23 articles
A practical Whistling Straits first-timer guide built from current August 16, 2026 Kohler policies, Straits scorecard details, and hole notes so you can handle the walking, caddie spend, and shot choices without turning the day into expensive chaos.
Planning Erin Hills for the first time gets much easier when you know the walking-only rules, real round length, caddie costs, tee-yardage bands, and the simple strategy checkpoints that keep the place from becoming a five-hour ego tax.
A practical 2026 Bethpage Black first-timer guide built from current official reservation rules, fee sheets, and course policies, plus the on-course strategy checkpoints that keep the place from kicking your teeth in.
Old Macdonald is the Bandon round for golfers who like width off the tee, chaos on the greens, and strategy that keeps poking you in the ribs. This practical 2026 review covers current green fees, walking-only logistics, caddie costs, aerification dates, and whether Old Mac is actually worth prioritizing.
Pacific Dunes is the Bandon course everybody wants to brag about first. This practical 2026 review covers current rates, the 21-day day-guest premium rule, walking-only logistics, caddie costs, and whether Tom Doak's ocean-front headliner deserves top billing on your trip.
Mammoth Dunes is the Sand Valley round for golfers who want width, freedom, and walking-only fun instead of survival golf. This practical review covers current 2026 resort pricing, caddie costs, walking logistics, and why Mammoth may be the smartest joy-first splurge in Wisconsin.
A practical one-night Sand Valley trip guide for golfers trying to fit Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes into one clean visit. This 2026 guide covers current rate windows, caddie math, walking realities, and the smartest round order.
Bandon Trails is the Bandon course for golfers who want more strategy, more variety, and less nonstop ocean flex. This practical 2026 review covers current fees, day-guest booking realities, walking-only logistics, caddie costs, and why Trails may be the most satisfying round at the resort.
Spyglass Hill is the Pebble-area public round for golfers who want more grind, more strategy, and slightly less brand-theater than Pebble Beach itself. This practical 2026 review covers booking rules, current fee range, caddie costs, cart-path-only logistics, and whether it is worth the money.
A practical Whistling Straits review built from current official Kohler course details, 2026 golf policies, caddie fees, and travel logistics so you can decide whether the Straits Course is actually worth the trip.
Sheep Ranch is the Bandon course built to show off the Pacific without apologizing for it. This practical 2026 review covers current rates, caddie costs, booking rules, practice-range logistics, aeration dates, and whether the views justify the money.
Ozarks National is the Big Cedar course for golfers who want more strategy and less spectacle. This practical 2026 review covers current public rates, caddie costs, booking windows, aeration dates, and whether the Coore-Crenshaw design is worth building a Missouri trip around.
Payne's Valley is the loudest public-golf flex in Missouri for a reason. This practical 2026 review covers current Big Cedar rates, forecaddie costs, rider fees, aeration windows, and whether the Tiger Woods design is actually worth building a trip around.
Forest Dunes is one of the smartest public-golf trip bases in the Midwest. This practical 2026 review covers current greens fees, replay math, lodging rates, and why the Roscommon property works so well for golfers who want more than one great round.
Bandon Dunes is not just the course that started the resort. It is still one of the smartest first bookings on property if you want huge views, real wind decisions, and a cleaner introduction to Bandon's golf than the hype machine usually admits.
Bethpage Black is not the prettiest bucket-list round in America, but it might be the sharpest value. This practical review covers current 2026 rates, booking rules, walking demands, and why the Black is still absolutely worth the trouble.
SentryWorld is not the rugged walking-architecture flex of Wisconsin golf. It is a polished, fully inclusive public round with enough practical trip value to justify the price if you want comfort, service, and a strong course in one stop.
Sand Valley is not subtle. The original course at the Wisconsin resort is a walking-heavy, firm-and-fast public round that absolutely deserves a place on a serious Midwest golf trip.
Erin Hills is not a casual muni detour. This Hartford public course is a full walking-day commitment with real 2026 rate pain, huge glacial terrain, and enough golf substance to justify the splurge if you want a Wisconsin headliner.
Arcadia Bluffs is not subtle. This Lake Michigan public-course giant is expensive, visually loud, and very much worth the trip if you want one of the biggest golf experiences in the Midwest.
Lawsonia Links does not need resort flash to matter. This Green Lake public course offers bold architecture, practical value windows, and one of the smartest Midwest golf-trip rounds you can book if you know what kind of day you actually want.
American Dunes is not just a flag-waving branding exercise. This Grand Haven public course has real architecture, real meaning, and enough practical trip value to justify the drive if you build the day correctly.
Indiana golf is way better than outsiders assume. If you want a practical trip guide, these are the Indiana courses and destinations that are actually worth your time.