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Golfweek’s Best 2023: Top 40 par-3, short and non-traditional courses in the U.S.

Our inaugural list of best par-3, short and non-traditional courses in the U.S. includes a bit of everything.

What makes a great short course? We posed that question to our huge network of course raters to establish the first Golfweek’s Best ranking of non-traditional courses in the United States.

We included par-3 courses as well as short courses that might have a few par 4s and even par 5s. Some are crazy, over-the-top fun meant to be played barefoot with a cold drink in hand. Others are more traditional in their design. They might be at an elite private club, or they might be a muni down the street. There might be 18 holes, or there might be only six — who cares when you’re having a blast?

Basically, they all fit the bill of not being a traditional-length, traditional-par course. And just like the best short courses, we threw out some of the rules used for rating traditional courses and asked the raters to submit one overall score for each course based on how much they enjoyed the design and the environment. Those individual ratings were then combined to form one average rating, which is listed for each course. Each course had to receive a minimum number of 10 votes, and there are several other great short courses that likely will make this list when they receive enough votes. We received nearly a thousand ballots in all for this inaugural list.

Pinehurst Cradle — The Cradle at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina (Courtesy of Pinehurst Resort)

And as for how we decided which courses fit the bill: All of these would be shorter than 2,700 yards if they were nine holes, compared to a traditional course typically being made up of nines measuring 3,100 to 3,800 yards. Short courses, particularly the public-access variety, are the most welcoming of all golf — everyone can take their shot.

And there’s more to come. Streamsong Resort in Florida is adding a new short course this fall called The Chain, and the newly renovated Cabot Citrus Farms (formerly World Woods) in Florida also will have one named The 21 when the resort opens in December. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, already home to one of the best short courses in the world, is adding another. There’s no end in sight for fresh additions.

One note: Many courses have also added large putting courses, but those are not included on this list.

For this list, we included each course’s rating on a points scale of 1 to 10. We also included their locations, the designers, the year they opened, the number of holes, the total length and the par. At the end of each entry, the letter “p” indicates a private club, “d” indicates daily fee and “r” indicates a resort.

Herb Kohler, owner of Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run, dies at 83

Herb Kohler was the CEO of Kohler Company for 43 years before he handed the role off to his son in 2015.

MILWAUKEE — Herbert Kohler Jr., longtime leader of Kohler Company, died Saturday, according to a news release from the company. He was 83.

“His zest for life, adventure and impact inspires all of us,” his family said in the statement Sunday. “We traveled together, celebrated together, and worked together. He was all in, all the time, leaving an indelible mark on how we live our lives today and carry on his legacy.”

Kohler was the CEO of Kohler Company for 43 years before he handed the role off to his son, David Kohler, in 2015. Since then, Herbert continued in the company as executive chairman.

During his time as CEO, Kohler grew the company from a $133 million operation in 1972 to one that in 2015 was approaching $6 billion in annual revenue.

Kohler opened several world renowned golf courses in Wisconsin. Blackwolf Run, his first course, opened in 1988. Whistling Straits came online 10 years later. It most recently hosted the 2021 Ryder Cup. Those two venues house four top courses — Whistling Straits Straits Course, Whistling Straits Irish, Blackwolf Run Meadow Valley and Blackwolf Run River.

The Straits course is ranked No. 5 on the Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list; the Irish course is tied for 67th.

Whistling Straits also hosted the 2015 PGA Championship, won by Jason Day.

Two months ago, Kohler scored a legal victory, allowing plans for a Whistling Straits sister course to move forward.

Kohler was born Feb. 20, 1939, to Herbert Kohler Sr. and Ruth Myriam DeYoung. He was the oldest of three. He had a sister, Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, and brother Frederick Cornell Kohler, both of whom preceded him in death.

Kohler graduated from Yale in 1965, after spending time at a couple other colleges. He started at Yale but left after a year and went to Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where he studied theater and met Linda Karger, whom he married in 1961. Kohler then enrolled at Furman in South Carolina and worked on the side, before returning to Yale to get a degree in business administration.

Although his grandfather, John Michael Kohler II, founded the Kohler Company in 1873 and Herbert Sr. served as CEO for 43 years, Herbert Jr. recalled in interviews that he had not wanted to be a part of the family company.

But after graduating from Yale in 1965, he began working at Kohler. He was 26. Kohler became chairman and CEO of Kohler Company in 1972.

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Aerial video: The Baths of Blackwolf Run promises par-3 fun, plenty of laughs

New short course and massive putting green at Destination Kohler, home of Whistling Straits, offers a relaxed scene for all golfers.

