Two Wisconsin golf courses are in the top 10 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
The Straits course at Whistling Straits in Haven ranked fourth and Erin Hills in Erin ranked 10th on the list.
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Wisconsin led the country with 11 courses in the top 100.
Whistling Straits has hosted a number of major tournaments: The Ryder Cup in 2021; the PGA Championship in 2015, 2010 and 2004; and the U.S. Senior Open in 2007.
Erin Hills hosted the U.S. Open in 2017 and just held the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open.
Here’s what Golf Digest wrote about the two courses:
Golf Digest on Whistling Straits
“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.”
Golf Digest on Erin Hills
“Despite the rumor, Erin Hills wasn’t designed specifically to host a U.S. Open. Its original concept was to be a simple, affordable, lay-of-the-land layout, to prove Mother Nature is indeed the best golf architect. The concept changed — some greens moved, one blind par 3 eliminated — as the quest for a U.S. Open grew. That dream came true: after trial runs hosting the 2008 U.S. Women’s Public Links and the 2011 U.S. Amateur, Erin Hills hosted the U.S. Open in 2017, the first time the event had ever been in Wisconsin. Brooks Koepka won with a 72-hole score of 16-under, leading some to conclude Erin Hills was too wide and defenseless. In truth, what it lacked that week was the usual gusty winds that would have effectively narrowed the slanted, canted fairways. Had the par been adjusted to 70 instead of 72 as is usual for most Opens, the score would likely have been closer to 8-under.”
Wisconsin golf courses on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses
4. Whistling Straits (Straits Course) in Haven
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10. Erin Hills in Erin
12. The Lido at Sand Valley in Nekoosa
17. Blackwolf Run (River Course) in Kohler
21. Sand Valley in Nekoosa
25. Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley in Nekoosa
49. SentryWorld Golf Course in Stevens Point
51. Sedge Valley at Sand Valley in Nekoosa
65. Whistling Straits (Irish Course) in Haven
66. Golf Courses of Lawsonia (Links Course) in Green Lake
92. Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys Course) in Kohler
Four Wisconsin courses make top 100 overall list
Golf Digest also posted its list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, which includes private clubs. Courses must have a minimum of 50 evaluations over 10 years to qualify for the combined private- and public-course rating.
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Whistling Straits remains Wisconsin’s top course at No. 26, the same ranking it held in 2024.
26. Whistling Straits (Straits Course)
49. Erin Hills
69. The Lido at Sand Valley
97. Milwaukee Country Club in River Hills
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Golf Digest ranks 2 Wisconsin public courses among top 10 in US
