Whistling Straits- The Irish
The American Club
Kohler Co is an American manufacturing company best known for it's plumbing products.
The company was founded by John Michael Kohler in 1873.
In 1900 the company set up the village of Kohler as a model company town for employees, many who came from overseas to work.
Central to the town of Kohler was The American Club which opened in 1918 as a showpiece for the immigrants to live, eat, & learn The American way.
Over time these workers assimilated into society and moved out to their own premises.
By 1978 it was time to repurpose the main building and Kohler refurbished the building extensively for 3 years before reopening it as a luxury accommodation provider.
Hence The American Club was reborn as an elegant resort...
Whistling Straits- The Irish- hole 7
With Herb Kohler now in charge golf was introduced to the resort.
In 1988 Blackwolf Run's River course was the first of four Pete Dye courses to open at The American Club, followed by The Meadow Valleys course in 1990.
Whistling Straits and The Irish followed in 1998 and 2000 respectively. The Baths at Blackwolf Run was added in 2021
Championships
Blackwolf Run hosted the U.S. Womens Open in 1998 and 2012, and The Andersen Consulting World Championships from 1995-1997.
The Straits course at Whistling Straits hosted the U.S.A PGA championships in 2004, 2010, and 2017 and The Ryder Cup in 2021
The Irish
Whistling Straits- The Irish- hole 1
Whistling Straits- The Irish- hole 6
Herb Kohler had enormous respect for Pete Dye, so it was no surprise that he engaged him to build all four of the championship courses at The American Club.
Like it's big brother The Straits, The Irish was initially pancake flat land.
However The Irish does not have Lake frontage- it is inland of The Straits course.
Dye brought in enormous amounts of sand and soil and created a dramatic links course reminscent of the courses on the west coast of Ireland
There are some amazing holes- some of the longer and shorter holes are so quirky they will have you laughing out loud
It can be challenging, but is a hoot to play!
Whistling Straits- The Irish- hole 11
Golf Tours
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