Lawsonia Links offers terrific golf at an inviting rate. In this golf course review, I will cover Lawsonia Links interesting holes, the overall golf experience and reasons to visit. The Golf Courses at Lawsonia is home to two golf courses; The Links and The Woodlands. This review is focused on Lawsonia Links.
Lawsonia Links is a must-see golf course for all visiting the central part of the state. A short drive from Madison and Milwaukee, Lawsonia Links should be on your short list for a Wisconsin golf road trip. Personally, I love Lawsonia Links which will come through in my golf course review.
Golf Course Overview
Lawsonia Links was built in the 1930s by Bill Langford and Ted Moreau. The architect combo used steam shovels to move dirt and develop its propped up green signature. More on the architecture can be found in The Fried Egg blog. Visitors will notice the green complexes breaking free from the Earth as they drive onto the golf grounds. The immense slopes billow throughout the course waiting to be challenged by golfers.
Lawsonia keeps its green fees at a reasonable rate all season long. At its peak, The Links will cost less than $100 to walk for all day play. On that note, Lawsonia Links is incredibly comfortable to walk. The course is compact without feeling condensed. The distance from greens to tees are comfortably close. In my opinion, golf carts only get in the way of enjoying the golf course.
Lawsonia Links prides itself on being available to the public let alone being a wonderful golf course. The course has been revitalized over the past decade with thoughtful restoration by the Oliphant Companies. This restoration helped launch the recognition and rise in the ranks of public courses.
The First 9 Holes
The first hole starts with a blind tee shot on a dogleg par 4. Golfers will immediately appreciate the use of steam shovels on the first green. Going long on hole 1 will leave a chip shot up a 15 foot wall to get back on the green! This is only the beginning of difficult shots to come if approach shots are just a bit offline.
Fairway sand and grass bunkers are perfectly placed throughout the course making the golfer think about their path to the hole – and even then, it is not an obvious route.
After a four hole warmup of tough par 4s and a par 3, the par 5 hole #5 awaits. The hole measures 487 yards from the back tees and does not scare by distance alone. Birdies are available. The hole architecture will serve as the memory from this hole. The view will be sure to impress as you recognize the elevation drop to the green.
A wonderful stretch of golf holes will bring golfers past the Snack Shop at the turn. Grab a bratwurst and New Glarus to gear up for the second 9 holes!
The Second 9 Holes
The second 9 holes starts with possibly the toughest hole on the course. At 239 yards, this par 3 will challenge any golfer. This hole will also give you a glimpse into how the architects used bunkers to trick the eye. The bunker appears to be right in front of the green but approximately 30 yards sits between it and the front of the green.
The par 5 hole 11 awaits after a difficult start to the back nine and your tee shot must clear a deep grass bunker sitting 200 yards in the distance. This type of strategy is what I admire most about Lawsonia Links. There are so many shot options for golfers each requiring varying degrees of skill.
The pars are evenly distributed on the back (3) par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s each. This type of scorecard makes for terrific scoring opportunities especially when the holes do not feel repeated in any fashion. Unique undulation and challenge are found at hole.
Memorable Holes
Hole 7 – Par 3, 161 Yards
The 7th hole, named “Boxcar”, has a back story with the train boxcar that was buried under the green. The underground boxcar gives the elevated green its desired shape. Focus on hitting the green or bogey and worse will await.
Hole 13 – Par 5, 568 Yards
The 13th hole is magnificently designed taking golfers on a wave towards the final destination. Think strategically about your layup in order to make par (or birdie). Courses like Lawsonia Links will make golfers reconsider their par 5 approach method.
The Golf Experience
Finally, the vibe at Lawsonia Links is laid back and welcoming. This experience will make it an annual visit for me living only an hour away. I hope you enjoyed this golf course review of Lawsonia Links. Please comment or reach out to me on Instagram if you would like to catch a round together!
