Lake Geneva: An Amazing Golf Stay and Play
By Tim Cotroneo
Lake Geneva, WI, is a rising star in a state widely recognized as a golf powerhouse. In a region with names such as Whistling Straits, Sand Valley, SentryWorld, and Erin Hills, Lake Geneva offers an alpine-like sense of place for championship golf. Located on Wisconsin’s southeastern tip, this postcard setting delivers three golf stay-and-plays that rival any in the Midwest.
What’s great about arranging a Lake Geneva golf trip is the proximity. Pick three of the city’s best, and your golf hat trick is barely 20 minutes from course A to course B. You’ll send stress packing as travel feels light, looks picturesque, and oozes friendliness in this quaint metropolis of 8,000 people.
For those looking to drive, rather than fly to Lake Geneva, know that this aqua-focused resort town is just one hour from Milwaukee, under two hours from Chicago, five hours from Minneapolis, and six hours from Detroit. Let’s look at a trio of Lake Geneva stay and play options that are pleasing reminders as to why this region has been a vacation favorite dating all the way back to the late 1800s.
The Highlands Golf Course/ Grand Geneva Resort
Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye joined forces to design the 6,700-yard The Highlands Golf Course. This course is aptly named because it shares sky-high acreage with a ski resort.
Amazing views are plentiful on this course which served as the outdoor centerpiece to Hugh Hefner’s original Playboy Club resort that opened in 1968. Today’s golfers find The Highlands to be an elevation sensation. The course’s undulations crescendo up to the 14th tee box. Yodeling is optional as you prepare to take on a 398-yard Par 4 with a panoramic vista showcasing the rolling Wisconsin countryside.
For golfers seeking a wonderful mix of luxury and convenience, you can’t go wrong booking the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa for your stay. Set on 1,300-acres, the resort features 358 guest rooms, six restaurants, a spa, and two additional golf courses.
Majestic Oaks Golf Course/ Lake Lawn Resort
If you think that The Highlands Golf Course is a tough act to follow, tell that to the team at Majestic Oaks Golf Course at Lake Lawn Resort. In a region in which nature is placed on a pedestal, Majestic Oaks 18 championship golf holes are home to 250-tree lined acres and over two miles of lakeshore.
Nowhere is this water love affair more prevalent than on Majestic’s 620-yard hole number three. Water embraces the entire left side of this muscular Par 5 powerplay. There’s a legend that the Lake Lawn property’s origins include one of America’s first glimpses of a traveling circus. In 1836, elephants bathed in the scenic lake that serves as a panoramic visual for guests at Lake Lawn Resort.
Lake Lawn stay options are beautiful and plentiful. They include rooms, suites, and lake homes. In addition to evolving into a favorite destination for couples and families, Lake Lawn Resort has become a national draw for corporate meetings.
Como Crossings at Hawk’s View Golf Club/ Maxwell Mansion
The 7,000-yard Como Crossings has been honored as Lake Geneva’s Best Golf Course for five years running. Golfers can expect dramatic elevation changes and a multitude of holes where water comes into play.
When golfers ask the pro shop team which holes need extra attention, the response is in unison, “Get ready for the Par 3s.” The 215-yard third hole is a 100-foot vertical drop to the green. The 194-yard sixth hole is one of Como’s signature water holes. The 169-yard 17th hole changes zip codes as you plunge from the clouds down to the green.
For golfers who prefer the charm of a boutique hotel, you’ll love the ambiance and service at Maxwell Mansion. Located just four miles south of Hawk’s View Golf Club, this charming hotel was built in 1856. Each of Maxwell’s 28 rooms has a unique name and a unique vibe. The hotel’s bartenders mix made to order cocktails and mocktails. Maxwell Mansion is also just a half mile from Lake Geneva’s downtown.
Lake Geneva: A Great Golf Stay and Play Getaway
Lake Geneva is premier destination for championship golf, upscale accommodations, and scenic beauty. What’s wonderful is there is so much to do in addition to golf.
Geneva’s thriving downtown offers dozens of restaurants, shops, and historic diversions. Of course, there is the main event: The 5,400-acre Lake Geneva.
Boat tours, a 21-mile walking path, and waterfront bars and restaurants make Lake Geneva a destination that’s in a class by itself. Whether you’re an avid golfer or someone who simply loves nature, Lake Geneva is the place to explore, play, and getaway. https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/
