Wisconsin is an extremely cool state and if you have never stepped foot in “Americas Dairyland” it’s hard to explain the shear beauty of it. What makes Wisconsin even cooler is the fact that it has over five-hundred golf courses, fifty-five of which are private.

Occupying the shores of not one but two Great Lakes, Wisconsin boasts stunning coastlines, rolling hills, and an immense amount of greenery. All of these characteristics seem to be the perfect ingredients for creating world-class golf courses.

Golf has a rich history here dating back to 1885 when the state’s first private golf club was founded. Even through the Great Depression when many golf courses around the United States were forced to close they still remained open and popular in the city of Milwaukee. There was even a high demand for golf courses after World War II resulting in many private and public courses being established in Milwaukee and its four surrounding counties.

Since then the sport has remained extremely popular and there has been over five-hundred golf courses built throughout the state. Impressively, today Wisconsin is host to over forty professional PGA events every year. This is obviously a testament to the quality of the golf courses here.

We have gone ahead and rounded up ten of the best private golf courses in Wisconsin but unless you’re a member it’s going to be a challenge to secure a tee time at any of these clubs, but not impossible. Having a friend who is a member and willing to invite you out for a round at one of these prestigious golf clubs is your best chance.

If you can’t secure yourself an invite to one of these private golf courses you should know you won’t be missing out on too much as there is an abundance of extremely good public golf courses available in Wisconsin just begging to be played.

Best Private Golf Courses In Wisconsin

Milwaukee Country Club

Milwaukee Country Club is one of the oldest in the state opening in 1929. It was originally designed by golf course architects H.S. Colt and C.H. Alison with some small revisions made by Robert Trent in 1969 and more recently by Tom Doak.

Holes 8 through 15 play down to and along the Milwaukee River offering moody but scenic views. This challenging layout consisting of clusters of bunkers and deep green-side bunkers poses a challenge for most golfers. Although all 18-holes are notable on this golf course, the par three 12th is the standout as it hurdles over the Milwaukee River to a green that is sloped generously from front to back. Getting a ball to stop and not spin backwards on this green can be a challenge.

Between the overall classic layout and timeless clubhouse Milwaukee Country Club will make guests feel like they have literally stepped back in time.

Pine Hills Country Club

Pine Hills Country Club opened in 1929 and was designed by a virtually unknown architect named Harry Smead. Apparently Smead was in the grass seed business out of Chicago and was hired to route the golf course through the land surrounding the Pigeon River and construct the greens. The finish work however was done by committees of the club.

Pine Hills is known for its shear beauty, manicured grounds, rolling hills, and its fast undulating greens. With 5 par 3 holes, small greens, and narrow fairways, this layout is both challenging and fun.

Blue Mound Golf And Country Club

Blue Mound Golf and Country Club was designed by architect Seth Raynor. This historic 18-hole golf course originally opened in 1926 and is considered one of the most prestigious in Wisconsin. It was also the first in the state to host a golf major which was the 1933 PGA Championship.

Unfortunately, the golf course was neglected for many years but thankfully in the late 80’s and early 90’s Bruce Hepner from Renaissance Design was hired as the golf course architect to complete restoration work. Hepner’s work is what brought Blue Mound back to its former glory that we see today.

The layout of the golf course is considered simple but it is a joy to play for any golfer.

Kenosha Country Club

Kenosha Country Club’s 18-hole championship golf course was established back in 1922 and was designed by architect Donald Ross. This beautiful golf course consists of rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, wooded areas, and the charming Pike River which meanders its way through the property.

Although the layout can be testing with various elevation changes, and undulating greens it is still playable and enjoyable for all skill levels.

If you ever get a chance to play here you will surely be impressed with what is on offer.

West Bend Country Club

West Bend Country Club opened as a 9-hole course in 1930 at the hands of golf architects Langford & Moreau, but it wasn’t until 30 years later that a second 9-holes were added by architect David Gill. Gill was tasked with matching the back nine’s style and layout with that of the new front 9 however, there were noticeable differences in his work, specially in the greens.

Fast forward to 2008 and architect Kyle Goalby was hired to restore the course to what it would have looked like eighty years ago. This restoration work included the reconstruction of bunkers and removal of certain trees. Holes 16 through 18 are still yet to be restored but it is only a matter time.

This is a challenging golf course that has beautiful tree-lined fairways, lots of elevation changes, and fast greens. A beautiful display of Wisconsin golf by all means.

Green Bay Country Club

Green Bay Country Club overlooks the city of Green Bay and offers an 18-hole championship golf course. Designed by architect Dick Nugent in 1995, the golf course was crafted out of dramatic rolling farmland with tall trees, wooded areas, and a meandering creek. It is truly one of the prettiest in Wisconsin.

There are substantial elevation changes, strategically placed bunkers, and several doglegs that pose a fun challenge for any player. Straight out of the gate hole number 1 will put golfers to the test with an elevated tee box that requires players to land their tee shot on a narrow fairway between two ponds. Then a second shot will need to carry over a creek to the green, a tough first hole is an understatement.

Golfers will have to carry over water on 14 of the 18 holes and the shortest on the course the 8th has a creek routed well below the green both in front and behind the putting surface.

By all means this is a challenging golf course but that is what golf is all about.

North Hills Country Club

North Hills Country Club was established in 1929 and offers 18 impeccably maintained holes that will challenge any golfer.

The layout encompasses hundreds of beautiful old trees, lush flower beds around tee boxes, and a meandering creek that comes into play on several holes. The elevated tees and greens, along with various doglegs add an extra element of difficulty to this course.

Placement shots are a must to ensure shooting a low score here at North Hills Country Club.

Nakoma Golf Club

Nakoma Golf Club opened back in 1925 and provides golfers with a parkland-style course that was designed by golf architect Tom Bendelow.

There are several doglegs and greenside bunkers that make for some challenging shots as well as several narrow tree-lined fairways that can be problematic if a wayward shot is hit off the tee.

Overall, it’s a very playable golf course that is meticulously maintained and is suited to any level of golfer.

Horseshoe Bay Golf Club

Horseshoe Bay Golf Club is located on the scenic and beautiful Door County Peninsula. Designed by architect Rick Robbins the 18-hole golf course offers views of Green Bay, beautiful tree-lined fairways, rolling terrain, and undulating greens that will test any golfers putting game. The wide fairways do make this course playable for all levels of golfers.

If you ever get a chance to play here make sure you take the opportunity as you will not be disappointed.

Strawberry Creek Golf Course

Strawberry Creek Golf Course occupies a piece of property that was once a strawberry farm, hence the name Strawberry Creek. Opening in 2006, the golf course was originally public however that changed four years later in 2010 when it became a members only private club.

This beautiful links-style layout was designed by award-winning golf course architect Rick Jacobson and features squared off tee boxes, rolling hills, tiered greens, native prairie grasses, and thick lush rough.

Strawberry Creek is very playable and well maintained golf course.

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