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Hardest Golf Courses in Wisconsin

The 25 most challenging golf courses in Wisconsin, ranked by maximum slope rating.

The hardest golf course in Wisconsin on Stymie is Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, designed by Pete Dye (opened in 1998). It carries a maximum slope rating of 152, stretching 7,790 yards from the back tees, placing it well above the USGA's neutral 113 and into the territory where bogey golfers should expect to lose 8-12 strokes versus their handicap. These 25 courses below are ranked by maximum slope rating, the single best proxy for "how punishing this course is" for the average golfer.

Across the full Stymie directory, the average maximum slope in Wisconsin is 129 — above the typical US state benchmark around 125. 18 courses in Wisconsin carry a slope of 140 or higher; a slope of 140+ is considered very difficult and demands accurate driving, distance control on iron shots, and patience around the greens.

If you're testing yourself or planning a buddy trip built around difficulty, start at the top of this list and play from a tee one set forward of your normal handicap range. Course difficulty is not the same as course quality — many of the hardest courses below also rank among the most enjoyable in the state, but the slope rating tells you to bring your A-game.

Ranked

Peak slope

152

Avg max slope

129

Slope 140+

Hardest Easiest Longest Oldest Newest

#	Course	City	Par	Slope
1	Whistling Straits#26 GD Black tees · 7,790 yds · Rating 77.2 · Par 72 · Pete Dye · 1998 · ResortSheboygan	Sheboygan	72	152
2	Big Fish Golf Course Black tees · 7,088 yds · Rating 74.5 · Par 72 · Pete Dye · 2003Hayward	Hayward	72	147
3	Troy Burne Golf Club Champions tees · 6,417 yds · Rating 77.2 · Par 71 · Tom Lehman · 1999Hudson	Hudson	71	146
4	River Edge Golf Course WHITE tees · 6,118 yds · Rating 75.9 · Par 73 · 1990Marshfield	Marshfield	73	146
5	Erin Hills#49 GD Black tees · 7,731 yds · Rating 77.9 · Par 72 · Michael Hurdzan · 2006Erin	Erin	72	145
6	Wild Ridge Golf Course Black tees · 7,019 yds · Rating 73.6 · Par 72Eau Claire	Eau Claire	72	143
7	Wildwood Marshes Golf Course Black tees · 7,000 yds · Rating 75.2 · Par 72Hayward	Hayward	72	143
8	Reedsburg Country Club Blue tees · 6,426 yds · Rating 77.7 · Par 72 · Hillingham · 1924Reedsburg	Reedsburg	72	143
9	North Hills Country Club Blue tees · 6,426 yds · Rating 78.5 · Par 73 · 1929Menomonee Falls	Menomonee Falls	73	142
10	Cumberland Golf Club White tees · 5,921 yds · Rating 75.3 · Par 72 · Don Herfort · 1990Cumberland	Cumberland	72	142
11	Blackwolf Run Black tees · 7,363 yds · Rating 75.6 · Par 72 · Pete Dye · 1988Kohler	Kohler	72	141
12	Green Bay Country Club Black tees · 7,097 yds · Rating 74.2 · Par 72 · Dick Nugent · 1995 · PrivateGreen Bay	Green Bay	72	141
13	Stevens Point Country Club Black tees · 6,890 yds · Rating 74.3 · Par 72 · Larry Roberts · 1962Stevens Point	Stevens Point	72	141
14	Hudson Country Club Blue tees · 6,447 yds · Rating 77.9 · Par 72 · 1955 · Semi_privateHudson	Hudson	72	141
15	Timber Ridge Golf Club White tees · 6,217 yds · Rating 76.3 · Par 72 · Roger Packard · 1976Minocqua	Minocqua	72	141
16	Horseshoe Bay Golf Club Black tees · 7,101 yds · Rating 74.7 · Par 72 · Rick Robbins and Brian Lussier · 2000Egg Harbor	Egg Harbor	72	140
17	Alpine Resort Golf Course BROWN tees · 7,045 yds · Rating 73.6 · Par 72Egg Harbor	Egg Harbor	72	140
18	Big Foot Country Club Blue tees · 6,753 yds · Rating 73.4 · Par 73 · Tom Bendelow · 1924 · PrivateFontana	Fontana	73	140
19	Pine Meadow Golf Club Black tees · 7,218 yds · Rating 74.8 · Par 72 · Glen Bartlett · 1960Eau Claire	Eau Claire	72	139
20	La Crosse Country Club Black tees · 7,164 yds · Rating 75.3 · Par 72 · Arthur Hills · 1994 · PrivateOnalaska	Onalaska	72	139
21	Eau Claire Golf and Country Club Vardon tees · 6,807 yds · Rating 73.1 · Par 71 · 1901Altoona	Altoona	71	139
22	Trappers Turn Golf Club Gold tees · 6,705 yds · Rating 73.0 · Par 72 · Andy NorthWisconsin Dells	Wisconsin Dells	72	139
23	The Legend at Bristlecone Black tees · 7,010 yds · Rating 74.4 · Par 71Hartland	Hartland	71	138
24	Abbey Springs Golf Course Walnut tees · 6,605 yds · Rating 72.6 · Par 72 · Ken Killian · 1971Fontana	Fontana	72	138
25	The Rock Golf Club White tees · 6,445 yds · Rating 78.7 · Par 72 · 1927Waupun	Waupun	72	138

Frequently asked questions

What is the hardest golf course in Wisconsin?

Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wisconsin is the hardest ranked course with a maximum slope rating of 152. Slope rating measures the difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer relative to a scratch player — 113 is average, 140+ is very difficult, and 155 is the maximum.

How many golf courses in Wisconsin have a slope rating of 140 or higher?

18 golf courses have a max slope rating of 140 or higher in Wisconsin based on the scorecards in the Stymie directory. A slope of 140 or above is considered very challenging for bogey golfers.

How does Wisconsin's average difficulty compare to the rest of the US?

The average maximum slope rating across golf courses in Wisconsin is 129, versus a US average around 125. A higher state average indicates courses that are, on the whole, tougher for mid-to-high handicap golfers.

What makes a golf course hard?

Course difficulty is driven primarily by slope rating (how much harder it plays for a bogey golfer than a scratch golfer), course rating (how a scratch golfer would score), total yardage, hazards (water, bunkers, forced carries), green speed, and rough length. Slope rating is the single best proxy for "how tough this course is."