The Golf Courses of Lawsonia

I'm a huge L&M fan and have been fortunate to play many other courses designed and built by them. For example - Spring Valley and Kankakee Elks are staples for me that I play a few times every season. I always have a smile on my face making the 3 hour drive to Green Lake and Lawsonia.

Links is just so much old school fun it's a 5 star plus. And I rarely if ever hand out 5 stars on Golf Advisor.

Punched up greens with incredibly deep traps and drop offs - if you play conservatively/hit to middle of greens/don't short side/chip and putt decently you'll score well. You do have to play Links more than once - just to understand where to play to and club correctly. You can hit many different types of approach shots Bubba Watson shot creativity is often rewarded by Bill & Ted. Course was in great shape playing hard and fast as it should be. A first timer was with me very good with a short stick - had shock and awe at just how sneaky the Wyld Stallyns greens are. You'll absolutely hit some putts where you say - it breaks that way??

Several Links rounds under my belt - I find each play is always an excellent adventure. If I lived anywhere close to this place I'd definitely make this my home course. Wonderful that it still exists and fantastic the track was brought back to original as built glory. Highly recommended - a course any proficient golfer should absolutely visit and savor.

Woodlands was in very good shape and cleaned up/renovated a bit from my last play at least 3 years ago now. Has some really nice challenges.....many approach shots require at least a club or two extra....numerous uphill approach shots. With the famous Links course next door many don't even bother to get a round in on Woodlands. They are really missing out.....Woodlands is so different it makes for a great 36 hole day - recommend playing here in the morning/have lunch/a couple Spotted Cows on draft in the clubhouse....then go tackle the Links. Woodlands is a really solid tree lined golf course overshadowed by Links old school perfection. The 2nd quarry hole - what would be the right part of a larger second green still is growing in...they really should consider posting a sign on the tee box informing that you should play as far as you dare down the right side of the fairway left of the quarry as any ball that's left off the tee or short in the fairway will be blocked by a large tree left....you have to hit under it...so large and obtrusive of a tree near the left side of the green - any short iron shot will go right into its canopy and likely kick into penalty shot trouble. Par 5 18th still has the original green in play which is a ridiculous two tier with way too much slope to it - 3 and 4 putts galore. When they open the new 18th green appears the finishing hole will be shortened considerably eliminating the hard right uphill dogleg 3rd shot to the green. I'll probably be really disappointed. What they should do and strongly recommend is open the new green up and then renovate and redesign the current 18th green site and put a fair slope on it. The slope of 17th green is pretty out of hand as well. 4 stars. Recommend play wholeheartedly - definitely make the time to play Woodlands when you visit Lawsonia.

The Links Course at Lawsonia is one of my favorite courses I've played. It truly gets better every single time I play it. I last reviewed the Links in 2019, and I wanted to post an update with current thoughts.

The conditions at Lawsonia Links are the best I've ever seen. The course is playing fast and firm, and the greens are rolling really true.

The greens are incredibly interesting with so many possible pin placements. On the day we played they had an event on the course, so we were challenged with some very difficult pins. But this only made the course more fun!

I can't recommend Lawsonia Links highly enough. It's a great value, especially the All-Day rate. I will continue to go back as often as I can!

I last reviewed The Woodlands Course at Lawsonia in 2019. Since that time, the course has undergone significant changes, which includes filling in bunkers, removing trees, and cleaning out underbrush. Soon there will be a new 18th green too!

The updated Woodlands is so much better now, and I highly recommend it! The layout is much more playable, while still presenting a challenge and a beautiful setting with views of Green Lake. It will only get better when the new 18th green opens up.

The Woodlands course is never going to be the superstar at Lawsonia. It's sister-course, The Links, is one of the best courses you'll find anywhere. But, with the updates, The Woodlands is now a great Robin to The Links Batman, and is definitely a must-play in Wisconsin!

So much love out there for Lawsonia hate being (slightly) critical. Don't get me wrong it's a extremely fun course, the staff was great, the quirks are worth the visit and the value is second to none. But I would call it more Links "style" as the fairways while somewhat firm do not roll like a true links. Greens and tee boxes were pretty beat up, but again for the price, I'm not complaining. Driving range was closed as the picker was short parts they couldn't get, but who really cares it's all about the golf. Box car # 7 is super fun, as are so many approach shots. Do wish they'd cut the rough down was impossible to see a ball unless you're on top of it, and the whites @ ~6500 yards with the large greens made it play much more than 6500. In the afternoon for our second 18 we made it to # 12 and there were 4 groups on the hole at the same time, and thus cut our round short.

Lawsonia Links has incredible scale and visual deception is everywhere. It's amazing how well it holds up to the modern game. Despite being manufactured, it fits very well with the land and tests you around every corner. The conditions were a little soft and the pace of play was a little slower than I'd like, but I still had a blast and would definitely return. It's a pretty special golf course.

I was really looking forward to playing Lawsonia, but after playing it, I left wondering what I missed? I found myself bored by the layout and pace of play was terrible. I’d rather play Whistling Straits/Blackwolf Run or Sand Valley any day.

Second time I played here, great reputation, great service, good price, course conditions were very good, speedy round. Be aware before you play here, most of the holes have elevated greens, up 10-20 feet above fairway height, with very steep heavily grassed banks. So if you cannot make a high shot with soft landing you will be asked to make difficult pitch shots to the green on most of the holes. The greens are hard, fast and true; they do not hold anything but a perfect approach shot. I'm a 14 handicap with pretty good pitch shot skills, and it was very hard to get shots to hold the green.

The course was in great condition and beautiful. It is fair and fun to play. The greens are challenging. The staff is friendly and helpful. This is a must play for anybody.

Not worth the price they charge, Definitely not even close to number 4 Wisconsin rated golf courses. Construction going on on almost all the Woodlands course greens bunkers rock hard, don’t buy into the hype here. Very average at best

Course was scenic and in excellent condition
cart paths were a little rough
Several tees allowed flexibility for different levels and weather conditions
Greens were definitely the signature feature with varied undulations and crowning
Elevation changes added variety
No water hazards, but fescue and moderate rough
Well worth a trip and two different courses to add options

Just absolutely love this course, very challenging but fair. Every time I’m near Lawsonia I try to golf this course, You won’t be disappointed

A must play in South Central Wisconsin. The length is very manageable...stay out of the long grass. Made a snaking 50 footer...which makes sense because you see a lot of those. Greens were in good shape. Massive. The front 9 has several old barns that really give you the links feel. The back has wonderful views of the country and course.

Classic Langford & Moreau course with a wonderful restoration by Ron Forse. The greens defy description. The boxcar 7th green has to be seen in person. I am a huge fan of Bill Langford courses and this is his best.

Fairly tight course, but playable. Links course is maintained better.