A Home Run Golf Trip: Fun Courses to Play in Milwaukee

The crack of the bat. The roar of the crowd. Watching baseball live is something special. And when that game is in October, you know it’s even more special. For fans of the national pastime, the World Series is the ultimate must-watch event, especially when your team is playing for the Championship.

The Brewers are making their first World Series appearance in 44 years and are hoping to win their first title ever. It’s a historic time for Milwaukee, and Brew Crew members from across the country will be heading to The Cream City. When they do, they’ll want to bring their golf clubs, too! After all, American Family Field even has an X Golf with simulators—right inside the stadium. Needless to say, Wisconsin loves golf.

Milwaukee has a bunch of great golf courses in the city and even more nearby. It’s actually hard to choose where to play. Milwaukee County Parks courses are a great place to start, with Brown Deer Golf Course as the crown jewel. Best known as the course where Tiger Woods made his professional debut, Brown Deer is a must-play for anyone looking to tee it up where golf legends have walked. Its thoughtfully designed layout, with a stream winding through many of the holes, makes it both fun to play and beautiful to take in. And be sure to save some energy for the signature 18th hole—a long, risk-reward par 5 and the perfect way to wrap up your round.

Whitnall Golf Course: A key feature in Milwaukee County’s largest park, Whitnall offers a fun challenge, with tree-lined fairways, dramatic elevation changes, and tricky greens. The par-5 12th is the signature hole, but the whole course is spectacular. Keep your shots in the fairway and below the hole, and you’ll have a great time.

 Oakwood Park Golf Course: Stretching over 7,000 yards from the tips, Oakwood Park will challenge you with its length, especially its par 5 that measures more than 600 yards. Bring your driver—you’ll have plenty of chances to use it. The good news is that the course is generally forgiving off the tee, so you can grip it and rip it and rely on your short game around the flatter greens to help you score well.

Drezka Golf Course: With water coming into play on 12 of its 18 holes, Drezka rewards thoughtful, well-placed shots. The challenge begins right on the first hole, where you’ll need to carry a river from an elevated tee. Elevation changes and trees add a little extra challenge, while the large, welcoming greens offer plenty of opportunity to score well. Bring your best game and enjoy the challenge.

If you’re short on time, Milwaukee has several par-3 and short courses to choose from. Two favorites are Lake Park Golf Course and Hansen Golf Course. Lake Park is a blast, with 18 holes under 85 yards, while Hansen is a great place to sharpen your irons, with 17 par 3s and one par 4.

If you’re up for the drive, you’ll find plenty of amazing courses in the Milwaukee area and beyond. Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run are well worth the 45–minute to hour-long drive. The Straits Course, host of the 2020 Ryder Cup and multiple PGA Championships, is a must for any golfer’s bucket list, and the other courses at Kohler are just as memorable. With crisp fall weather and colorful leaves, it might be the perfect time to visit!

If you love the challenge of Jack Nicklaus courses, The Bull at Pinehurst Farms is sure to become one of your favorites. Its layout offers a beautiful mix of risk-reward holes that blend naturally with the wetlands, woodlands, and rivers across its 400 acres— it’s a course you’ll remember for years to come. Staying with courses designed by legends, The Bog is a fun Arnold Palmer design built around its namesake, Cedarburg Bog. It winds through 297 acres of woods, wetlands, rolling hills, and wildlife habitat, making you feel far from the city. While Erin Hills is closed for the season, Washington County Golf Course offers another exciting links-style experience with rolling terrain, fescue, and large greens. It’s known as a course that rewards thoughtful play, almost like a game of chess with designer Arthur Hills. About an hour west, Grand Geneva Resort's 36 holes feel a world away from the bustle of the city and are a perfect escape if you want to relax after your round.  

While the main focus will be cheering on your team at Am Fam Field, Milwaukee has a lot of other fun sites to visit to fill your downtime between games and tee times.

Keeping with the Americana theme and the spirit of the National Pastime, be sure to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum. With more than 450 motorcycles and artifacts on display, it’s sure to rev your engine. After soaking it all in, it’s time to explore some of Milwaukee’s other museums. The Milwaukee Art Museum is a marvel from the outside, and even more incredible inside. The same goes for the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, also known as the Domes. And no trip to Milwaukee would be complete without a brewery tour. Best Place at Historic Pabst Brewery, Miller Brewing Company, and Pabst Mansion all offer tours that are great fun. Finally, head to the lakefront or take a stroll along the Riverwalk, snap a photo with the Bronze Fonz, visit the Old German Beer Hall and stop by Historic Third Ward and the Milwaukee Public Market — and be sure to treat yourself to brats, frozen custard and cheese curds while you’re in town too!