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
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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
“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
Review
“on land that was once Camp Haven, a military training facility on Lake Michigan, Pete Dye built Whistling Straits, including both Irish and 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 FWs, B's 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! Home of 3 PGA championships and the 2020 Ryder Cup. Walking only, caddie required. 1/2 of the holes are on Lake Michigan. Each green has a side which is dead - the player is forced to play to the other side as a bailout or risk disaster. Typical Pete Dye penal golf. Hazards include the usual - B's, W, deep rough. UH holes, DH holes, DL L and DL R. Big slopes on some greens, more subtle slopes on others. Tee Ball in the FW has a chance at par or birdie. Tee Ball off the FW is lucky to bogey."
Read More2024
Review
“on land that was once Camp Haven, a military training facility on Lake Michigan, Pete Dye built Whistling Straits, including both Irish and 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 FWs, B's 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! Home of 3 PGA championships and the 2020 Ryder Cup. Walking only, caddie required. 1/2 of the holes are on Lake Michigan. Each green has a side which is dead - the player is forced to play to the other side as a bailout or risk disaster. Typical Pete Dye penal golf. Hazards include the usual - B's, W, deep rough. UH holes, DH holes, DL L and DL R. Big slopes on some greens, more subtle slopes on others. Ball in the FW has a chance at par or birdie. Ball off the FW is lucky to bogey."
Read More2024
Review
“What a gem Pete Dye did at Whistling Straights. The variety and uniqueness of holes is superb. The 18th is such a strong finishing holes with danger all around but multiple shot options from tee and approach. The entire walk with Lake Michigan viewable on just about every hole is just outstanding"
Read More2024
Review
“The views are second to none. Very difficult course, the 18th hole is by far the hardest closing hole I have ever played."
Read More2024
Review
“This course deserves every accolade written about it with a site that was transformed from a flat parcel of land along the shore of Lake Michigan to a dunescape from the imagination of its architect Pete Dye. Too many spectacular holes to describe along the shore of this inland ocean. What is impressive is the finishing hole that turns its back on the Great Lake and heads toward its home of Kohler Lodge to a green set amidst moguls and pitted bunkers straight out of a fairy tale. Every golfer who aspires to play the great courses should experience Whistling Straits once in their lifetime."
Read More2024
