Blackwolf Run River Course
Pete Dye's River Course winds along the Sheboygan River through the woods of Kohler, Wisconsin, a muscular, strategic test that has twice hosted the U.S. Women's Open. Water threatens on most of the back nine and Dye's bold shaping rewards the bold, on one of the great public courses of the American Midwest.
Photo: Blackwolf Run Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Pete Dye routed the River Course at Blackwolf Run along the banks of the Sheboygan River, and it opened as an eighteen hole layout in 1990 after the original Blackwolf Run holes were split into two courses. It is a par 72 that stretches to around 7,400 yards from the championship tees, and it is classic Dye: railroad ties, bold mounding, angled greens and water that gathers as the round goes on, in play on more than a dozen holes.
The River Course has tested the best women in the game, hosting the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 and again in 2012. For the travelling golfer it is one of the headline rounds at Destination Kohler, a resort that ranks among the finest public golf addresses in the United States, and a course that asks for both nerve and strategy from the first tee to the last.
Blackwolf Run River Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1990
- Designer
- Pete Dye
- Type
- Riverside championship
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 7,400 yds
- Green fee
- Around $300 to $495
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases; the River Course is a Pete Dye design playing to around 7,400 yards from the championship tees. It hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 and 2012. Green fees are indicative, in the region of 300 to 495 US dollars in the 2026 season, with resort guest rates and stay and play packages available. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The River Course earns its name. The Sheboygan loops through the property and Dye brings it into play again and again, never more so than on the closing stretch, where the water and the bold green complexes leave no margin for the careless shot.
Dye's trademarks are everywhere: tee shots angled across hazards, greens perched above the river, and bunkering shaped to deceive the eye. The par 5 ninth and the river holes on the back nine are the ones that decide a card, demanding committed lines over water rather than safe bailouts.
It is a course that rewards the player who thinks his way around, picks the right tees and accepts that par is a fine score. From the championship markers the River Course is among the toughest public tests in the country, the same examination the world's best women faced at two U.S. Women's Opens.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A public resort course at Destination Kohler; play is open to resort guests and visitors |
| Green fee | In the region of 300 to 495 US dollars in season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through Destination Kohler; stay and play packages bundle the round with the American Club |
| On the day | Caddies and carts available; play from the correct tees. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | In Kohler, Wisconsin, around an hour north of Milwaukee and its airport |
| Best months | May to October; high summer and early autumn offer the best Wisconsin conditions |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Destination Kohler is built for the golf traveller. The five star American Club anchors the resort, with the Inn on Woodlake a more relaxed option, and stay and play packages bundle the River Course with its sister courses and the famous Whistling Straits nearby.
With four championship courses between Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits, all within a short drive, Kohler is one of the great golf trips in the United States. The River Course is the place many golfers start.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Blackwolf Run and Kohler.
Build a Kohler golf trip
We arrange the Blackwolf Run round, the American Club stay and the full Destination Kohler itinerary, Whistling Straits included. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Blackwolf Run River Course questions
Who designed the River Course at Blackwolf Run and when did it open?
The River Course was designed by Pete Dye and opened as an eighteen hole layout in 1990, routed along the Sheboygan River at Destination Kohler in Wisconsin.
What is the par and length of the River Course?
The River Course is a par 72 that stretches to around 7,400 yards from the championship tees, with the Sheboygan River and Pete Dye's bold shaping in play across the course.
How much does it cost to play Blackwolf Run?
Indicative 2026 green fees sit in the region of 300 to 495 US dollars, with resort guest rates and stay and play packages available. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Has the River Course hosted major championships?
Yes. The River Course at Blackwolf Run hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 and again in 2012.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.