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
“The wind was fierce, so combined with the 50-degree weather, the Irish was true to its name. Prevailing winds added 2-3 clubs to many approach shots. Several uphill approaches are uphill, causing you to add yet another club. Tee shots were intuitive and there were not many decisions to be made on starting lines. A couple reachable par-5s created come drama on the scorecard."
Read More2026
Review
“The wind was fierce, so combined with the 50-degree weather, the Irish was true to its name. Prevailing winds added 2-3 clubs to many approach shots. Several uphill approaches are uphill, causing you to add yet another club. Tee shots were intuitive and there were not many decisions to be made on starting lines. A couple reachable par-5s created come drama on the scorecard."
Read More2026
Review
“Be prepared to be WOWED. You will have fun and be challenged at the same time. It is very walkable yet you will feel like you had a good workout after the round."
Read More2026
Review
“The Irish course is a very strong and well balanced golf course. I had many moments during the round that were WOW moments it requires all the shots in your bag and will reward you if you’re playing well if not, be prepared to suffer the consequences."
Read More2026
Review
“The Irish Course at Whistling Straights is definitely a first shot type of course. Between the doglegs and elevation changes, if your drive is in the right spot, attacking the pin becomes much easier. It sounds like a cliche, but some courses are all about the approach shot irrespective of the tee ball. The greens were pure and the fairways were firm. It trouble was right in front of you with little surprises. It is a fun course to play especially as a precursor to the Straights and Blackwolf Run."
Read More2026
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
