The newest golf experience at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa has a most cordial way to welcome golfers to the first tee.
The starter there may offer golfers a taste of the house scotch (for those so inclined) from the nearby food and beverage shack. Talk about a great way to calm the nerves before the opening tee shot.
That, however, only tells part of the story for the new short course on property, aptly named Wee Nip. Opened this spring, it adds to the Resort’s already robust golf portfolio, which includes the old standby 18-hole tracks, the Brute and the Highlands.
Wee Nip is an 11-hole adventure (with holes ranging roughly from 49-125 yards). It was built on a section of the Resort that was formerly the driving range. Now, the area is all tightly mown giving it a fresh and clean look.
Course designer Matt Dusenberry (Dusenberry Design) worked with Grand Geneva to create playability and enjoyment for all levels of golfer, focusing on an experience “low on effort and high on fun.” He had this in mind when he created some whimsy with one particular feature of the course.
“We look at the greens as the star,” he said. “You want a lot of variety green to green. You want small greens, really large greens, some greens that are wild – kind of you haven’t seen them before – that’s what lends this to making a memorable golf experience. Something you want to come back and do again and again.”
It starts right away at the opening hole, nicknamed “Backboard,” which has a green complex built to feed long approach shots closer to the flagstick. Each hole from there really has a theme. There are some traditional golf ones like the “Himalayas” (Hole 2), the “Plateau” (Hole 9), and the “Hog’s Back” (Hole 10).
Then there is hole No. 8, “Runway,” which is one of the most unique. Long and expansive – with up to 84 yards of greens-mown height bentgrass – it was designed to be played with a putter even from its max distance. That could mean a putt of up to 250 feet on a green that is relatively flat for the first half of the hole.
Hole No. 5, nicknamed “Cathedral,” is perhaps the most beautifully presented on the course. The tee can extend some 30 yards, playing beneath towering cottonwoods which form a natural vaulted canopy. It gives off the feel of a historic old course, one that might be seen on the PGA Tour.
The last hole, No. 11, finishes with a twist. A supply box on the tee is stocked with dice and a dice cup shaker, playing to a Wisconsin “bar dice” theme. Should they choose, golfers can end the round with a friendly wager or game. The large green plays into the mix with two flagsticks, one on the riskier top shelf and one on the safer lower shelf.
Wee Nip’s charm is really all about what golfers make it. And that might explain why on a summer visit, Midwest Golfing Magazine heard couples, kids, senior citizens and die-hard golfers alike sending out groans and cheers from various points on the course, all within the same hour. The atmosphere was overtly social, as intended.
“Wee Nip encourages casual play, making it ideal for novice golfers and players of all ages,” said Skip Harless, Managing Director of the Resort. “At the same time, it offers a fun challenge for experienced golfers, letting them try out different strategies and shots.”
The centerpiece of Wee Nip is the “12th Hole” gathering spot. It is a small, but lively area that converges by the first tee, the last green and the sixth green. It offers a great spot to relax, take in some outdoor dining and maybe even some barrel-aged cocktails in a food truck setting under “the glow of bistro lights.” There are fire pits, lawn games and even live entertainment on Fridays and Sundays.
And maybe another sip of scotch, too (for those so inclined).
For more information on Grand Geneva Resort and Spa or to book a stay or tee time, check out www.grandgeneva.com