PGA Professional: Chris Goodwick, PGA General Manager, Wild Rock Golf Club, Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., (608) 253-4653, info@wildrockgolf.com

October 6, 2008
By Chris Goodwick, PGA 

Wild Rock: A Brand-New Creature Emerges from the Wilderness

Day 1
The Wilderness Resort at Wisconsin Dells is located among the sandstone cliffs that line the banks of the Wisconsin River, boasts the title of “America’s Largest Waterpark Resort” and offers over 30 different lodging options, from a hotel to villas and from condominiums to cabins. The resort is often frequented by guys on a golf trip, and with condo units that sleep up to 16 people and cabins that can fit up to 20, the resort can accommodate any group of golfers, large or small, men or women.

The resort offers spring and fall golf packages, which attract groups of guys and couples. Guests often include larger groups of guys renting one or more of the large cabins or condos and playing two rounds during a Friday through Sunday stay. Many summer vacationers play one to three times depending on their enthusiasm for golf. Among its accommodations, Wilderness has 16 three-bedroom golf course cabins, which feature an outdoor deck, two-way fireplace and a full kitchen and breakfast bar.

Wild Rock Golf Course, which opened on May 1, 2008, is a new course reflecting the character of the terrain it was built upon. The golf holes play up, over and down enormous glacial “dunes,” and in several instances over and through old abandoned quarries. The idea was to create an environmentally responsible golf course with a natural, unspoiled look. For example, the sand bunkers were designed to look like natural erosions in the sandy soil. Holes are separated by grand old trees, flowing streams, ponds, natural sandy waste areas, and wispy fescue grasses.

The minimalist look of the course in no way diminishes the attention to detail and quality of the playing surfaces, which provide some of the finest golf playing conditions in the region. Although the course is new, everyone who has played it seems to have a different idea of what constitutes the signature hole. The sequence of holes 14, 15 and 16, which play through and around one of the quarries and rock piles are as challenging as they look, so be happy to make par – if you can.

For golfers who prefer holes to include water, the fourth hole plays along and over a pond. Those challenged by tree-lined holes with impressive fairways might select holes 10, 11 and 12 as their favorites. Everyone will find the views from the number six tee of the rolling Wisconsin hills to be one of the prettiest holes anywhere.

No matter what hole you favor, remember this is a championship golf course and you have to bring game to match: the variety of holes, their elevations and lengths demand it. The large tract of land the course was created on means large fairways, while architects Hurdzan and Fry protected some of the shorter holes with formidable green complexes, while other greens are fairly simple and vary in size depending on the shots required for the hole. The course features older, weathered bunkers that fit into the landscape of the Wisconsin Dells, which were dug out by hand and left to erode, giving them a natural appearance that fits the terrain.

After having your fill of golf for the day, what better way to wind down with your companions than an exquisite meal. With the large number of visitors who travel to Wisconsin Dells, there are a number of eateries to choose from. But perhaps one of the most famous is Field’s at the Wilderness, a steakhouse designed by James Dresser, a renowned protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. The structure matches the style of the master with character and ambience to match. The restaurant has a wood-burning oven, with a kitchen serving up everything from prime rib and grilled lamb chops to baked diver scallops and veal piccata. Many visitors cannot believe that a restaurant of this level of service and food taste exists here.

Day 2
If you want to work off the previous evening’s meal, the Wilderness Resort is fully equipped for the athletically inclined, with four separate fitness center equipped with top-of-the-line workout equipment, with a lap pool and saunas also available. Of course, the more outdoor-inclined probably didn’t travel to Wisconsin Dells to work out in a gym, and the resort has a network of trails to enjoy a brisk morning walk or run.

Eat breakfast at the Wild Canyon Cafe, located in the resort’s Wilderness Hotel Complex. If you don’t feel like walking, the Wilderness On-Site Shuttle buses are available to transport you from your cabin to the restaurants, waterparks, or other areas of the resort.

After breakfast at the Wild Canyon Café, try your luck fishing on the Wisconsin River, which has a reputation for being some of the best fishing in the area. The staff at the River’s Edge Bait Shop can set you up with everything you need for a day of angling. If you’re not up for fishing, it is still easy to spend a day on the at “America’s Largest Waterpark Resort,” and while its three indoor and three outdoor waterparks might appear at first to be kids’ stuff, rest assured that children of the grown-up variety like them just as much. Then there are the “dry parks,” like the Wilderland, where you can set up for a day of fund in the sun by a number of ponds, complete with benches and grilling and picnicking areas, and game rentals for a variety of lawn games such as volleyball, croquet and Bocce ball. The Dodge ‘Em City Dry Park also has a rock climbing wall for those who are “up” for it.

The Wilderness Resort is just one of Wisconsin Dells’ attractions that make the area so popular that three million people a year come to visit. The area became famous over 100 years ago for the sandstone cliffs that line the Wisconsin River and hills and hidden canyons abound throughout the area. Rich with wildlife, the Dells offers an abundance of fishing, hunting, hiking and boating.

Trapper’s Turn Golf Club is located only a few minutes from Wilderness and features three nine-hole courses: the Arbor, Canyon and Lake Nines. These rolling, wooded parkland courses promise to be challenging but fair to all golfers. Water comes into play on 13 holes and there is a ratio of three acres of rough for every one of fairway. The Canyon Nine draws its name from its number 7 hole, where an elevated tee shot must drop onto a small green nestled a glacial canyon.

For dinner, try Sarento’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, located a short shuttle ride from Wilderness. Sarento’s offers the full range of Italian dishes and pizzas in a casual setting, with several different dining areas available to match your party’s needs.

If you are still in need of recreation after dinner, the Ho-Chunk Casino is just four miles down Highway 12 in Barabaoo. This gaming facility is open 24 hours a day, with blackjack, poker, craps, bingo, off-track betting, more than 2,400 slot machines, and video poker, as well as a high-stakes blackjack room for bigger bets.

Day 3
The final day of your stay at Wilderness can have just as many choices as the first two. You can battle your way across the quarries at Wild Rock Golf Club, or you can relax at the Sundara Spa at the Wilderness, where the simple-to-follow menu of spa treatments is built around relaxation and rejuvenation. The treatments incorporate botanicals and minerals indigenous to Wisconsin Dells for an authentic heartland experience.

If it’s more golf you want, another renowned course near Wilderness is Northern Bay Golf Resort, located 40 minutes north of Wilderness in Arkdale. The course opened to acclaim in 2006 and nine of its holes are replicas of some of golf’s most classic holes – including the island green of No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass (Northern Bay’s 10th hole) and a finisher that replicates No. 18 at Bay Hill.

Back at Wilderness, grab a quick bite before you head out. The Thirsty Buffalo Saloon provides standard sports-bar fare, while Survivor’s Bar & Grille is known for its Tex-Mex selection as well as a taste of Americana in the form of cheese curds, burgers, ribs and more.

Email To A Friend

Printer Friendly Version