Oct 21

Oct 21 Iconic Golf Tracks - Whistling Straits Golf Course

Whistling Straits Golf Course

Open, rugged and windswept terrain defines The Straits, sculpted along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Whistling Straits is arguably the greatest championship course in the United States.

Whistling Straits offers two courses of dynamic contrast and world-class prestige.

The Straits at Whistling Straits has hosted the 2004, 2010 and 2015 PGA Championships and the 2007 U.S. Senior Open, and it is the future site of the 2021 Ryder Cup.

The course setup at Whistling Straits

There are actually two eighteen hole courses at Whistling Straits, one known simply as The Straits, and the other called The Irish. Sparse, weatherworn terrain defines the walking-only, links-style Straits Course sculpted along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. A masterpiece in the world of golf created by Pete Dye, The Straits at Whistling Straits was ranked #3 in Golf Digest’s 2019/2020 America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses, #5 in GolfWeek’s 2018 Best Resort Courses, and #21 in Golf Digest’s 2019/2020 America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.

Borrowing influences from Irish links courses, The Straits has fescue fairways and massive sand dune bunkers. Just inland, interspersed by four meandering streams, the grassland and dunes aspect of ‘The Irish’ Course is a deceiving tranquil landscape. Experience these two must-play courses crafted by hall-of-fame designer Pete Dye and ranked among the best in the United States.

Check out some beautiful drone scenic footage of Whistling Straits golf course, site of the 2015 PGA Championship.

The Irish at Whistling Straits was ranked #39 in GolfWeek’s 2018 Best Resort Courses and #43 in Golf Digest’s 2019/2020 America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses. With two full golf courses instead of one, your golf vacation will be twice as fun and memorable! Every hole has its own distinct view, especially with Lake Michigan just a few feet away.

Therefore there are no overly special holes at Whistling Straits, but instead two special courses full of fescue, and sand dunes providing an extreme challenge for all golfers.

Historic Golf Tournaments at Whistling Straits

The 2015 PGA Championship was the 97th PGA Championship, held August 13–16 on the Straits Course of Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Highlights from the 2015 PGA Championship.

It was the third PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, which was previously hosted in 2004 and 2010, as well as the United States Senior Open in 2007, all held on the Straits Course. Jason Day won his first major championship title with a total score of 268 (−20), at the time the lowest score in relation to par ever recorded in a major (a mark since equalled by Henrik Stenson during his win at the 2016 Open Championship). Jordan Spieth, attempting to win his third major of the year, finished in second place three strokes behind. The second-place finish allowed Spieth to surpass Rory McIlroy as number one in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Day was the fifth Australian to win the PGA Championship, the first in twenty years.

The 2021 Ryder Cup

The 43rd Ryder Cup Matches will be held in the United States from September 24 to 26, 2021, on the Straits course at Whistling Straits. Team Europe is the reigning cup holder after its 17½–10½ victory over Team USA in 2018 at Le Golf National.

Due to several tournaments, including a number of majors, shifting their schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic (including one major being cancelled and one being moved to November), the Ryder Cup was originally scheduled to take place only five days after the final round of the rescheduled U.S. Open, from September 25 to 27, 2020.

Whistling Straits - A Summary

The Whistling Straits Golf Course is one of the best courses within the United States of America. Especially since there are two courses available to be played which allow for double the fun.

Additionally, it is the best representation in America of a traditional links course that is typically found in Europe, specifically Great Britain. There is also rich history attached to this course as it was the host of numerous tournaments as well as future tournaments to come. With a never-ending history, and picturesque views Whistling Straits Golf Course is one of the best golf courses within the United States of America.

‘The Straits’ Yardage Chart