Picture this: You're standing on a lush green fairway, the pristine waters of Lake Geneva shimmering in the distance, as you prepare to tee off on one of the area's premier golf courses.
Living in Lake Geneva, WI, isn’t just a picturesque retreat. For local golf enthusiasts, it's a golfer's paradise waiting to be explored. Not a resident? After this, you’ll want to contact a Lake Geneva real estate agent and change that!
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Whether you're a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, these must-play courses offer more than just challenging fairways and well-manicured greens. From state-of-the-art practice facilities and gourmet clubhouse dining to breathtaking lake views and expertly designed holes, each course on our list boasts unique features that cater to discerning golfers.
Best Lake Geneva Golf Courses
Grand Geneva Resort
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Lake Geneva, the Grand Geneva Resort golf club offers two championship courses. These award-winning courses, recognized as some of the best in the Midwest, provide golfers with challenging play, state-of-the-art amenities, and breathtaking views that make every round a memorable experience.
The Brute
The Brute at Grand Geneva Resort is a Robert Bruce Harris design that lives up to its name. This championship course stretches over 7,000 yards and features 68 bunkers, making it one of the most challenging layouts in the Midwest. The course is characterized by its massive features: huge bunkers, expansive water hazards, and enormous rolling greens. Its difficulty and scenic beauty have earned it recognition from Condé Nast Traveler as one of the Top 5 Northern U.S. golf courses.
The Brute's layout takes full advantage of the natural Wisconsin landscape, with significant elevation changes that provide stunning views and add to the course's challenge. Its difficulty and scenic beauty have earned it recognition as one of Wisconsin's best golf courses.
A unique aspect of The Brute is its perfect conditioning and immaculate maintenance. The course offers four sets of tees, making it more enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels despite its formidable reputation. The Brute is complemented by excellent practice facilities, including a full driving range, chipping green, and a huge putting green. The course offers modern amenities such as GPS-equipped golf carts with useful hole-flyover video features. This course remains a true test of golfing skills, requiring players to bring their 'A' game for the most enjoyable experience.
The Highlands
Originally designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, The Highlands course at Grand Geneva was updated in 1996 by Bob Cupp. This course offers a completely different experience from The Brute, featuring Scottish highlands-style play. The Highlands is known for its strategic layout that rewards careful shot placement over raw power. While not as brutally challenging as its sister course, The Highlands still offers a true championship-quality experience. The course's links-style design, with its rolling fairways and well-placed bunkers, provides a taste of Scotland in the heart of Wisconsin. The course features several memorable holes, such as "Cupps Cradle" (Hole 1) and "Diver's Paradise" (Hole 17), each offering unique challenges and scenic views.
Just like The Brute, being part of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, The Highlands offers golfers access to additional luxury amenities, including spa services, accommodations, and other recreational activities as well as all the same great amenities and features listed above for The Brute. The Grand Geneva Resort offers top-notch facilities, including a well-stocked pro shop and superior clubhouse amenities.
Majestic Oaks Golf Course at Lake Lawn Resort
Majestic Oaks is a Dick Nugent design that opened in 1921 and was renovated in 1990. This par-71 course stretches 6,400 yards and offers a blend of challenge and playability. The course is known for its tree-lined fairways and well-maintained bent grass greens. It features unforgiving bunkers strategically placed throughout, requiring careful shot placement—adding to the challenge.
Majestic Oaks takes advantage of its lakeside location, with several holes offering beautiful views of Delavan Lake. The course's layout features a good mix of long and short holes, with water coming into play on several occasions. Players of all skill levels can enjoy the course thanks to various tee options, making it accessible yet challenging for different abilities.
Being part of Lake Lawn Resort, golfers have access to a wide range of amenities beyond golf, including:
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Full-service spa and fitness center
- Marina and boating facilities
- Tennis and basketball courts
- Nightly entertainment at the 1878 Restaurant overlooking Delavan Lake
Majestic Oaks offers an excellent pro shop with popular equipment, accessories, and brand-name apparel. The Clubhouse and Clubhouse Sports Bar & Grill are open to all golfers, providing excellent pre- and post-round facilities. It should be noted that the resort offers seasonal rates and annual membership packages, catering to both casual visitors and regular players.
