The PGA Championship happens next week in Kohler, Wis., but just because Whistling Straits will be overrun with tour players doesn't mean you won't be able to reasonably approximate the tournament experience for your own game.
Sixty miles south of Kohler, you can play Brown Deer Park Golf Course -- the jewel of the Milwaukee County Parks system, and home of the PGA Tour's Greater Milwaukee Open from 1994-2009.
You might remember the venue as the place where Tiger Woods had his famous "Hello, world" press conference and played his first tournament as a professional. (He tied for 60th that week. Insert your own jokes/wagers about how Woods will do in the PGA here...)
Designed by George Hansen in 1929 and updated by Andy North and Roger Packard, Brown Deer's teeth come in the form of deep rough, tight driving lanes and abundant water. It isn't a mystery why precision players like Corey pain, Carlos Franco, Jeff Sluman and Loren Roberts were past winners.
In August, you can take advantage of two different tee time specials and get a tour-level experience for Midwestern prices. The Brown Deer Foursome deal offers four green fees and two electric carts for $200, and can be redeemed anytime during the week or after 2 p.m. on weekends. If you want to watch golf in Kohler in the morning and play later, you can show up at 5:30 and play unlimited golf until dark for $23, walking only.
Either option leaves plenty of time for a trip to Karl Ratzsch's and helping of Black Forest schnitzel and onion rings.
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