Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin: Top Public Courses to Play

Q: What is the best golf course in Wisconsin?

For an iconic public-access round, Whistling Straits’ Straits Course is the most straightforward answer; Golfweek places it first on its Wisconsin list. The best course for you , though, may be Mammoth Dunes for a group trip, Lawsonia Links for classic design, or Erin Hills for a championship walking test. 1768

Q: Where can I play classic golf architecture in Wisconsin?

Lawsonia Links is an excellent starting point. Its 1930s Langford-and-Moreau design and boldly raised greens make it different from the state’s newer destination courses. 1767

The Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin provide a range of experiences that are quite distinct from one another. You can play next to Lake Michigan at Whistling Straits, experience the wide-open space at Erin Hills, the sandy layout at Sand Valley, or challenge your approach shots at Lawsonia Links. 1764

There are three main considerations that will help most visitors decide which course is best for them: What is your budget? Are you looking for a destination golf vacation or a single round? And what level of difficulty do you like? In this review we concentrate on the best Golf courses in Wisconsin that you can play during your vacation, highlighting one major access issue at The Lido.

Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin at a Glance

Course	Location	Best for
Whistling Straits: Straits	Sheboygan area	A championship round beside Lake Michigan
Sand Valley	Nekoosa	Wide fairways and creative, ground-level golf
Mammoth Dunes	Nekoosa	Big views and an inviting resort round
The Lido	Nekoosa	Architecture enthusiasts who can secure access
Sedge Valley	Nekoosa	A shorter but strategically demanding round
Erin Hills	Erin	A walking-only championship experience
Lawsonia Links	Green Lake	Classic design and memorable raised greens
Blackwolf Run: River	Kohler	Demanding inland golf
Whistling Straits: Irish	Sheboygan area	A Straits-inspired setting away from the lakeshore
SentryWorld	Stevens Point	A polished, fully inclusive golf day
University Ridge	Madison area	A strong public-course choice near Madison
Wild Rock	Wisconsin Dells	Scenic golf alongside a Dells getaway

This is a list of courses that you should consider rather than a ranking system. The Wisconsin public-access course ranking list from Golfweek includes Whistling Straits’ Straits Course as number one along with the other courses on the list. 1768

3. Whistling Straits: Straits Course

When you only have one round in Wisconsin, the Straits Course should be your first choice. Because of the exposed site by Lake Michigan, wind, bunkering and shotmaking will be the key aspects to the round. This is a special experience before you even set foot on the first tee.

The Straits is considered Wisconsin’s best public-access course according to Golfweek’s published list. This is not, however, just a regular round; make sure you know the current booking conditions and costs involved. 1768

Best for: Golfers looking for the top Wisconsin championship experience.

2. Sand Valley

Another type of drama is offered by Sand Valley: the sandy terrain, the vistas and the choice of landing spots. What seems like generous playing corridors is sometimes a very tight approach to a green.

Sand Valley is a great choice for a group, since golfers of various skill levels can enjoy the landscape and challenges. While The Lido offers both resort and championship courses, Sand Valley’s main resort courses can be booked for tee times exclusively for golfers. 1768

Best for: Resort round where imagination is as important as power.

3. Mammoth Dunes

The sheer size of the Mammoth Dunes creates the right first impression. Open fairways and terrain give the golfer plenty of choice options, while the terrain around the green keeps the game interesting.

If you are interested in having a world-class Wisconsin course experience without being nervous about each tee shot, put Mammoth Dunes at the top of the list. Mammoth Dunes goes well together with Sand Valley, making a two-round Nekoosa visit. Golfweek ranks both of these courses equally as Wisconsin’s top public-access courses. 1768

Best for: Impressive landscapes, shot-making options and a great group round.

