Hidden Glen At Bentdale Farms

The Good: Hidden Glen at Bentdale Farms is a crazy good, quirky P.B. Dye design amongst old farmland with no protection from gusty Wisconsin winds. What starts as a fairly benign course rachets up starting on the 3rd hole and never looks back. Superbly conditioned for April with fun, demanding greens that putt absolutely true. Interesting Par-4 variety including several holes with blind tee shots or approaches, as well as fantastic closing holes for each nine around a man-made lake. Beautiful clubhouse with excellent view of the course, as well as expansive driving range & short game area to round out the amenities. The PGA staff were very friendly and made our group feel like home.

The Bad: I’m not a huge fan of as many blind shots, particularly on the short approach shot on the Par-4 15th. The greens did not hold well, which is exacerbated by no protection from the windy elements. The 3rd & 4th holes navigating the large pond are a little too quirky for my taste. I hit several approach shots that I thought were appropriate distance that bounced 5-feet in the area and went over the green. The Par-5’s, other than the awesome closing hole, are fairly forgettable.

The Verdict: Hidden Glen is a very fun track that will undoubtedly be even more enjoyable after getting several rounds there under your belt. A modest, friendly private club without any pretension.

Best Hole: I really enjoyed the finishing hole, a mid-length Par-5 that requires a drive that first navigates a pond right and sand traps/trees left, then revealing an uphill approach to one of the most challenging greens on the course.