The Restorative Resort

As you stand on the tee of the dramatic par-4 13th hole at the Whistling Straits’ Straits course, the tangible connection to nature is immediate. Waves crash against the cliffs of Lake Michigan, breezes sweep across the bluffs, and the fairway tilts downward toward the water’s edge. It’s easy to see why this Pete Dye masterpiece has hosted three PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.

However, world-class tournament golf is only the beginning of the story at Kohler Resort. The legendary Straits layout is complemented by sibling Dye creations: the rugged and adjacent Irish course, plus the excellent River and Meadow Valleys designs that comprise the precision-testing river valleys of Blackwolf Run. A 10-hole par 3 and 2-acre putting course — The Baths — is unlike anything you’ve ever played elsewhere, and soon, the golf ecosystem will expand with Purebred Farm, a walking-only, 14-hole layout that embraces the natural river valley and prairie terrain with an eco-conscious approach. It promises to be a fast, creative alternative for players of all skill levels.

To view this Wisconsin destination solely through the lens of golf is to miss its broader evolution. Kohler has gracefully transformed into one of America’s premier health, wellness and outdoor sanctuaries. Here, sport and restoration are not competing priorities; they are the same pursuit. That philosophy is driving a massive wave of renovations across the entire property.

The historic American Club, built in 1918 as a Tudor-style dormitory for European immigrants working for the Kohler plumbing company, remains the resort’s luxurious heart. Across the street, the wellness-centric Carriage House, renowned for its direct access to the Forbes five-star Kohler Waters Spa, has been fully transformed. Its reimagined rooms and common spaces feature bright, contemporary luxury, serving as an elite basecamp for hydrotherapy, boutique fitness and recovery.

This dedication to well-being extends deep into the surrounding landscape, as well. Beyond the fairways, guests can explore a pristine 500-acre wilderness preserve for kayaking, fly-fishing and sport shooting. The local culinary scene is rising to match this elevated standard, as nearby Woodlake Market becomes an experiential, wellness-focused venue featuring interactive food stations and artisan provisions.

Simultaneously, the Inn on Woodlake is adding 66 rooms and a dynamic social hub — an entertainment district that will feature state-of-the-art golf and racing simulators, duckpin bowling and darts, bringing vibrant energy to evening hours and the shoulder seasons.

Whether plotting strategy down the fairway or unwinding in the healing waters of the spa, booking a resort golf package is the most seamless way to experience Kohler during the peak summer months. The off-season holds its own quiet magic as well, when wellness, culinary experiences, scenery and winter spa retreats take center stage. Regardless of the time of year, Kohler is an elegant invitation to step outdoors, recharge and discover a lifestyle where luxury and well-being flow naturally together. Visit kohlerwisconsin.com for further inspiration.