Milwaukee WI Golf Weekend

T&L Golf, July/Aug '08

ESPN.com

Drinking Made Easy, 2010

Whistling through Wisconsin
 
From the rugged lakefront bluffs of Kohler’s Whistling Straits to the fields of golden fescue at Erin Hills—a potential U.S. Open venue—golf in the Dairy State has clearly come of age. Plus: Mark King’s Wisconsin favorites. 

T&L Golf July - August 2008

by Gary D’Amato

Let’s start by getting the clichés out of the way: the beer and the bratwurst, the cows and the cheese, the silos and all that snow. Everything you ever wanted to know about Wisconsin, rattled off in a few stereotypes. Sure, the phrases “America’s Dairyland” and “golf destination” might seem incompatible. But the transformation of Kohler, an old red-brick company town, into a lavish golf resort that’s home to Whistling Straits and three other first-rate designs by Pete Dye, has done much to change that. So, too, has the opening of Erin Hills. An inland links laid out over sweeping glacial terrain, the course has been awarded the 2011 U.S. Amateur and is being eyed as a potential U.S. Open site.

Even beyond these modern gems, Wisconsin maintains a proud golf tradition. Milwaukee has supported a PGA Tour event for forty years, and venerable Milwaukee Country Club—site of this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur—is a mainstay in rankings of the nation’s top hundred courses. And although Wisconsin’s winters are well known (thanks to nationally televised Green Bay Packers games), few states can boast of having better golf weather—or smoother bent-grass greens—from June through September.

Where to Play

Erin Hills Golf Course

(4.5 stars)

Since opening two years ago, this expansive and rough-hewn links in farm country forty miles northwest of Milwaukee has been one of the most talked-about new courses in the nation. The land—rumpled with the eskers, depressions and grassland dunes of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine—was so ideally suited for golf that the architects wisely approached it with a light hand, moving earth on only four of the holes. There’s a wonderful mix of long and short par fours, and the putting surfaces vary from three thousand to twelve thousand square feet. The greens are perched on knobs, banked into hillsides, set among mounds and, at the par-three seventh—an homage to the Dell hole at Lahinch—nestled in a hollow. “A lot of holes remind me of Shinnecock,” says PGA Tour pro Steve Stricker, a lifelong Wisconsinite. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen in our state.” If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the course is very difficult for the average golfer and therefore prone to slow play. For a complete experience, stay over in one of seven new guest rooms in the clubhouse. Singles and doubles are $195 per night, and suites begin at $495, and all have private baths, antique furnishings and flat-screen TVs.

7169 County Highway O, Hartford. Architects: Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan and Ron Whitten, 2006. Yardage: 7,824. Par: 72. Slope: 141. Green Fee: $160. Contact: 262-670-8600, www.erinhills.com.

Best of the Rest

Brown Deer Golf Club (www.browndeergolfclub.org), the county course that hosts the U.S. Bank Championship, may be best known as the venue where Tiger Woods made his professional debut. Opened in 1929, it’s an old-fashioned parkland design with tree-lined fairways and thick rough. Twenty miles north is The Bog (www.golfthebog.com), an Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay design that weaves through wetlands and has lightning-fast greens. Should your travels take you to the northern half of the state, SentryWorld (www.sentryworld.com) in Stevens Point, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. for the Sentry Insurance Company, is a must-play. Its par-three sixteenth “flower hole” is festooned with sixty thousand blooming plants. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry’s Wild Rock Golf Club (www.golfwildernesswoods.com) opened in May in Wisconsin Dells, the water-park mecca, and is expected to garner much acclaim.

Where to Stay

Delafield Hotel If you choose not to stay at Erin Hills (see page 112), this two-year-old boutique hotel, a meticulously converted brick warehouse a half-hour south of the course, is an excellent option. The only Wisconsin lodging certified by the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, it’s owned by Erin Hills developer Bob Lang. No two rooms are alike in dimensions or furnishings, many of which come from Lang’s own antiques collection.

