stretch of Holes 16 (long double dogleg downhill par 5 with the green perched on the river), 17 (tough par 3), and 18 (long dogleg left par 4) are among the best in golf. If you find yourself in the Sheboygan area on a golf trip, do not forget to play this outstanding course.

So, this is an expensive course -- $390 rack rate w/ about $120 total for caddie. But it is the site of PGA Championships and the 2020 Ryder Cup. So...Bucket List. It's wild and jagged, and is admittedly contrived to look like a dunesy links. But it is FUN. If the wind is not blowing too hard, it's a perfectly fair course that is relatively straightforward to play if you're not too wild off the tee. Get the ball in play, and enjoy the scenery. I played the entire round with one ball -- caddie only saved the day once. Nearly all but the greenside bunkers are eye candy, designed to freak you out and play with depth perception. 18 is the hardest hole on the course, and for purists, it'll be a bit of a "clown's nose" sort of hole, but hit a career approach, andy you will never forget it!

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.

The first few holes don't feel too "Irish,", but after the 5th hole or so, the course really comes into its own. Starting on the back nine, you're treated with expansive views of Lake Michigan and The Straits Course. The 12th tee is the best spot. for a picture. The 10th hole is classic Dye -- lots of visual intimidation and tricks. Only problem is that even though you can ride in a cart (very comfy carts, btw), it's cartpath only, so you end up walking almost as much as if you just walked the whole way. Really can slow play if the course is busy.

To my mind - -and my game -- this is the toughest of the 4 courses at The American Club. Brilliant routing through the woods and down into and back out of the river valley. Lots of options off the tee on many holes, including the option of losing your ball in the river, the woods, the rough, etc. Love the 8th, 9th, and 10th holes, as long as you pick the right tees. The 13th--long par 3 over the river and with tall trees between tee and green--is one of the toughest 1-shotters you'll ever play.