4. The Lido

One of the most interesting Wisconsin courses for architecture and strategy lovers is the Lido. Inspired by the famous Lido course from Long Island, this course asks players to use their imagination and think ahead of each shot, choosing angles and hazards wisely. 1786

Make sure you arrange the access first. The Lido is a private club offering limited tee times for Sand Valley resort guests on Sunday through Thursday. Be sure not to book it as a regular public round or add to your existing plan. 1782

Best for: Architecture travelers ready to plan their trip according to the schedule.

5. Sedge Valley

Sedge Valley proves that a round doesn’t have to be long to keep you engaged. The Sedge Valley round puts an added focus on placing and decision-making compared to hitting it as far as possible.

It is particularly good if you are looking for variety in your multi-day trip – while Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes offer one level of challenges, Sedge Valley poses other questions to your game. Golfweek ranks the Sedge Valley course as one of Wisconsin’s top public access courses. 1768

Best for: Golfers who appreciate strategic game and want to contrast Sand Valley with it.

6. Erin Hills

There is something grand about Erin Hills. Playing in the expansive landscape means making proper choices in club and judging wind correctly. The championship status of the course makes it desirable to play there. Erin Hills was a host of the 2017 U.S. Open. 1764

The course is walkable only under regular conditions; it is highly recommended to use professional caddies provided by the club. Pull-carts and other caddies are forbidden. When planning a round here, pay attention to both the green fee and the cost of caddies. 1780

Best for: Golfers who want a tough, old-school, walkable experience.

7. The Golf Courses of Lawsonia: Links

Links at Lawsonia demonstrates that Wisconsin’s best golf courses are not limited to luxury resorts. The course features elevated greens protected by bunkers that make reaching them challenging and then require the player to choose the correct part of the green for putting.

Designed in 1930s by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, the Links course is a great choice for an excursion focused on golfing architecture of Wisconsin beyond prestige golf destinations. 1767

Best for: Classic course lovers and players who want demanding approach shots.

8. Blackwolf Run: River Course

Unlike the Whistling Straits in the nearby area, the River Course at Blackwolf Run does not have lakeside views and offers an enclosed, inland experience. Water, woods, and undulations of the terrain give the course its special character.

This makes it a natural companion for the Whistling Straits course. Golfweek ranks the River Course as one of the top public access courses in Wisconsin. 1768

Best for: An inland round complementing the Straits.

9. Whistling Straits: Irish Course

The Irish Course at Whistling Straits shares the name and character of the Whistling Straits but does not lie along Lake Michigan as the other course does. The difference is important when deciding which course to play, and one can choose the Straits for its waterfront and the Irish for a good Whistling Straits experience away from the shoreline. 1766

Best for: Players looking for an additional round at Whistling Straits.

10. SentryWorld

SentryWorld in Stevens Point is perfect if you appreciate thoughtfully arranged golf day. The most known element of the course is its flower-lined par-3 16th, but the attraction of the course is the entire experience rather than a single hole.

It should be remembered that its cost includes everything in the package; therefore, do not compare its price with the green fee in other golf courses. As of 2026 season, the SentryWorld charged $375 for a day guest and accepted the bookings 90 days ahead of time. 1784

Best for: A high-class destination round with a good day guest offer.

11. University Ridge

For those choosing not to stay at a resort but wanting to play on an outstanding public course in the Madison area, University Ridge is the choice.

The unique terrain of this course allows for a golf experience that differs from the sand and water of other destinations throughout Wisconsin.

Golfweek has listed this course in their Wisconsin public-access listings. Therefore, this golf experience can be a top pick for visiting Madison or for playing while traveling through Wisconsin. 1768

Best for: A great round of golf in Madison.

12. Wild Rock

This course will provide a golfer with the reason to stop for a round while on a Wisconsin Dells vacation. This course offers an excellent golf experience for those traveling to an area more well-known for its amusement parks and activities.

This course makes it onto Golfweek’s Wisconsin public-access list and is a good choice for your group if you are looking to do something else besides just playing golf. 1768

Best for: Combining a round of golf and a vacation in Wisconsin Dells.