415 Genesee Street, Delafield. Rooms: $225–$450. Contact: 262-646-1600, www.thedelafieldhotel.com.

Where To Eat:

Mo’s: A Place for Steaks (Steak house) Not quite a decade after Mo’s opened in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, it’s consistently voted the best steak house in the city. The thick-cut pork and veal chops are the choice on the menu, although that takes nothing away from the bone-in rib eye and the filet mignon. There’s also a long list of single malts, cognacs and vintage ports on offer, perfect for sipping in the cigar lounge.

720 North Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee; 414-272-0720, www.mosaplaceforsteaks.com. $$$$

Andrew’s Bar & Restaurant (Contemporary American) This white-linen restaurant in the Delafield Hotel has acquired a following for its outstanding upscale American fare, attentive service and extensive wine cellar. Diners can choose between floor-to-ceiling private booths, parlor seating and, in warm weather, a veranda.

415 Genesee Street, Delafield; 262-646-1620, www.thedelafieldhotel.com. $$$

Leon’s Frozen Custard A Milwaukee institution, this neon-lit drive-in custard stand on the south side is straight out of the 1950s. (In fact, it was the inspiration for Arnold’s Drive-In in Happy Days.) Be prepared to stand in line for ten or fifteen minutes on warm summer nights, but one taste of the cold, rich custard—made fresh each day—and you will be glad you did.

3131 South 27th Street, Milwaukee; 414-383-1784. $

Golf Digest 5/10:  PGA Tour pro Jerry Kelly, a Winsconsin native, says, "There's a bar near the old County Stadium in Milwaukee called Fourth Base. It's a classic Wisconsin bar. They've got an old deli case with four-pound lobsters, two-pound porterhouse steaks, asparagus an inch around. There's no menu, no prices. Just tell them what you want and they cook it."

Best Bar Nearby:  After a Brewer's game, ESPN.com digs:

Lakefront Brewery
1872 N. Commercial St., Milwaukee

What would a trip to Milwaukee be without paying a visit to one of the city's breweries? And what would the Brewers be without their lovable, if drunken, mascot Bernie Brewer?

At Lakefront Brewery, baseball fans have the chance to both celebrate Milwaukee's proud brewing tradition and honor this legendary hooligan with the handlebar mustache.

Lakefront, you see, is the place where Bernie Brewer's original chalet and slide have resided since the Milwaukee nine departed County Stadium for Miller Park.  Lakefront president Russ Klisch purchased the old prop from the team shortly after the move and happily installed it along his extremely popular brewhouse tour. Visitors will observe that many members of the Brewers have autographed the old apparatus, perhaps none more famous than the team's quartet of racing sausages.

See ESPN.com's entire travel page for the Brewers/Miller Park at: http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/stadium/index?stadium=mlb_2776&venue=mlb_8

Suds City
Milwaukee is practically synonymous with beer. Both Miller and Pabst are based in the city. Miller (www.millerbrewing.com), established in 1855, offers free one-hour tours of its brewery, capped off by generous samples in the pub. Wisconsin also has more than sixty brewpubs and microbreweries, many of them in and around Milwaukee and Madison, including local favorites New Glarus (www.newglarusbrewing.com) and Sprecher (www.sprecherbrewery.com). For a complete list, visit www.brewpubzone.com.

Pigskin Palace
There is no greater landmark in Wisconsin than Lambeau Field, home of the beloved Green Bay Packers. This football shrine was dedicated as City Stadium in 1957 and renamed eight years later following the death of Earl “Curly” Lambeau, one of the franchise’s co-founders. Lambeau Field is the social center of the NFL’s smallest city, and every home game since 1960 has sold out. The stadium’s five-story atrium houses restaurants, a brewpub and the Packers Hall of Fame. The stadium is two hours from Milwaukee and one hour from Kohler. Stadium tours (www.packers.com) are available, and visitors in July and August can catch a Packers preseason practice at the Don Hutson Center across the street.

