Lawsonia Links Course
Bill Langford and Ted Moreau built the Links Course at Lawsonia in 1930 and barely a bunker has moved since. A par 72 of 6,853 yards in Green Lake, Wisconsin, its bold geometry and famously elevated greens make it one of the great public golden-age courses in America.
Photo: Lawsonia via Google.
The verdict
The Links Course at Lawsonia is one of the best kept secrets in American golf, a 1930 Langford and Moreau design in rural Green Lake that has survived almost untouched and ridden the golden-age revival to national acclaim. A par 72 of 6,853 yards, it is the rare classic course that asks no introduction once you stand on the first tee: the bunkers are deep and geometric, the fairways wide and rolling, and the greens perched and severe in a way modern architects have spent decades trying to relearn.
What makes it special is the boldness. Langford and Moreau pushed earth into dramatic shapes, building elevated greens, steep fronts and the famous boxcar par 3, and the result is a course that thrills good players and rewards repeat play. It is regularly ranked among the best public courses in the country, and for a Wisconsin golf trip it belongs on the list alongside the better-known destination resorts.
Lawsonia Links Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1930
- Designer
- Langford and Moreau
- Type
- Golden-age parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,853 yds
- Green fee
- From about 120 dollars
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Lawsonia and leading course databases. The Links Course is a par 72 of 6,853 yards laid out by Bill Langford and Ted Moreau in 1930. The indicative green fee from about 120 to 175 dollars reflects 2026 peak summer rates and changes by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Lawsonia is a course of bold strokes. The fairways are generous, but the strategy lies in the angles, with the deep geometric bunkering and the elevated green sites dictating where a smart player aims off the tee. Miss on the wrong side and the recovery is steep and awkward; find the right angle and the course opens up.
The greens are the headline. Many sit well above the fairway with sharp, sloping fronts that repel a weak approach, so distance control and a confident, well struck iron are everything. The most famous is the par 3 over a raised green said to be built atop a buried railroad boxcar, a plateau that gathers nothing and gives back nothing to the tentative shot.
It is a relentlessly fun course to play and replay, the kind that rewards local knowledge and punishes the casual round. The conditioning has caught up with the architecture in recent years, and on firm summer turf the ground game Langford and Moreau intended comes fully alive.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public, daily-fee course; open to visiting golfers by tee time |
| Green fee | From about 120 to 175 dollars for 18 holes, indicative 2026 peak summer; rates vary by season, day and time |
| Booking | Book online or through the golf shop; reserve well ahead for summer weekends and stay-and-play packages |
| On the day | Walkable for the fit, caddies and carts available; a fine pairing with the second Lawsonia course on a stay |
| Getting there | Green Lake, central Wisconsin, about 90 minutes from Milwaukee and two hours from Chicago by car |
| Best months | May to October for the Wisconsin golf season, firmest and best in high summer |
Access and fees verified June 2026; daily-fee pricing changes by season and demand, so always confirm the current green fee and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Green Lake is a classic Midwestern resort town on Wisconsin's deepest inland lake, with lodging on site at Lawsonia and a handful of inns and resorts around the water. It is an easy weekend base, quiet and scenic, built for a golf-and-lake escape rather than nightlife.
For a fuller Wisconsin golf trip, Lawsonia pairs naturally with the destination resorts to the north, and many traveling golfers combine it with a stay at Sand Valley, including the short course The Sandbox, a couple of hours away.
Looking for a base in Green Lake? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Wisconsin golf trip
We arrange the Lawsonia tee times, pair them with the best of Wisconsin's golden-age and destination courses and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Lawsonia Links Course questions
Who designed the Lawsonia Links Course and when did it open?
The Links Course at Lawsonia was designed by Bill Langford and Ted Moreau and opened in 1930 in Green Lake, Wisconsin. It remains close to their original design.
What is the par and length of the Lawsonia Links Course?
The Links Course is a par 72 of 6,853 yards, known for wide fairways, deep geometric bunkers and bold, elevated greens with severe contours.
How much does it cost to play the Lawsonia Links Course?
Indicative green fees run from about 120 to 175 US dollars in the 2026 peak summer season. Rates change by season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Lawsonia Links Course?
Yes. Lawsonia is a public, daily-fee facility, so visiting golfers can book tee times. The peak season runs from spring through fall, so reserve ahead for summer weekends.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.