Milwaukee Country Club

Every American city has a club of record, but few such clubs enjoy the pedigree or sense of refinement that members and their fortunate guests here get to experience.

The club’s Charles Alison-designed course is a rarity in this country (Alison was most active overseas, including in Japan), as is the mid-round dive into a river valley that follows one of the tougher opening stretches in American parkland golf. From the perfect conditioning to the gracious membership to one of the very best clubhouses in the country, Milwaukee Country Club is as good as classic private golf gets.

I know praise of Milwaukee CC has been repeated ad nauseam, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that my experience there was simply sublime. The elements, rolling topography, and deceptive golf holes conjured memories of the Irish Co. Kildare. I played well into dusk, marinating in the club’s history and the lingering feeling that I was somewhere that holds weight in the world.

No two holes are alike on this small property, but they all share a feeling. The outward nine winds pleasantly around the west side of the exquisite clubhouse like a garden snake enjoying the sun. The inward nine braids itself with the Milwaukee River, creating shot opportunities that border on exhilarating. The routing leaves nothing to be desired; it’s beautiful and free-flowing like the river it sits on. I wouldn’t hesitate to play another round at Milwaukee (even in the pouring rain).