Courtesy of the club
The Golf Courses of Lawsonia: Links
Green Lake, WI•Public
Awards
Panelists Score
The Golf Courses of Lawsonia: Links
W2615 S Valley View Dr
Green Lake, WI 54941
United States
Telephone
Overview
A darling of the architecture cognoscenti, Lawsonia Links, designed and built in the 1930s by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, circles through grassy meadows and past an occasional stand of oaks. It’s a purposefully modest and functional design that invites players to rip driver, then buckle down for precise shots into large platform greens perched above deep trench bunkers dug out with pre-modern steam shovels. The par-3 seventh has another explanation entirely. Its green, perched like a birthday cake, was formed by piling dirt over an old railroad boxcar.
About
Golf Digest Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 Greatest / Best In State Scores
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Shot Options Excellent shot options throughout the round. The combination of elevation changes, varying hole directions, exquisite bunkering, and thoughtfully designed greens creates tremendous variety in how you can approach each hole. Whether playing aggressively or positioning yourself for the best angle into the green, Lawsonia offers plenty of options and rewards creative shot-making. Challenge With wider fairways and large greens, there is room to roam at Lawsonia Links. You can spray the ball off the tee and still survive. The real challenge comes on the approach and around the greens. Many putting surfaces are elevated or protected by deep, punishing bunkers, requiring both precision and thoughtful club selection. While the greens aren't overly severe in their slopes, getting the ball onto the correct portion of the putting surface is important. The course gives you room off the tee but demands more from you as you get closer to the hole. Layout Variety The Links offers an excellent balance in its elevation changes. There is an almost equal distribution of holes that play uphill, downhill, flat, or some combination of the three. It was refreshing not to face the same type of shot or hole design throughout the round. Directionally, however, I would have liked to see greater variety. Eleven holes play relatively straight, which was disappointing given the quality of the overall design. I expected a little more movement from a course with this reputation. Aesthetics The course offers sweeping views across the property, allowing you to look out over the surrounding holes, particularly on portions of both the front and back nines. I also enjoyed how the course moves into the bordering forest on the 7th, 8th, and 9th. Those holes feel more secluded, and the towering trees overhead make for a beautiful change of scenery. It's an attractive property with a nice blend of open views and more intimate surroundings. Conditioning Conditioning was very good overall. The rough was patchy in a few spots, and there were some blemishes on the greens that appeared to reflect the challenges of maintaining them through the summer heat and humidity. Beyond those minor issues, however, the fairways and greens were outstanding. The playing surfaces provided an excellent experience, and the course was clearly well maintained. Character Lawsonia is all about golf. Its small-town atmosphere, embrace of Golden Age architecture, and appreciation for traditional ways of playing the game give it a tremendous sense of character. There is an authenticity to Lawsonia that makes it feel like a special place for people who genuinely love golf. Fun Lawsonia lives up to its legend. It's an old-school design that rewards good shots without being overly demanding or unnecessarily difficult. The variety of holes, beautiful setting, and strategic options make for an incredibly enjoyable round. It's the kind of course that reminds you how much fun golf can be. I'd pack up the car and drive back to Lawsonia Links again today if given the choice."
Read More2026
Review
“Wonderful links course with challenging green complexes. Shot options abound on this links course. Wind was up with not a lot of trees to protect the course. Firm greens but receptive and rolled true."
Read More2026
Review
“This place is magic."
Read More2026
Review
“Fantastic design, the course plays firm and fast. The greens are excellent. Shot options are abundant. Really enjoyed it, for me!"
Read More2025
Review
“Lawsonia Links is one of the great values in golf in the United States. It is certainly in the top 10 golf courses in Wisconsin. However, it does not compare to the top courses in the State, such as Whistling Straits, Sand Valley and Erin Hills."
Read More2025
Review
“Nowhere are the talents of Langford and Moreau better displayed than at Lawsonia Links. The routing is full of surprises, including a 3-5-3-5-3 sequence on the back nine. The course utilizes undulating terrain and rewards strategic thinking over power and distance. The seventh hole as an almost theatrical presence. Lawsonia is vintage, thoughtful, and well-preserved, a true hidden gem for those who want to experience the quiet audacity of golden age architecture."
Read More2025
Review
“Nowhere are the talents of Langford and Moreau better displayed than at Lawsonia Links. The routing is full of surprises, including a 3-5-3-5-3 sequence on the back nine. The course utilizes undulating terrain and rewards strategic thinking over power and distance. The seventh hole as an almost theatrical presence. Lawsonia is vintage, thoughtful, and well-preserved, a true hidden gem for those who want to experience the quiet audacity of golden age architecture."
Read More2025
Review
“A very pleasant course to play, feels like a links course although it is inland. A nice design, offering many options on how to play most holes, allowing the golfer to be creative. Was in great conditions when played with fast and firm fairways, and greens rolling true."
Read More2024
Review
“This course was in great conditions when played, fairways were firm and fast. Although situated inland, it offered the feeling found on links courses. Most holes can be played different ways by the scratch golfer."
Read More2024
Review
“7th hole has a rail car buried under the green to create massive contouring....especially for the era in which this course was built. Unique layout that offers five par 5's and five par 3's. Big and bold green complexes and bunkering with dramatic counters. Layout variety suffers due to the design including 7 holes that dogleg to the right versus just one hole that offers a dogleg left.....specifically there are 5 holes that are uphill & dogleg to the right"
Read More2024
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