Destination: Milwaukee

text size

Daniel/Getty Images

Brown Deer Golf Course hosted the 2009 U.S. Bank Championship on the PGA TOUR, won by Bo Van Pelt.

Aug. 9, 2010
By LINKS Magazine

Although the Greater Milwaukee Open wasn't played in 2010, the PGA TOUR returns to the area for the PGA Championship, held up the road at Whistling Straits. The event gives golf fans another chance to explore the city that has been transformed from the largest beer producer in the world into a charming lakefront destination featuring festivals, arts centers, historic neighborhoods and a lively restaurant scene -- not to mention the amount of tremendous golf courses.

LINKS Magazine has partnered with PGATOUR.COM to provide information and features on the best golf courses in the country. For a special LINKS Magazine subscription offer for PGATOUR.COM readers, please click here.

More Destinations

Destination: The American Club Resort
Check out our archive page

WHERE TO PLAY

The Bog: Winding through a mix of woodland and wetland, this 7,221-yard Arnold Palmer design just north of town is among the best public courses in Wisconsin. The challenging layout requires a solid tee-to-green game to avoid the numerous hazards.

Brown Deer Golf Course: It may be easy to underestimate this muni, which measures just 6,729 yards. But with tree-lined fairways and plenty of water hazards, the jewel of the Milwaukee parks system was plenty tough and interesting enough to be a TOUR stop for years.

Erin Hills: Under new ownership, the 2017 U.S. Open host is now open again after an extensive redesign by original architects Dana Fry and Mike Hurdzan. While the duo made numerous changes to the wild, rolling layout, what remains are the massive dunes that give the course its epic size and scale.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Metro: Located in the heart of downtown and close to great restaurants, bars and shopping on Milwaukee Street, this boutique hotel is eco-friendly and has an Art Deco flair.

Iron Horse: A century-old warehouse has been transformed into a boutique hotel that caters to motorcycle riders visiting the nearby Harley-Davidson Museum with touches like special parking spaces and in-room storage for boots and helmets. But you don't have to be a rider to enjoy a stay at this luxurious property.

Pfister: Resembling New York City's famed Plaza in both architecture and service, this historic luxury institution located three blocks from Lake Michigan is popular among visiting celebrities and dignitaries.

WHERE TO EAT

Bacchus: Complementing the sleek, stylish d�cor and an elegant outdoor patio is the sophisticated menu, which includes fresh seafood like Maine lobster and Alaskan halibut, cheese plates and an impressive wine list.

Carnevor: Downtown Milwaukee is loaded with great steakhouses, but this chic restaurant with a tri-level interior is perhaps the best. And the multi-person "swarm service" means diners never have to worry about tracking down a waiter.

Sanford: This Milwaukee institution serves up seasonal dishes from an eclectic menu featuring American, French, Mediterranean and contemporary ethnic cuisine. If you're feeling adventurous, try the seven-course tasting menu.