Viroqua Hills Golf Course Review

Viroqua Hills is a golf course “hidden gem” in Wisconsin; this blog will cover both a golf course review and persuade you to visit the area. In the heart of the Driftless Region and Vernon County, Viroqua Hills golf course delivers on the beautiful landscape this area is known for. Couple that with challenging and fun golf holes and you have a destination for golfers in the western Wisconsin region.

Some may say a golf course review should remove emotion from the assessment, but for me, Viroqua Hills is different. Emotion is what draws us to the game. Memories from playing with old and new friends are the things you carry for a lifetime. Stories from these rounds are the best part of the game. And one of the many reasons I love golf. Viroqua Hills brings a different level of emotion for me, therefore, (spoiler alert) this will be a favorable golf course review.

Viroqua & Golf Course Overview

The town of Viroqua, WI is my birthplace and nestled southeast of La Crosse, WI by ~30 miles traveling by Hwy 14. Visitors will find the trek to be a beautiful drive. The town has seen a recent resurgence from artisans across several disciplines. This movement has brought life to its downtown community while also placing value on the robust farmland throughout the area. Recommendation: check out the weekly (in season) Farmer’s Market on display just past downtown on Main Street.

Onto golf, Viroqua Hills opened its second nine holes in 1996 making it a must play in the region. The expansion to 18 holes solidified the golf course in the area all competing for golfer’s time. The golf course is split by Hwy 14 with the first 3 holes from the “old” nine on one side before crossing through a tunnel to play holes 4 through 12 – then back over. I could not find documentation on the architect of the “new” nine holes but will be sure to ask during my next visit.

Architecture

Viroqua Hills does not play like a traditional parkland course although it does share similar characteristics. The newly built nine holes on the east side of Hwy 14 are a delicate blend between links and parkland golf. The elevation changes, rolling fairways and elevated + undulating greens bring a challenge to all golfers.

The yardage, at 6,300 yards, does not scare a golfer at first glance but the unseen will soon make an appearance. This includes slanted fairways, blind approach shots and fast, elevated greens. Tally up these characteristics and you have a fun round of golf. I have played Viroqua Hills many times, so there are holes categorized as my favorites. Narrowed down to three, I have listed my top holes below.

Top Holes

Hole 3 – Par 4 400 yards

The rush of cars cruising down Hwy 14 is enough to distract any golfer but having the road only 10 yards down the left for OB is crippling even for the unnerved. This 400 yard par 4 requires a good tee shot to reach a pin that can be located on one of three tiers. Add in downhill slopes and the shot becomes more difficult. Golfers will feel the need to guard the left but it will put them out of position on the approach. This hole demands a confident tee shot which is not always available on the third hole. Accept bogey here and move on.

Hole 8 – Par 5 477 yards

The second par 5 of the first 9 will have you thinking birdie (because you will likely need it). A severe dog leg left has many leaving the driver in the bag playing position golf off the tee. Once the corner is turned, a 100-year old oak tree awaits on the right at 120 yards out This is the green’s defense. To reach in two, the path is either a cut shot around or over it. Both difficult shots. The green has been redone in the last decade and will give up birdies but reading the breaks are tricky. Local knowledge is needed to find the high point on this green as it is nestled in a valley. Trust your line.

Hole 11 – Par 5 484 yards

Considered Viroqua Hills’ signature hole, this 90-foot drop from the member tees delivers quite the view. Golfers can see for miles across the driftless region leaving many in awe. This view is why you came to Viroqua. The steep drop makes light work of the 495 yardage bringing birdie into mind. The blind approach will bring doubt, however. Water lurks on the right and long so choose the right club. Short of the green can still produce a 4.

Recommendations

All golf courses have room for improvement. Improvement requires money. Viroqua Hills membership comes with a modest cost equating to a modest budget. Regardless, the course is always in top notch shape each August. But again, improvement lists haunt a golf course just like our very own “honey do” lists. Below are some suggestions to modify the course routing.

Course Routing

At par 71 with a 37/34 split, the course is set up as a tale of two nines. Getting to a par 72 would require extending a hole somewhere on the back nine. My recommendations are a series of changes to reach a par 72 and even out the routing of the two nines.

1) Build a par 3 on the north side of hole 8, west of hole 7. There is a large swath of land here that would put a needed second par 3 on the first nine holes. A unique hill with cascading large rocks sits in this space making for a great, multi-tier tee box.

2) Eliminate hole 15. This is a short par 3 on the second nine that already has two other par 3s on the side.

3) Extend hole 14 into a par 5 using the eliminated hole 15 as it sits at the end of the existing green.

Course routing changes do not come without consequences. These modifications would cause serious congestion at the 250 yard mark on hole 14 since players would play more aggressively due to it being a par 5. Both the green for hole 17 and tee box for hole 18 are nestled here and must be moved. Hole 17 could move further back as there is room for the tee box to move back 100 yards. The tee boxes on hole 18 would need to be moved up in front of the rock hill instead of on the left of it. Neither change is overwhelming, just comes with a cost.

Conclusion

This golf course review of Viroqua Hills includes my overwhelming favoritism. I admit it. But I believe golf courses should make you feel something. Viroqua Hills does that for me. I have played the course with my dad, brother, uncle, multiple cousins and friends from the past and now new friends. Every round has been enjoyable because the golf course delivers a challenge while accepting all levels of golfers.

My recommendation is for golfers to visit both Viroqua and Viroqua Hills. Viroqua will deliver on your inner artisan while the golf course allows you a chance to beat your handicap. However, you will shoot 5 strokes higher than you think you should. And for this reason, it will keep you coming back. At $40 a round, you do not have an excuse not to. Check out my other course reviews at GolfWisely.com!