Kohler, WI
Destination Kohler
Destination Kohler
Whistling Straits: Irish Course
Sheboygan, WI • Public
Whistling Straits: Irish Course
N8501 Lakeshore Rd
Sheboygan, WI 53083-5156
United States
Telephone
Overview
The Irish Course has the same manufactured dunescape found on its more famous sister Straits Course, but with three major differences. The fairways are bentgrass, not fescue. Carts are allowed, although confined to cart paths. (It's walking only on the Straits, though both 18s are relatively easy to walk.) And the Irish has the only blind par 3 found at Whistling Straits, the 13th playing 183 yards over sand hills to a huge green ringed by more than a dozen bunkers. It doesn't get more Irish than that.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2003.
Highest ranking: 43rd in 2019-'20.
2023-'24 ranking: 65th.
Best in State: Ranked seventh, 2019-'20. Ranked 9th, 2021-'24. Ranked 11th, 2025-'26.
Previous ranking: 9th.
2025-'26 ranking: 11th.
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
“Most people go to Kohler with their eyes set on the Straits, and the Irish often gets treated like the undercard. It shouldn’t. The course is a strong, fair test of golf. The conditioning was excellent. The rugged, windswept look gives it a character you rarely see in the United States, and it asks you to flight the ball and control your misses. The par threes are the clear highlight. They offer real variety, reward commitment, and give you legitimate birdie chances if you hit the right shot. A couple of things felt repetitive. Holes two and seventeen echo each other more than they need to. And while closing on a par five creates volatility, which is great for tournament play, eighteen does feel a little contrived in its presentation. But taken as a whole, the Irish course stands on its own, delivers an engaging round, and is absolutely worth the time for anyone making the trip."
Read More2025
Review
“The Irish course at Whistling Straits occupies the same dramatic land as the more famous Straits course; however, it appears as though the Straits course plays along Lake Michigan whereas the Irish occupies the inland area. Some of the holes that stood out to me were the strategic par 5 5th hole, which the golfer can go right to shorten the hole, but requires a cover over a large fairway bunker. Additionally, the 8th and 9th holes were laid out over a dramatic section of land, which required covering a meandering creek, whether on the 2nd or 3rd shot on #8 or the drive or 2nd shot on #9. The par 3 13th, which is tucked in a corner of the property and completely guarded by bunkers was dramatic. The short par 4 17th gave the player options of either laying back in the fairway and facing the lake on the second shot, or going longer up the right side, losing sight of the green on the approach, but not having to cover the water."
Read More2025
Review
“Often times overlooked by the renowned neighboring Straits course or the Blackwolf Run River course, but The Irish is a fantastic golf course maintained in pristine condition."
Read More2025
Review
“Really good golf course that is overshadowed by the Straits - some really good holes on this golf course"
Read More2025
Review
“Really good course that is overshadowed by the straits course. Some really good holes on this golf course"
Read More2025
Review
“Fun golf course and plays a great little brother role to the championship Straits course. The front nine is quite repetitive with most holes (if not all as memory serves) playing a dogleg right. The back 9 plays much more challenging and provides more variety in both layout and shot options. Conditions played great with the exception of the green aprons, which were sticky and untrue, but this should taken with a grain of salt as they have had a very late start to their growing season in Wisconsin this year."
Read More2025
Review
“On land that was once Camp Haven, a military training facility on Lake Michigan, Pete Dye built Whistling Straits, including both Irish and the Straits. Essentially the Camp was flat, lakeside sand suitable for firing ranges and tents so that soldiers could rotate through and train. Dye must have moved enormous quantities of earth to create contours, shaped and undulating FW’s, bunkers of all sizes, fescue, rolling hills, lakes (ponds), etc. I found a reference that over 13,000 truckloads of sand were brought in to form the bunkers and dunes. 13,000! The player doesn’t confuse the Irish course for Lahinch or Ballybunion, but it’s hard not to appreciate the incredible effort (and expense) of creating Whistling Straits. For both the Straits and Irish, conditioning was excellent. The Irish was challenging, especially with some wind, and checked several boxes. I can’t wait to play #15 and #16 again. The staff, including the American hotel and pro shop/ restaurant at Whistling Straits, were incredible. It's obvious that they are excited to be there and the upbeat mood is infectious. Enjoy!"
Read More2024
Review
“A beautiful wild course built as an homage to Irish Links courses. Pete Dye transformed a flat parcel of land into a rolling dunescape complete with a mountain in the center of the course. Several of the holes felt contrived including #13 that requires a tee shot over a series of bunkers scattered across a hillside to a back pin placement perched on a shelf that severely penalizes wayward tee shots and lag putts left short. Many of the holes are well laid out and interesting in their design, but it runs a distant second to its older brother The Straits Course. It is an adventure to play."
Read More2024
Review
“Fantastic. True links style (reminds me of several courses in Ireland I've played - Lahinch, Waterville, Dooks, etc)"
Read More2023
Review
“Solid Pete Dye courese that still has punch, but lacks the views as it's highly rated sister course. Almost like two separate courses, the front 9 offers many tree lined fairways and creeks or marshy areas. The back 9 mostly runs along the Dunes, some of which parallel the Straights course. This is a good golf course that is enjoyable to play, just pales when comparing the history, views and challenge of Straights."
Read More2023
