KEY Milwaukee - Golf Guide

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GREAT COURSES, GREAT RATES
Spring golf bargains abound

WISCONSIN RANKS among the most popular and challenging places to play golf, but it doesn’t have a reputation for a long season.

This year may be a different story.

Mild spring weather allowed many Milwaukee County courses and other daily-fee courses to open in late March, giving golfers additional days to seek birdies and eagles at significantly reduced early-season rates.

For example, at Milwaukee County’s Brown Deer Golf Course, where the pros have played for many years, the early-season rate is only $17.75 for nine holes, $29.50 for 18.

Another limited-time offer beginning April 5 at Brown Deer for Milwaukee County discount cardholders buys 18 holes, a cart and a $10 food voucher for $49 (non-cardholders $54).

In addition to Brown Deer, known as a premium course for golfers with low handicaps, Milwaukee County operates three gold courses for low-handicap golfers, four for those with middle-handicaps, two for high-handicappers and five that are ideal for beginners.

The Milwaukee County Discount Card is available for $22 for residents and includes discounts at all courses. For non-residents, the rate for a card for all courses except Brown Deer is $45. The non-resident card with Brown Deer included is $137.

For complete details on Milwaukee County courses, discounts and special programs, visit www.countyparks.com and click on golf or call 414-475-6222.

Jerry Slaske, KeyMilwaukee.com golf editor, surveyed other daily-fee courses and came up with numerous money-saving spring rates. All courses except one are within a 90-minute drive from downtown Milwaukee. Here are his recommendations for the best spots to economically get the season off to a swinging start:

The Bog, Saukville
(262)-284-7075; www.golfthebog.com
Arnold Palmer Signature Course; highest rated Milwaukee-area course
(2004-09) by The Business Journal.
April: $65 (all tee times)

Broadlands, North Prairie
(262) 392-6320; www.broadlandsgolfcourse.com
Golf Digest gave this links-style course four and a half stars in 2008-09; plenty of water and sand and excellent conditions make this a challenging and fun place to play.
Through April 9: $41.50 (18 w/cart), $29.50 (18 walking)

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls
(800)-5-THEBULL; www.golfthebull.com
Only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Wisconsin; site of the 2010 State
Amateur. Play The Bull on your way to the PGA Championship this August.
April: $55, anytime w/GPS cart and range balls

Fairways of Woodside, Sussex
(262) 246-7042; www.fairwaysofwoodside.com
Bent grass tees, fairways, and greens; don’t let the shortish front nine lull you into complacency because the back nine is as difficult a nine as you’ll find anywhere.
Spring: $30 Mon-Fri. (18 walking), $40 (18 w/cart);
$20 (twilight walking), $25 (twilight w/cart);
$35 Sat. & Sun. (18 walking), $45 (18 w/cart).

Fire Ridge, Grafton
(262) 375-2252; www.fireridgegc.com
4-star rating by Golf Digest; country club conditions and service.
Before June 1: $49 (18 w/cart)

Geneva National, Lake Geneva
262-245-7000 www.genevanationalresort.com

Three courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. Take your pick. All rates with cart.
Through April 29: $55 Mon.-Thurs. before 1 p.m.; $45 from 1-3 p.m.; $30 after 3 p.m.; $89 unlimited golf.

$60 Fri-Sun before 1 p.m.; $50 Fri. & Sat. 1-3 p.m.; $45 Sun. 1-3 p.m.; $30 Fri.-Sun after 3 p.m., $99, unlimited golf.

Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva
1-800-558-3417 (ext. 5456); www.grandgeneva.com
The Brute is just that. At over 7,000 yards, it has almost 70 bunkers and rolling greens, averaging more than 8,000 square feet. The Highlands is a Scottish-style course originally designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus, redone by Bob Cupp (1996) and updated by Bob Lohmann (2006). All rates 18 holes with GPS cart and range balls.

Until May 1:
The Brute - $69, $35 replay; $59 (2-4 p.m.); $45 (4 p.m.-close).
The Highlands: $49, $25 replay; $45 (4 p.m.-close)

May 2-May 32:
The Brute - $99, $35 replay; $79 (2-4 p.m.); $55 (4-close).
The Highlands - $79, $25 replay; $69 (2-4 p.m.); $45 (4-close).

Hawks View, Lake Geneva
877-429-5788; www.hawksviewgolfclub.com
When it opened in 2001, it was rated in the top 25 new courses by Golf Magazine; tremendous challenge, dramatic elevation changes and immaculate conditions. All rates with cart.
Before May 5: $35 Mon.-Thurs. before 10 a.m. and after 1 p.m., $45 regular; $45 Fri.-Sun. before 10 and after 1, $55 regular.

May 7-May 27: $50 Mon.-Thurs. before 8 a.m. and after noon, $60 regular; $60 Fri.-Sun before 8 a.m. and after noon, $70 regular.

Ironwood, Sussex
(262) 538-9900; www.ironwoodgolfcourse.com
Three distinct nines provide challenges for everyone. Not just a grip-it-
and-rip-it course, you must think your way around.
April: $28 Mon-Fri. (18 walking);
$35 Sat. & Sun. (18 walking). Cart $10.

The Courses of Kohler
1-800-344-2838; www.destinationkohler.com
Site of 1998 U.S. Women’s Open, World Championship of Golf, 2004 PGA Championship, 2007 U.S. Senior Men’s Open, 2010 PGA Championship, 2012 U.S. Women’s Open, 2015 PGA Championship and 2020 Ryder Cup.

Through May 6: $107 Irish Course at Whistling Straits; $144 original championship course at Blackwolf Run.

Morningstar, Waukesha
(262) 662-1600; www.golfthestar.com
Carved out of a quarry; magnificent vistas and conditions.
April: $49 Mon.-Thurs. (18 w/cart & range balls); $59 Fri.-Sun. (18 w/cart & range balls); $34 Mon.-Fri. before 10 a.m. (18 w/cart & range balls).

Nagawaukee, Delafield
(262) 367-2153
Wooded, hilly, huge undulating greens; Lawrence Packard design.
Through May 2: $23 Waukesha County resident (18), $13.75 (9); $28 non-resident (18), $16.50 (9); $16.75 Junior/senior (18), $11 (9); $20.50 Early Bird before 8 a.m. (18), $13.25 (9). Cart $14 (18), $7.25 (9).

SentryWorld, Stevens Point
715-345-1600; www.sentryworld.com
Robert Trent Jones Jr. design; consistently one of the state’s top-rated courses, well worth the drive. All rates with cart. Call for stay & play rates.

Through May 9: $55 Mon.-Thurs., $65 Fri.-Sun, $47 early bird, senior and twilight.

May 10-June 6: $65 Mon.-Thurs., $75 Fri.-Sun and $52 early bird, senior or twilight.

Washington County, Hartford
(262) 670-6616; www.golfwcgc.com
Bent grass all the way, links style, Arthur Hills design in the middle of Wisconsin’s picturesque Kettle Moraine area.
Opening day through May 9: $38, $31 senior Mon.-Fri. before
11 a.m. (w/cart); $31/$22 senior Mon-Fri (anytime walking); $50 Sat. & Sun. resident (18 w/cart), $37 Sat. & Sun. resident (18 walking); $55 Sat. & Sun non-resident (18 w/cart), $42 Sat. & Sun non-resident (18 walking).

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