Making Whistling Straits: From Army Base to Global Golf Icon

Before the first tee was ever struck, Whistling Straits was a featureless, abandoned military site known as Camp Haven. The transformation from a flat expanse of concrete and clay into a rugged, Irish-style links landscape required a level of terraforming rarely seen in the sports world. Herb Kohler Jr. and legendary architect Pete Dye began this massive undertaking in 1995, driven by Kohler’s obsession with the wild coastlines of the British Isles and the desire to bring world-class Wisconsin golf to the forefront.

The Architect and the Mogul: A Creative Collision

The project relied on the friction between Pete Dye’s chaotic creativity and Herb Kohler’s meticulous demands. Dye, often called a “mad scientist,” preferred sketching ideas on napkins rather than following formal blueprints. Kohler provided the nearly limitless resources needed to literally move the earth. Together, they spent years walking the Sheboygan shoreline, often arguing over the placement of a single dune or the precise angle of a green.

Building a Legend: The Whistling Straits Construction Process

To achieve the desired aesthetic, the construction crew didn’t just groom the land; they essentially built a mountain range along Lake Michigan.

The Sand Haul: Workers imported over 13,000 truckloads of sand to cover the native clay base. This created the foundation for the fescue grasses that give the course its shaggy, ancient appearance.
The Man-Made Cliffs: The team used heavy machinery to push the shoreline inland, creating the dramatic bluffs that make the course feel as though it has been crumbling into the lake for centuries.
Winter Engineering: Construction continued through harsh Wisconsin winters. Crews faced sub-zero temperatures and biting winds off the water—conditions that eventually inspired the “Whistling” name.

Engineering the “Natural” Look: Drainage and Stabilization

The most difficult part of the process was making a massive construction site look like it had been sculpted by centuries of Atlantic wind.

Layered Stabilization: Engineers graded the clay, installed sophisticated drainage networks, and topped the site with millions of cubic yards of sand. This layer acted as a giant filter for the 1,000-plus bunkers.
Geosynthetic Reinforcement: To prevent 80-foot man-made dunes from sliding into the lake, crews used geotextile fabrics and erosion blankets to reinforce the internal structure while fescue roots were establishing.
The Shoreline Shift: One of the most daring moves involved excavating the edge to create the terrifying drop-offs found on the 17th hole.

The Botanical Blueprint: Grass Types at Whistling Straits

Selecting the right vegetation was critical for surviving the Great Lakes climate while maintaining a European look.

Greens: Featured Providence creeping bentgrass, chosen for its smooth roll and cold-weather resilience.
Fairways: A blend of three fescue cultivars mixed with local bentgrass for a firm, resilient playing surface.
Dunes and Rough: A heavy blend of four fine fescues provides the golden-brown contrast and “wild” texture that defines the property.

The Wisconsin Golf Renaissance

The success of Whistling Straits triggered a massive boom that transformed the state. Kohler’s gamble proved that the American Midwest could host destination-style golf comparable to Scotland. This “Whistling Straits effect” paved the way for other iconic developments like Erin Hills and Sand Valley Golf Resort. Today, Wisconsin is a global powerhouse, frequently dominating “Top 100” lists and rewriting the economic identity of the region.

Significant Milestones in Wisconsin Golf History

1995: Groundbreaking at the former Camp Haven site.
1998: The Straits Course officially opens for play.
2004: State hosts the first of three PGA Championships.
2021: Hosts the Ryder Cup, cementing its status as a global destination.