Evergreen Golf Club
Evergreen Golf Club, located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is a standout destination for golf enthusiasts in the Lake Geneva area. This 27-hole public golf facility offers a challenging yet enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels. The course is characterized by its rolling greens, sweeping fairways, and abundant water hazards, providing a diverse and engaging layout that keeps golfers coming back.
Rated 4 Stars by Golf Digest Magazine, Evergreen Country Club has earned a reputation as one of the area's premier golfing destinations. It was recently voted the Best Public Golf Course in the county, a testament to its quality and popularity among local and visiting golfers alike. The course prides itself on maintaining tournament-playing conditions on a daily basis, ensuring a top-notch experience for every round.
One of Evergreen's most notable features is its affordability. Despite its high-quality offerings, it remains the Lake Geneva Area's most budget-friendly golf course, making it accessible to a wide range of players. This combination of quality and value has contributed significantly to its popularity and accolades.
The course is known for its strategic design that challenges players with a mix of holes requiring both power and precision. The abundant water hazards add an extra layer of difficulty and visual appeal to the course.
Evergreen Golf Club goes beyond just offering great golf. The facility includes The Pub Grill, featuring a full lunch menu with hearty sandwiches and popular burgers. The covered patio overlooking the golf course provides a perfect spot for post-round relaxation. During the winter months, golfers can keep their skills sharp using state-of-the-art Trackman Golf Simulators, making Evergreen a year-round golfing destination.
Hawk’s View Golf Club
Hawk's View Golf Club, located just north of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is a premier golfing destination featuring two distinct courses: Como Crossings and Barn Hollow. The crown jewel of the club, Como Crossings, is a Par 72, 7,074-yard championship course that has earned a prestigious 5-star rating and has been voted the "Best Golf Course" in the Geneva Lakes area for five consecutive years from 2020 to 2024. Designed by Craig Schreiner, Como Crossings takes full advantage of the dramatic elevation changes of a former ski hill, offering golfers a dynamic and challenging experience. The course is characterized by its rolling hills, wooded terrain, and a classic links-style layout in the middle six holes.
Como Crossings boasts several unique features that set it apart from other courses in the region. Golfers will encounter elevated tee boxes, providing stunning views of the surrounding landscape, and face the challenge of finishing their round on the scenic uphill closing holes. The course incorporates natural elements such as a winding stream, picturesque covered bridges, and even a 15-foot natural cascading waterfall that comes into play on several holes. With five sets of tee boxes, Como Crossings caters to golfers of all skill levels, offering a fair yet challenging experience for everyone from beginners to seasoned players.
The layout of Como Crossings is designed to reward strategic play. While the terrain near the open landing zones is relatively flat, the large putting greens are known for their undulating surfaces with steep slopes and multiple tiers, demanding precision and careful shot placement.
The course conditions are consistently praised, with Hawk's View maintaining tournament-quality standards on a daily basis. This commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed, as Como Crossings has received numerous accolades, including a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest and recognition as one of the top new courses by Golf Magazine upon its opening.
Beyond the exceptional golfing experience, Hawk's View Golf Club offers comprehensive facilities that enhance its appeal. The clubhouse features multiple banquet rooms and outing venues, including the Red Tail Ballroom and Overlook Terrace, making it a popular destination for weddings and events. Golfers can also enjoy the Tail Feathers Bar & Grille, which offers a full menu and panoramic views of the course. With its combination of challenging play, breathtaking scenery, and top-notch amenities, Hawk's View Golf Club's Como Crossings course stands out as a must-play destination for golf enthusiasts visiting the Lake Geneva area.
As we conclude our journey through Lake Geneva's golfing paradise, it's clear that this region offers an unparalleled experience for golf enthusiasts of all levels. From the challenging fairways of The Brute to the Scottish-inspired landscapes of The Highlands, and from the historic charm of Majestic Oaks to the scenic beauty of Hawk's View, each course we've explored contributes to Lake Geneva's reputation as a premier golfing destination. These courses not only provide exceptional play but also offer a complete package with their top-notch amenities, breathtaking views, and welcoming atmospheres. Lake Geneva's diverse selection of world-class courses ensures that every round is memorable. So, grab your clubs, your next unforgettable golfing adventure awaits in the picturesque haven of Lake Geneva.
