Blackwolf Run (River)

The Blackwolf Run resort is named after Black Wolf, chief of the Winnebago Indians and both the River and Meadow Valleys courses were opened in 1988. A composite 18 holes from both courses was used when the LPGA US Open was played here in 1998.

Resort courses were once disparaged but since the creation of the TPC at Sawgrass in 1982 a number of world-class courses have been constructed that are open to the public. Designed by Pete Dye, both courses at Blackwolf Run resort in Kohler, Wisconsin are top class golf courses but the River course is undoubtedly the flagship layout.

There a number of refreshing aspects to playing at Blackwolf Run (apart from the clean, fresh air, of course) - a player may walk while carrying their bag, there are no houses or condominiums adjacent to the property, there is a choice of four tee boxes per hole and the course is kept in immaculate condition – none of which can be said for most resort courses.

Severe elevation changes are a feature as all eighteen holes wind their way round and about natural and man-made water hazards. Precise course management must be used at Blackwolf Run, as a poor decision will cost many shots to par.

You could be in another world a long way from Wisconsin on the three holes around the turn on the River course – possibly the finest three at Blackwolf Run. The best of these, the short par four, signature 9th hole, called “Cathedral Spires” is 337 yards from the back tees, but it presents options off the tee - drive safe to the left fairway or to the lower right fairway to cut off distance to the hole, but bring into play the Sheboygan River. The green is two-tiered and slopes from back to front. A four on the scorecard will be well earned here.

The 18th hole, "Dyehard", is a tough finishing hole and provided drama for the women at the 1998 US Open when Se Ri Pak had to play barefoot from the then flooded left side of the fairway. A Pete Dye design feature was the construction of a double green that holds the 18th holes of both courses at Blackwolf Run in a fitting amphitheater setting in front of an architecturally unusual clubhouse made from Canadian pine logs.