Choose the Right Course

Considering all the great choices available, it pays to go for planning trips based on type, not attempting to visit all the renowned sites.

If you want…	Start with…	Keep in mind…
One iconic Wisconsin round	Whistling Straits: Straits	Expect a premium destination experience
A multi-course resort trip	Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, Sedge Valley	Arrange lodging and tee times early
The Lido specifically	The Lido	Limited access is tied to a Sand Valley resort stay
A championship walking test	Erin Hills	Check walking and caddie policies
Classic architecture	Lawsonia Links	Give its raised greens your full attention
A Kohler-area golf itinerary	Straits, Irish, Blackwolf Run: River	The courses offer distinctly different settings
Golf near a city break	University Ridge or Wild Rock	Choose Madison or the Wisconsin Dells to suit the rest of your trip

The state is also home to excellent courses which have not been mentioned on this list, among which are the Meadow Valleys and The Bull from Blackwolf Run, as well as Pinehurst Farms. The state of Wisconsin will offer you an alternative even if the one you planned is not accessible. 1764

Preparing for Your Golfing Vacation to Wisconsin

Make sure you book the hardest round first. If you have chosen The Lido to play, make sure you arrange your accommodation and tee time before making a schedule. When choosing other great courses, double-check when it is possible to book rather than relying on the idea that lodging includes golf. 1782

Calculate the total cost of playing a round. Green fees may sometimes be misleading. Ask if there are any additional costs involved, such as caddies, gratuities, golf club rentals, etc. Erin Hills discloses the price of caddies and gratuities; however, SentryWorld specifies its day-guest fee as all-inclusive. 1780

Select the right tees based on enjoyment. It is worth remembering that the best courses of Wisconsin will be hard to play from any set of tees that will seem reasonable. Playing the right yardage will allow you to enjoy the course rather than surviving it.

Consider the travel time between destinations. In Wisconsin, the best courses are scattered all over the state. It would be better to focus on Nekoosa or the area of Kohler.

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin

What is the best golf course in Wisconsin?

For an iconic public-access round, Whistling Straits’ Straits Course is the most straightforward answer; Golfweek places it first on its Wisconsin list. The best course for you, though, may be Mammoth Dunes for a group trip, Lawsonia Links for classic design, or Erin Hills for a championship walking test. 1768

Can the public play Wisconsin’s top golf courses?

Many of the courses in this guide offer public or resort-guest play, but access rules differ. The major exception to check carefully is The Lido, which offers only limited tee times to Sand Valley resort guests from Sunday through Thursday. 1782

Is Erin Hills walking only?

Yes, under its normal guest policy. Erin Hills describes itself as walking only and highly recommends its professional caddies. It does not allow outside caddies or pull-carts. 1781

What are the best golf courses near Kohler?

Start with Whistling Straits’ Straits and Irish courses, plus Blackwolf Run’s River and Meadow Valleys courses. They make it possible to build a varied golf trip around one area. 1768

Is Sand Valley worth visiting for more than one round?

Yes, if you enjoy playing courses with different styles. Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, and Sedge Valley each offer a distinct experience, while The Lido is an additional possibility for eligible resort guests who secure a tee time. 1768

Where can I play classic golf architecture in Wisconsin?

Lawsonia Links is an excellent starting point. Its 1930s Langford-and-Moreau design and boldly raised greens make it different from the state’s newer destination courses. 1767

Final Verdict

For a first Wisconsin golf trip, choose Whistling Straits if you want the state’s signature championship setting, Sand Valley if you want several distinctive rounds in one destination, or Lawsonia Links if classic design is your priority. Erin Hills belongs on the shortlist for golfers who relish a serious walking test. 1768

The best itinerary is not necessarily the one with the most famous names. Pick courses that fit your budget, access needs, and playing style, and you will get a better sense of just how varied Wisconsin golf can be.