KEY Milwaukee - Golf Guide

golf guide

golf Courses within 30 miles of downtown
Convenient golf in a convenient city

By JERRY SLASKE
KeyMilwaukee.com Golf Editor

IN MANY LARGER cities, traveling 30 miles to a golf course, especially for a tourist or an infrequent visitor, would be prohibitive. But this is Milwaukee, a city that prides itself on ease of getting around.

I’ve listed every golf course that’s within a 30-mile, straight-line distance from downtown Milwaukee. Keep in mind that’s “as the crow flies” so it could be somewhat longer if you have to take car instead of a helicopter, airplane, or yacht (like Tiger Woods). I’ve also taken the liberty of categorizing these public courses based on the quality and playability of the course.

Key:
Best=Interesting layout; good to impeccable conditions; also good pace of play; generally most expensive.

OK= Good test with some challenging holes and generally decent conditions; less expensive than “Best.”

Think twice= Could be a good enough layout with some decent holes, but either conditions or pace of play make the game less than enjoyable. In fact, in some cases, playing could be like having a tooth pulled. Generally least expensive.

North of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Brown Deer (414-352-8080)
Fire Ridge (262-375-2252)
The Bog (800-484-3264)
OK
Hawthorne Hills (262-692-2151)
Mee-Kwon (262-242-1310)
Think twice
The Squires (262-285-3402)

Northwest of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Erin Hills (262-646-3331)
Washington County (262-670-6616)
OK
Blackstone Creek (262-255-4200)
Deertrak (920-474-4444)
Dretzka (414-354-7300)
Fairways of Woodside (262-246-7042)
Hartford (262-673-2710)
Kettle Hills/original 18 (262-628-0200)
Scenic View (262-644-5661)
Silver Spring (262-252-4666)
Wanaki (262-252-3480)
Think twice
Songbird Hills (262-246-7050)

West of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Bristlecone Pines (262-367-7880)
Ironwood (262-538-9900)(original 18)
Nagawaukee (262-367-2153)
The Broadlands (262-392-6320)
OK
Kettle Moraine (262-965-6200)
New Berlin Hills (262-780-5200)
Western Lakes (262-691-0900)
Think twice
Currie (414-453-7030)
Olde Highlander (262-567-6048)
Paganica (262-567-0171)
Willow Run (262-544-8585)

Southwest of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Morningstar (262-662-1600)
Muskego Lakes (414-425-6500)
OK
Edgewood (262-662-3110)
Rainbow Springs (262-363-4550)
Whitnall (414-425-7931)
Think twice
Brown’s Lake (262-763-6065)
Lake Beulah (262-363-8147)

South of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Brightondale (262-878-1440)
OK
Ives Grove (262-878-3714)
Johnson Park (262-637-2840)
Maplecrest (262-859-2887)
Oakwood (414-281-6700)
Petrifying Springs (262-552-9052)
Think twice
South Hills (262-835-4441)

For more information about these or any golf course in Wisconsin, the best Web site without a doubt is www.GolfWisconsin.com.

Because there are so many more excellent courses just a few miles farther out, next month I’ll expand the mileage limit to 50 miles from downtown Milwaukee.