Fat Guy Research:  Parrotheads recommend the Caribbean vibe of the Painted Parrot (8028 W National Ave, West Allis), or hit The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery (www.tiltedkilt.com, 2615 S Oneida St). Think 'Hooter's meets a great Irish pub.' They do a St. Paddy's Day celebration called St. Practice Day on the 17th of every month. Eat at Brett Favre's Steakhouse (www.brettfavressteakhouse.com).

Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy Guide To Milwaukee, 2010:

The largest city in Wisconsin, Milwaukee (or “Milwaukie” as it was first written) has a strong German influence making it synonymous with beer since the 1850s. Once home to four major breweries (Schlitz, Pabst, Blatz and Miller), it was the number one beer-producing city in the world for many years and by 1856 there were more than 26 breweries. While most of the major breweries have been bought by larger companies that now brew elsewhere, Miller (now MillerCoors) still remains the 2nd largest beermaker in the U.S. and continues to employ more than 2,200 of Milwaukee’s residents. With a baseball team called the “Brewers,” the nickname of “Beertown” and an abundance of local breweries, brew pubs, bars and taverns, Milwaukee was born to make drinking easy.

MILWAUKEE’S BEST

Claiming to have Milwaukee’s best and biggest beer selection, with over 324 in stock is The Bomb Shelter. From traditional Milwaukee favorites like Schlitz, Miller, Pabst and Blatz to local and regional craft breweries like Milwaukee Brewing Company, Central Waters, Three Floyd’s and New Glarus, they also feature a selection of Belgian beers, international beers and other American craft brews on a revolving tap system. The décor boasts a number of rare and collectible memorabilia, with a focus on Milwaukee and Wisconsin breweries and patrons can play a game of pool, darts, or pinball as they enjoy nightly specials. And chances are that on a Wednesday night you can talk Greg, the owner, into flipping the channel to HDNet for “Drinking Made Easy!”

Turkey Gizzard Shot
Great Lakes’ Roaring Don’s Rum
Great Lakes’ Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Vodka
Great Lakes’ Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit
Turkey Gizzard

The Bomb Shelter | 1517 South 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204 | (414) 384-2662

When you’re looking for a unique cocktail, look no further than Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, which boasts Milwaukee’s best cocktail list, where in fact there is no list at all. Established in 1938, it is the birthplace of over 400 original cocktails. However, before it was a cocktail lounge, Bryant’s was actually a Miller Brewing “tied house” and beer hall. It was around 1941 that Bryant Sharp, the founder, decided to give up beer and serve only cocktails. He replaced the jukebox with a record player which only played classical music, and gave birth to Milwaukee’s first cocktail lounge, said to also be the first in the state of Wisconsin. Today, the Pink Squirrel cocktail, which Bryant created himself, is still a popular choice among patrons. In addition to this ice cream drink and others, they also have tiki-inspired hurricane drinks, classic cocktails, unique depression-era cocktails and many more. But you won’t find a cocktail list here. Your best bet to enjoy a truly unique Bryant’s experience is to talk to the bartenders here, who will ask you a few questions and mix you up the perfect drink.

The Pink Squirrel
2 scoops of Wisconsin ice cream (flavored with chocolate)
2 jiggers of Crème to Noyaux
Blend and add whipped cream

Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge | 1579 S 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204 | (414) 383-2620

One of Milwaukee’s best kept secrets is The Safe House. This popular spy-theme restaurant and bar has been serving up top-secret cocktails since 1966. Out front you won’t find a sign advertising The Safe House but rather a nondescript door marked “International Exports Ltd.” Inside you’ll need to give the “password” to the hostess before you can gain entry to the bar through a hidden door that looks like a book shelf, while the rest of the bar watches on closed circuit security cameras. But make sure you know the password (a quick Google search should help you out) or you might find yourself jumping through hoops to get in. While most of their drink recipes are a secret, for an interactive experience, order the Great Spy-tini and watch as a capsule of vodka makes its way through a vacuum tube to get shaken.