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KOHLER, Wis. – Destination Kohler in Wisconsin, home to golf clubs at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, is in for a very big year. Aside from being a booming destination with four full-size golf courses and a overflowing menu of top-tier amenities on or near the shore of Lake Michigan, the Straits will welcome one of the game’s largest events as the Ryder Cup tees off in September.

But the small things matter too, and Destination Kohler recently opened a compact golf experience that promises big fun. The Baths of Blackwolf Run – a 10-hole, par-3 course sitting on 27 acres at Blackwolf Run – promises laughs and a few cold ones in a fantastic setting, complete with a 2-acre putting course, an events patio, a firepit, even an old claw-foot bathtub that pays tribute to the Kohler brand of plumbing supplies.

Pete Dye built the four big courses at Kohler, and his protégé, Chris Lutzke, built The Baths with a focus on playability for any level of player. There are formal tees, but golfers are encouraged to tee it up from whatever length they like on a given hole – just find a flat spot and swing away.

“Play it from wherever you want, whatever you want to do,” said Mike O’Reilly, the golf operations manager at Destination Kohler. “There’s some recommended tee boxes out there, but you can do whatever you like. That’s really all about fun.”

A rendering of the par-3 course at The Baths at Blackwolf Run at Destination Kohler in Wisconsin, host resort of the 2021 Ryder Cup. Photo courtesy of Destination Kohler

O’Reilly said he has taken his young sons to the course, and they can play from different distances to make the holes right-sized. His 9-year-old plays from about 60 yards, while his 11-year-old plays from about 100. A similar approach can work for new players of any age, allowing accomplished players to hit a few longer shots while their newbie friends experience the course at a manageable yardage.

“You build fun into a short course by making it flexible,” O’Reilly said. “Almost every one of the holes, you could play from about 60 yards, and then the longest one, you could play from about 175 yards. If you play the proper tee boxes, they’re all going to play between 80 and 170 yards.

“So, you build fun into it by making it not terribly penal. … You just make it a little more playable and give those options for proper tee boxes.”

It makes it a perfect respite from the resort’s larger courses, especially the Straits, which ranks as No. 1 on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for Wisconsin and No. 8 on Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses list for all layouts opened in or after 1960 in the United States. The Straits is beautiful, one of Dye’s masterpieces and the site of three PGA Championships, but it’s a major test without a lot of shots that allow a player to relax.

At The Baths, maybe have a drink, make a few putts, enjoy an easy stroll across the 10 holes, scorecard optional.

“We’re going to be serving Spotted Cows like crazy up there,” O’Reilly said of the Wisconsin-brewed ale. “I think people are going to come out to play and find themselves hanging out for two hours after they’re done playing.”

Golfweek videographer Gabe Gudgel flew his drone over The Baths shortly before it opened, and the video shows the dramatic landscape and holes that promise to welcome players of all abilities.

Destination Kohler adding new par-3 course, The Baths of Blackwolf Run, in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin resort, host to this year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, plans to open a fun new par-3 course in June.

Count Destination Kohler in Wisconsin as the latest top resort with plans to add what promises to be a fun par-3 course.

The resort – host of this year’s Ryder Cup in September at Whistling Straits – plans to build The Baths of Blackwolf Run, a 10-hole course near the resort’s Meadow Valleys layout. The Baths also will include a 2-acre putting course, food and beverage service, and special event capability. The Baths course is scheduled to open in June in Kohler.

It’s all part of a trend in which golf resorts add fun amenities aside from their traditional 18-hole layouts.

The par-3 layout is being constructed on 27 acres between the first and 11th holes of Meadow Valleys and will feature holes between 60 and 160 yards long across the glacier-carved terrain of Blackwolf Run.

A rendering of the par-3 course at The Baths of Blackwolf Run at Destination Kohler in Wisconsin, host resort of the 2021 Ryder Cup (Courtesy of Destination Kohler)

The new course is named The Baths because of four water features, but players won’t face a forced carry unless they want to. The course can also be played as a three-hole, six-hole or 12-hole experience, the resort said.

Chris Lutzke, a Pete Dye protégé, is designing The Baths course. Lutzke has spent two years preparing the resort’s Whistling Straits course, built by Dye and opened in 1988, to host the Ryder Cup.

A map of the par-3 course at The Baths of Blackwolf Run at Destination Kohler in Wisconsin, host resort of the 2021 Ryder Cup (Courtesy of Destination Kohler)

“As a global leader in golf and prominent member of the Wisconsin golf community, it is our responsibility to support the growth of the game,” Dirk Willis, vice president of golf for Kohler Co., said in a media release announcing the new amenities. “The Baths of Blackwolf Run is focused on fun. The par-3 course, putting course and stone food and beverage terrace with firepit overlooking the north Bath are designed for playing, learning, hanging out and refreshing in The Baths after a game.”

