Carlos Amoedo
Stephen Szurlej
Carlos Amoedo
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Whistling Straits: Straits Course
Sheboygan, WI • Public
Whistling Straits: Straits Course
N8501 Lakeshore Rd
Sheboygan, WI 53083-5156
United States
Telephone
Overview
Pete Dye transformed a dead flat abandoned army air base along a two-mile stretch of Lake Michigan into an imitation Ballybunion at Whistling Straits, peppering his rugged fairways and windswept greens with 1,012 (at last count) bunkers. There are no rakes at Whistling Straits, in keeping with the notion that this is a transplanted Irish links. It has too much rub of the green for the comfort levels of many tour pros, which is what makes it a stern test for top events, such as three PGA Championships, the 2007 U.S. Senior Open and the 2021 Ryder Cup.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2001.
Highest ranking: 16th, 2013-'14.
Previous ranking: 26th.
2025-'26 ranking: 26th.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since our inaugural edition in 2003.
Highest ranking: 2nd, 2013-'14.
Previous ranking: 3rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 4th.
Best in State: Ranked first since 2011.
2025-'26 ranking: 1st.
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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
“What a treat to be able to play this venue. Dramatic views paired with challenging tee shots and green complexes made for a perfect day of golf. The wind was down, so the course played lighter than normal. The par 3s stole the show with multiple tee positions that bring risk-reward tee shots into play along Lake Michigan. The greens were firm and difficult to hold. It helped having a caddie because I found myself asking many questions on target lines on the tee boxes due to sloping fairways that direct wayward balls to the rough."
Read More2026
Review
“What a treat to be able to play this venue. Dramatic views paired with challenging tee shots and green complexes made for a perfect day of golf. The wind was down, so the course played lighter than normal. The par 3s stole the show with multiple tee positions that bring risk-reward tee shots into play along Lake Michigan. The greens were firm and difficult to hold. It helped having a caddie because I found myself asking many questions on target lines on the tee boxes due to sloping fairways that direct wayward balls to the rough."
Read More2026
Review
“If you get the opportunity, go play there! I, it is one of the best courses you’ll ever get the opportunity to play. It will test every club in your bag and more than that it will test your mental fortitude and concentration. There is no letup at any point. The views are spectacular and you feel like the course has been there for a century or more."
Read More2026
Review
“By my evaluation, I clearly feel that this is one of the best 30 courses in the country. It was extremely challenging and at the same time rewarded good shots as well as penalized poor ones the aesthetic value was incredible and was extremely fun to play. It’s difficult to imagine that that was a flat piece of land but the best and most sincere compliment that I can give it was. It looked like it had been there forever."
Read More2026
Review
“There aren’t many more scenic courses in the world than being on top of or right along Lake Michigan for five hours. The green complexes are not overly difficult, but they are large. The fairways are wide and firm, but have a lot of subtle tilts and slopes that can easily lead one into a bunker or the fescue. The fact that the course was created from flat land is hard to fathom. Although the routing is a figure eight, a lot of the holes feel similar, just going in the opposite direction. Overall, the course is fair and fun, but the closing four holes will either ruin your round of make it a memory of a lifetime due to the carries required, obstacles to avoid and mental fortitude needed to complete them after the demands of the first fourteen holes."
Read More2026
Review
“The Straits Course at Whistling Straits offers a challenging and memorable links-style round along Lake Michigan. Fairways provide room off the tee, but wind, natural contours, and deep bunkers make shot placement important. Approach shots require creativity, as the greens feature noticeable movement and tight surrounds. Risk-reward holes throughout the course keep the round engaging without feeling repetitive. With dramatic scenery and strong conditioning, Whistling Straits delivers a unique and demanding golf experience."
Read More2025
Review
“Whistling Straits is one of those rare courses that manages to be incredibly fun and genuinely demanding at the same time. It sounds counterintuitive, but anyone who has played it... or will play it ... will understand exactly what I mean. The setting feels like you’ve been dropped into Ireland or Scotland. Every hole has that windswept, rugged beauty that makes you stop for a second before you swing. From tee to green, the course gives you options. Angles matter. Trajectory matters. The green complexes are bold, full of movement, and you cannot let your guard down. When you hit a good shot, the course rewards you. When you don’t, it gives you a chance to be creative. And if you listen to your caddie, the entire experience goes up another level. The par threes get a lot of attention, and they deserve it. What stood out to me wasn’t just how stunning they were, but how varied and fair they played. Each one asks a different question, and all of them are fun to figure out. My only critique ... and I know some will disagree ... is the closing hole. It’s visually impressive, no question. But it puts higher-handicap players in a tough spot, and at the same time can penalize better players by essentially removing driver from the equation depending on wind conditions. The approach can border on unfair depending on conditions, too. Overall, Whistling Straits delivers a memorable, world-class experience. It’s a course you want to play again the moment you walk off the 18th green."
Read More2025
Review
“Challenging Pete Dye design with natural aesthetics along Lake Michigan. Caddies referred to par 3 hole #7 as the "signature hole" although several holes could have been given that deisgnation. Wedge on par 3 hole #12 playing at only 99 yards on our round presented challenge from wind and pin position among the contour of the green. Finishing par 4 #18 continued to present challenge & shot options off the tee and into the green."
Read More2025
Review
“such a hard golf course - very fair, but very difficult"
Read More2025
Review
“Having played it in peak links weather, it played like a true test from the Irish links. Dramatic, bold, fun, hard."
Read More2025
