$65 worth of muni on your Wisconsin golf trip

A modern golf outing can be many things but it is usually one thing: it is expensive. It’s hard to squeeze the truth in there. The increased demand for tee times has allowed resorts and courses to drive higher prices than they thought possible.

It’s a nice problem to have – a customer base we’re willing to use – but the problem that makes travel near and dear to my heart – Wisconsin golf travel – expensive. Good, for the record, and worth it – but not cheap. Play all the hits in Badger State and earn around $300 per round.

But in the holy triangle of Wisconsin golf is a must-see, the Washington County Golf Course – an hour southwest of Whistling Straits, two hours southeast of Sand Valley, and just 15 minutes north of Erin Hills. And at only $65 for the usual vegetarian charge, it’s the perfect runner for all-around bucket list courses.

Need a day trip from Erin Hills to Sand Valley? Start in Washington County. Need to feel like you’re saving after shelling out $500+ for Whistling Straits? Washington County will feel like a fiver. To some extent, that’s exactly the variety some of us want. We search to pay for our golf. We search subscribing to several bucket lists. But we might also want to use a few affordable tracks in the itinerary to balance it all out. However, how does one choose those subjects?

We see it starts with our best courses to play for $100 or less list, which started last week. As a venue, Washington County sings an almost identical song to another course on that list: Commonground GC, in Denver. It’s wide open, with fescue hills lining snakey fairways. Like the outcrop of Commonground, this part of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine can be windy and strong. The grass is green but will play like it’s yellow, barring any mid-summer thunderstorms. WCGC should feel comfortable. Your tee shots will do roll over. We love that.

Its neighbor to the south, Erin Hills, is a local gem, but at times WCGC can feel like the municipality’s little brother. It won’t compare to the 2017 US Open host, but it’s not trying. If Erin Hills is loud and blasts music like concert speakers in an arena, WCGC is soft, like a portable, portable speaker you use while cooking in the kitchen. Depending on the day or trip or time of year, the same song can feel different and beautiful at the same time.

Looking for an affordable golf course near you? Visit our new Course Finder tool and search by price!