Whistling Straits Irish Course
The other Whistling Straits. While the Straits Course steals the headlines along Lake Michigan, Pete Dye's inland Irish is a championship test in its own right, a links inspired sweep of streams, dunes and wild bunkering that locals quietly rate as the better value round at Destination Kohler.
Photo: Whistling Straits via Google.
The verdict
Whistling Straits is two courses, and the one everyone knows is the Straits, the lakeside monster that has hosted three PGA Championships and the 2021 Ryder Cup. Its companion, the Irish, opened the same year, in 2000, and was also shaped by Pete Dye with his longtime associate Chris Lutzke. Set back from the lake on rolling inland ground, it is a links in spirit rather than a true coastal course, with four streams winding through, grassy dunes piled high, and the architect's signature bunkering scattered everywhere the eye lands.
The Irish lives in the shadow of its famous neighbor, and that is precisely its appeal. It is a genuine championship layout at a par of 72 of around 7,201 yards, conditioned to the same exacting Kohler standard, but it asks a fraction of the green fee and, unlike the walking only Straits, it permits carts. For the travelling golfer building a Kohler week, the Irish is the smart play: the same Dye drama and the same immaculate turf, with a softer price and an easier walk.
The Irish at a glance
- Opened
- 2000
- Designer
- Pete Dye, Chris Lutzke
- Type
- Links style
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 7,201 yds
- Green fee
- Around $200 to $380
Designer, year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Destination Kohler and leading course databases. The Irish plays to a par of 72 of around 7,201 yards. Green fees are indicative, roughly 200 dollars off peak to around 380 dollars in the peak summer months of 2026, with caddie and cart options, and a Destination Kohler lodging stay is required to book. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Irish trades the Straits' clifftop theatre for something gentler but no less crafted. Dye routed it across moving ground, with the four streams that thread the property coming into play again and again, and grassy dunes that frame the holes and hide the next shot. The bunkering is unmistakably his, ragged edged and plentiful, demanding that you think your way around rather than overpower the course. From the correct tees it is a fair and rewarding test; from the back markers it has all the length and bite of a tournament course.
The greens are the examination. As at every Dye design, they are firm, contoured and quick, asking for control of trajectory and spin into targets that repel the loose approach. The closing holes gather the streams and bunkers into a strong finish, the kind that decides a friendly match on the last green. It never lets up, but it never feels unfair, and that balance is why so many Kohler regulars come back to the Irish as often as the Straits.
For the travelling golfer, the Irish is half of a perfect Kohler pairing. Play it alongside the Straits for the two faces of Pete Dye in Wisconsin, lakeside drama and inland craft, then add the two courses at Blackwolf Run nearby for one of the great golf weeks in the American Midwest.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to guests of a Destination Kohler property; advance tee times require a lodging stay, booked through the resort or your trip planner |
| Green fee | Around 200 dollars off peak rising to around 380 dollars at peak summer, well below the flagship Straits, with caddie and cart options (indicative) |
| Booking | Book lodging and tee times together well ahead; the prime June to early October season fills quickly across the four Kohler courses |
| On the day | Unlike the walking only Straits, the Irish permits golf carts; caddies are available for those who want the full Kohler experience |
| Getting there | At Sheboygan on the Wisconsin lakeshore, around an hour north of Milwaukee and two and a half hours from Chicago |
| Best months | June to early October for the warmest, driest lakeshore golf weather; the season is short, so book early |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from Destination Kohler; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Booking the Irish means staying at Destination Kohler, and the choice is easy: The American Club, a five star, country house style hotel a short shuttle from the courses, is the heart of the resort and the reason tee times are reserved for lodging guests.
The resort's other properties, the Inn on Woodlake by the lake and the village lodgings in Kohler, offer simpler bases within the same booking, all with access to the four courses and the spa.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Kohler.
Build a Kohler golf trip
The Irish is half of a great Wisconsin golf week. We pair it with the Straits and the two courses at Blackwolf Run, sort the lodging at The American Club and the tee times, and price the trip to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge handles the rest, with no obligation.
Whistling Straits Irish questions
Who designed the Irish Course at Whistling Straits?
The Irish Course was designed by Pete Dye with Chris Lutzke and opened in 2000, the same year as its famous sibling the Straits. It is the inland of the two Whistling Straits courses, set back from Lake Michigan and laced with streams, dunes and Dye's trademark bunkering.
What is the par and length of the Irish Course?
The Irish plays to a par of 72 and measures around 7,201 yards from the back tees, a full championship test that rewards driving and demands control around Dye's contoured greens.
How do I play the Irish Course at Whistling Straits?
The Irish is open to guests staying at a Destination Kohler property, who book it as part of a golf stay. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly from around 200 dollars off peak to around 380 dollars at peak season, with caddie and cart options, and it is priced well below the flagship Straits. Always confirm current rates and lodging packages directly before booking.
Is the Irish Course walkable?
Yes. Unlike the caddie only, walking only Straits, the Irish permits golf carts, which makes it the more accessible of the two Whistling Straits courses while still offering caddies for those who want the full experience.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.