Every Monday throughout the “offseason” of golf, we will be doing golf course reviews, giving an in depth look at all the awesome golf courses in Colorado. This is a special double review- one of the best golf courses in America (The straights at Whistling Straights in Kohler, Wisconsin) and the other of our home course Spring Valley, also known as the Valley of Fun. Courses will be rated using golf flags on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories:

• Playability (is it good golf, or janky)
• Difficulty
• Views from the property
• Course Conditions
• Value
• Overall Facility

Whistling Straights

Kohler, Wisconsin

website:https://www.americanclubresort.com/golf/whistling-straits

Playability: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Difficulty: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Views: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Course Conditions: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Value: ⛳️⛳️⛳️
Facility: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️

In Kohler, Wisconsin at Whistling Straights, the playability of the golf course and the difficulty go hand in hand. Playing anywhere from 7,790 yards at the plates to 5,564 yards from the front tees, this course is straight up hard. Whether lake Michigan attracts your ball on various holes on both 9s, or you land in any of 1,012 bunkers- this course is extremely demanding both off the tee and approaching the greens. The playability is what truly makes this place a top 3 public course in America year in and year out. The greens were in impeccable shape, rolling around a 12 on the stimp meter even in late October. The fairways are pure as filtered water, made up of 3 types of fescue grasses from the property. A true feel of Ireland is all around this 560 acre property on the water.

The views get a 5 flag rating as well. With nothing around other than grass covered hills and lake Michigan as far as the eye can see, this is truly one of the more beautiful golf courses in the entire United States of America. The view of the 13,000 square foot clubhouse coming down both the 9th and 18th holes in the fall was incredible.

The course conditions also earned a 5 flag review. The greens were extremely well manicured, fairways were perfectly cut, and the course even had maintenance staff out weed-whacking the rough on a 38 degree snowy morning (with the undulation its impossible for mowers to get to the rough, so they do the whole course with weedwhackers) The maintenance staff at this course truly leaves no stone un-turned when it comes to this property.

The value of this course is tough to rate- while I’ve salivated about the beauty of this track the entire article I had to give the value 3 flags. Not that this course isn’t worth the $ spent to play it, but with rates as high as $475 dollars for 18 holes walking only, not including the $70 caddie fee and recommended $50 caddie tip, a $600 round of golf BEFORE drinks is entirely possible here. I don’t care if the golf course is hosting the Ryder Cup or made of solid gold, paying that much for a round of golf is a little ridiculous and frankly impossible for most people.

I gave the facility a 4 flag rating- the 13,000 squarefoot clubhouse made of rubble stone exterior walls truly make you feel like you’re in Scotland. The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star is exactly what we talk about on the Big Drive Energy podcast- it’s so stuffy inside the clubhouse and restaurant you can barely breathe. Ordering drinks on the turn was quite the adventure as there is no official “bar” to go up to, you have to find someone walking around the restaurant to get your double vodka soda.

Overall, despite the price, Whistling Straights is an incredible facility that every golfer should create as a “destination golf trip” one time in their lives.

Missed our podcast on Whistling Straights and what makes golf courses like it so hard? Check it out below ->

Spring Valley Golf Club

(The Valley of Fun)

Elizabeth, Colorado

Website: springvalleygolf.com

Playability: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Difficulty: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Views: ⛳️⛳️⛳️
Course Conditions: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Value: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️
Facility: ⛳️⛳️⛳️⛳️

Built in 1996, our beloved Spring Valley Golf Club (A.K.A The Valley of Fun) has flown under the radar for some time. Located roughly 45 minutes southeast of Denver, this hidden gem sprawls over 400 acres of high plains and creek bed.  As the local pros it can be tough to be impartial, but we truly believe our course has something special to offer.  Part of what makes Spring Valley so attractive is it’s playability for all skill levels. Whether you’re a casual golfer or a scratch handicap, this layout will provide a challenging but fair test. This par-72 layout really shows it’s teeth when it comes to the par 3’s and the greens. All four of the par 3’s play above average in distance with challenges looming on and around the putting surface. The par 4’s and 5’s offer a nice variety of options in terms of risk reward holes along with well placed trees and fairway bunkers off the tee. There is also a very nice contrast between nines; the front nine is more open and the back nine runs along the creek bed which is surrounded by massive cottonwood trees. Another big plus is the course’s walkability. Overall we give our home track a 5-flag rating in the playability department.

The views out at Spring Valley fall under the 3-flag category. There are a hand full of holes with views of Pike’s Peak and other holes with scenic backdrops of the creek and surrounding trees. The fall season with the changing colors takes the cake as the most beautiful time of year at the club.

The difficulty and condition both receive a 4-flag rating and typically go hand in hand. As we previously referenced, the greens provide the biggest challenge and are usually in great shape for the entirety of the golf season. The putting surfaces usually run around 10 on the stimp meter but can run up to 11 in the middle 0f the summer. Combine that speed with the various undulations and subtle breaks throughout and it can make for a long day full of three-putts.

The facility provides a great venue for any sort of occasion, whether that be a formal dinner or just a few post round cocktails with your buddies. We strive to provide a laid-back, enjoyable atmosphere for all of our customers and truly try to  a family style vibe. Another great amenity to take advantage of is our outdoor patio downstairs and our covered deck area upstairs that both provide great views of the course from both locations.

When it comes to value, Spring Valley is second to none in the Denver-Metro area, topping out at maximum of $74 dollars to ride 18 holes. The yearly memberships are also very reasonable and provide you with unlimited golf for the entire calendar year along with other privileges. Overall, Spring Valley provides an above average facility at a very competitive price point that is well worth the trek out of the city.