The Safe House | 779 North Front St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 271-2007

Undoubtedly, the best place in town for an intimate bowling experience is the Holler House. A tavern built in 1908, it houses the oldest bowling alley in the U.S. With just 2 lanes made of real wood, the manual system is tended to by “pinsetters” and scores are recorded on paper hanging from the wall. Oh and you can get beer here too!

Holler House | 2042 West Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215 | (414) 647-9284

CRAFT BEVERAGES

Milwaukee is not only a mecca for beer, but it’s a great place for spirits and one would be remiss not to try some of the local liquor offerings from the Great Lakes Distillery. Wisconsin’s first distillery since Prohibition, they are the makers of hand-crafted and award-winning vodka, gin, brandy, rum and absinthe. One of the spirits that you’ll find in many drink recipes around town is Roaring Dan’s Rum. Initially distilled using sugar cane molasses, pureWisconsin maple syrup is added prior to the second distillation and the rum is aged in a combination of white oak barrels and bourbon barrels. The rum is named after Dan Seavey, who in 1908 stole a ship on the Great Lakes by getting the captain and crew drunk. He’s the only man ever arrested for piracy on the Great Lakes. Other unique spirits out of the Great Lakes Distillery include the Rehorst Citrus and Honey Vodka, the Aritsan Brandy series including a Grappa and a Kirschwasser, and two types of Amerique 1912 Absinthe: Verte and Rouge.

Milwaukee earned the title “brewing capital of the world” for good reason: it’s home to Miller, one of the world’s largest breweries and was the birthplace of many more. But aside from Miller, there are many other micro-breweries that are making a name for themselves in Milwaukee. One of the pioneers in the craft beer movement in Milwaukee was the Sprecher Brewery which was established in 1985. In 2004 it won many honors at the Great American Beer Festival including Small Brewing Company of the Year and gold medals for their Oktoberfest and Scotch Ales. They also are the makers of many types of gourmet soda.

Lakefront Brewery came along shortly after in 1987 and has been making a big splash in the beer industry ever since. With award-winning beers like the Bridge Burner, an 8.0% Strong Ale, Lakefront also brews a number of ales, lagers and seasonal ales as well as a Gluten Free beer called New Grist.

Other notable beer local producers include micro-brewery Milwaukee Brewing Company and brew pubs like Stonefly Brewing Company and Water Street Brewery.

Of course there are also Milwaukee classics like Pabst, Blatz, Old Style and Schlitz, which were all a large part of Milwaukee’s beer history but are now brewed through Pabst Brewing Company out of Woodridge, Illinois.

TRADITIONS AND CREATIONS

One of Milwaukee’s most notable traditions is “closing down” Wolski’s Tavern. Opened in 1908, it’s one of the oldest bars in town and claims to have stayed open serving soda during Prohibition. With a cozy atmosphere, darts on the wall and the smell of popcorn in the air, this place is a must visit. If you want to receive one of their famous “I Closed Wolski’s” bumber stickers then you’ll need to stay until they kick you out. Try one of their notorious Bloody Mary’s with a beer back. They’re not just for brunch anymore!

Wolski’s Tavern | 1836 North Pulaski St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 276-8130

Another, less appetizing tradition, is the Scorpion Shot at Bad Genie Rock Lounge. Consisting of a dead scorpion (sans-stinger) dropped into a shot of Roaring Dan’s Rum, this is not a drink for the faint of heart. If you really want to impress your friends though, try the Zane-Orpion shot – a shot of rum with FIVE dead scorpions in it! But fear not, they also carry an extensive collection of American craft beer, like Louie’s Demise from Milwaukee Brewing Company, offer daily drink specials and feature live music.

Zane-Orpion Shot
1 ½ oz Roaring Dan’s Rum
Five dead scorpions without stingers

Bad Genie | 789 N. Jefferson Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 810-1670