Herb Kohler, executive chairman of Kohler Co. and founder of the resort, served as co-designer of The Baths, the resort said.

“The par-3 and putting courses will provide a dynamic experience for our international guests and local community,” Kohler said in the media release. “It is important for these courses to aid in our continuing efforts to grow the game by creating opportunities for players of all skill levels. The Baths will do it with the Kohler touch to create a unique experience.”

Destination Kohler is home to four highly ranked 18-hole layouts. There are two courses at Blackwolf Run, the River and Meadow Valleys, not far from the resort’s campus and main hotel, the American Club. The Whistling Straits and Irish courses are several miles away on the shores of Lake Michigan. Each of the four courses is ranked in the top 10 on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for public-access layouts in Wisconsin.

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Whistling Straits’ proposed sister course receives conditional permit alongside Lake Michigan

The proposed layout in Wisconsin is on Lake Michigan and would give Destination Kohler and the American Club a fifth course.

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SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – The city of Sheboygan’s Plan Commission approved a conditional use permit for Kohler Co. to move forward with development of its new golf course along Lake Michigan.

But before the permit can take effect, all pending lawsuits affecting the construction of the course must be closed in Kohler’s favor.

Kohler already operates two courses at Whistling Straits, the Straits Course and the Irish, as well as two courses at Blackwolf Run, Meadows Valley and River, as part of the American Club Resort. Both Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run have hosted elite professional events, including major championships. Each of the four is among the top 10 golf courses in Wisconsin you can play, according to Golfweek.

“The asset to the community will be tremendous, but the ball is still in Kohler’s court to take care of the lawsuits that are still pending,” said Alderperson Jim Bohren.

Nine people gave public comments at the meeting. Additional written comments were submitted beforehand by people who didn’t wish to or couldn’t attend the meeting because of the coronavirus.

Of the comments given during the meeting, six were against the permit and three were in support. Supporters include the executive director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation, Brian Doudna, and the executive director of the Wisconsin State Golf Association, Rob Jansen.

Most of those who spoke in opposition were people who lived near the proposed course in the town of Wilson or the Black River area. Their concerns largely connected to environmental issues that could result from the course, such as pesticide or other chemical runoff into Lake Michigan.

Leslie Freehill, who appeared on behalf of the Friends of the Black River Forest, said there is no reason to rush to approve the conditional use permit now since Kohler can’t even start construction yet.

A Kohler representative said they wish to get the permit approved now so they can begin construction as soon as the lawsuits are dealt with and not delay the project more.

The Friends of the Black River Forest have been in a legal battle with Kohler and the state over the development of the course for over two-and-a-half years.

Kohler’s wetland delineation permit was revoked in 2019 and has yet to be reinstated. The Friends also have pending cases regarding a land swap agreement with the Department of Natural Resources.

The representative for Kohler called the timing for developing this course “ideal” since all eyes from the golf world will be on Sheboygan County in September for the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

Kohler estimates the course will bring $1.3 million in tax revenue annually — $300,000 of which would go to the city of Sheboygan — and create roughly 200 jobs.

Kohler said its existing golf courses in the county are considered world-class golf destinations, and this would create another world-class course, but this time in the actual borders of the city of Sheboygan, helping to enhance its reputation.

Crowds gather at Blackwolf Run's 18th hole during the 1998 U.S. Women's Open. — Crowds gather at Blackwolf Run’s 18th hole during the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open. (Golfweek files)

Town of Wilson resident Erik Thelen said Kohler is using outdated maps that don’t account for the current ordinary high-water mark and might need to add revetments in the future to control water levels.

Kohler’s representative said the integrity of the course design and public access to the beach could still be maintained, even with the high water levels. The intent of the design, he said, is to utilize the natural aesthetic of the water and dunes in the area.

Since the initial planning started in 2014, there have been over 20 hearings and forums where the public made comments, said Steve Sokolowski from the city’s planning department. He said Kohler worked to address some of the concerns.

For example, the proposed course will no longer use a high-capacity well, which some worried could dry up nearby wells at residences. Instead, the course will connect to the city’s water.

Access to the course will be through the Kohler-Andrae State Park entrance on Beach Park Lane off County Highway V. Seven entrance options were reviewed, Sokolowski explained, and this one offers minimal effects on neighbors and the environment.

Kohler plans to preserve over 230 acres for protected greenspace on the property, but will need to remove over 50 percent of the woodlands.

The proposed course includes a multilevel clubhouse with a pro shop, restaurant, bar and banquet room capable of hosting indoor and outdoor events, including weddings. An observation tower overlooking the lake may be added next to the clubhouse.

Reach AnnMarie Hilton at ahilton@gannett.com or (920) 242-3032. Follow her on Twitter at @hilton_annmarie.

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