How to Play Whistling Straits (Straits Course): Bunkers, Bluffs and Lake Michigan

Standing on the tee at Whistling Straits, you'd swear you were in Ireland. Rugged dunes, fescue grasses, more bunkers than you could count in a lifetime and a flock of Scottish Blackface sheep wandering the property all add to the illusion. In truth, you're on the shore of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, on land that Pete and Alice Dye transformed from flat terrain into one of the most dramatic courses in America. The Straits Course opened in 1998, built for Herb Kohler, and it has since hosted three PGA Championships, a U.S. Senior Open and the 2021 Ryder Cup.

The course runs along roughly two miles of shoreline, with eight holes hugging the lake. It's long, windy and visually intimidating, but there's more room out there than it appears. If you love big, bold, links-style golf with spectacular views, Whistling Straits is a bucket-list must. Everyday golfers who choose the right tees and keep their expectations in check will have a terrific time.

Before you go

• Book with a stay. Advance tee times are tied to staying at a Destination Kohler property. Booking the room and round together is the surest way in, especially in peak season.
• It's walking only. No carts are allowed on the Straits Course. A caddie is highly recommended, both for carrying the bag over the hilly terrain and for help navigating the bunkers and blind shots.
• Budget for the full experience. Peak-season green fees are well into the hundreds of dollars before the caddie fee and gratuity. Shoulder-season rates are lower, but the weather can be less predictable.
• Choose your tees carefully. From the back, the course stretches to nearly 7,800 yards. Most mid-handicappers will be happiest on a set that's well under 6,500 yards.
• Prepare for wind and changing weather. The lake breeze can be strong and can shift during your round. Peak season runs roughly from June to early October, but bring layers in any month.

Hole-by-hole strategy

Holes 1–3: Toward the lake

The 1st, called Outward Bound, is a gentle dogleg left and a short par 4 by championship standards. Don't feel compelled to hit driver; a fairway-finding club leaves a short approach. The 2nd, Cross Country, is a par 5 with a pot bunker sitting short of the green. Plan your layup so you're well clear of it. The 3rd, O'Man, is the first par 3 along the water, with one of the largest and most undulating greens on the course. Pay attention to where the pin is and try to get your ball on the right tier; a three-putt is a real danger here.

Holes 4–6: The first real test

The 4th, Glory, is listed as the hardest par 4 on the course. Find the fairway, then aim for the center of the green and take your bogey if necessary. The 5th, Snake, is a winding par 5 that demands accuracy from tee to green. Treat it as three controlled shots rather than two big ones. The 6th, Gremlin's Ear, is the shortest par 4, with a deep sod-wall bunker and a green split into sections. Laying back off the tee to a comfortable wedge distance is the smart play; make sure your approach finds the same section of the green as the flag.

Holes 7–9: Along the shoreline

The 7th, Shipwreck, is a long par 3 carved into the lakefront, with Lake Michigan running along the right side. For most players, aim left of the flag, where there's more room, and accept a longer putt. The 8th, On the Rocks, is a strong par 4 surrounded by an army of bunkers; the hole's own description notes over 100 of them. Stick to the fairway and aim for the middle of the green. The 9th, Down and Dirty, finishes with a small green that funnels toward the clubhouse area. Distance control is the priority.

Holes 10–16: The back nine

The back nine continues the pattern of lakeside drama and inland holes framed by dunes and bunkers. The 12th is a short par 3 with one of the wildest greens on the course, full of tiers and contours. Aim for the largest, flattest part of the green rather than the flag. On the par 5s, think about where you want to hit your third shot from and plan backward. Many bunkers on the Straits are scattered through the native areas and dunes, and plenty of them are more cosmetic than threatening, but the ones in and near the fairways are real. Your caddie will tell you which ones matter.

Hole 17: The toughest shot

The 17th is a long par 3 along the lake, often called the toughest single shot on the course. The lake and a steep drop sit to the left, and bunkers guard the green. For most mid-handicappers, the right play is to aim at the right side of the green, or even short and right, and rely on a chip and a putt for your par or bogey. Missing left is the one shot you must avoid.

Hole 18: Dyeabolical

The 18th, Dyeabolical, is a long, demanding finishing hole with a creek crossing in front of the green and a large, heavily contoured putting surface. Hit your best drive into the fairway, then decide: if you can't comfortably carry the creek, lay up to a full-wedge distance. Aim for the center of the green and take two putts. Walking off with a bogey on this hole is a respectable finish to a big day.

Scoring tips for mid-handicappers

• Don't panic about the bunkers. With more than a thousand bunkers on the property, you'll see sand everywhere, but many are out of play. Focus on the ones in your landing zones.
• Trust your caddie's lines. Dye loved to create visual intimidation. Your caddie will show you how much room you actually have.
• Take extra club into the wind. Lake Michigan breezes can be strong. Club up and swing smoothly to keep the ball under control.
• Use the lake as a guide, not a target. On the shoreline holes, aim away from the water and accept slightly longer putts.
• Lag putt carefully. The greens are large and contoured. Speed control is more important than line on long putts.
• Pace yourself on the walk. The course is hilly and long. Stay hydrated and keep your energy up for the closing holes.

Whistling Straits is big, bold and unforgettable. Choose sensible tees, take a caddie and play to the safe side of the lake, and you'll come away with a great round and a memory of one of America's most spectacular courses.