WORLD-CLASS GOLF CONVERGES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF MEETING FACILITIES IN WISCONSIN

MADISON, Wis. (April 20, 2007) – Golf and business go hand in hand, especially as more and more Americans are picking up the sport.  TV shows like Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice,” in which contestants are charged with organizing golf tournaments, illustrate how central the game has become to conducting business.  Golf outings are used to entertain clients, create customer incentives, boost employee camaraderie and network with colleagues. Golf also beats all other sports as the most popular recreation at conferences and conventions.  And it’s not just the men anymore either - 25 percent of golfers are women. 

Wisconsin is a prime destination to host a golf meeting.  Not only is the state home to nearly 450 public courses, it also hosts some of the most prestigious golf tournaments and championships in the world including the PGA Championship, the Women’s U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open Championship.  Here are some of Wisconsin’s best combinations of world-class golf and meeting facilities.

Central Wisconsin

The American Club Hotel and Conference Center in Kohler is not only one of the Midwest’s few AAA-rated five-diamond resorts, its two golf courses, Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits, are among the nation’s gold standard for golf. Designed by world-renowned golf architect Pete Dye, Whistling Straits hosted the 2004 PGA Championship and will host the 2007 U.S. Senior Open. Whether a boardroom, ballroom or theater is needed, a variety of options are available at the Kohler complex, including facilities at the American Club, Inn at Woodlake and both golf courses.

Just minutes from Kohler in Sheboygan Falls is Wisconsin’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, the Bull at Pinehurst Farms. Opened in June 2003, the Bull is the only course in the Midwest to be named to Golf Magazine’s “Top 10 You Can Play” list for 2004.  Space for meetings up to 350 people is available right at the golf course, in the Heritage House Event Center. Meeting planners requiring overnight accommodations and larger square footage will be impressed with the facilities at the Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center, which includes flexible meeting space for trade shows, classrooms, receptions, theatre-style lectures and more. 

With 99 holes of golf to choose from, Green Lake is a golfer’s paradise. Golfweek named the links course at the Golf Courses of Lawsonia one of “America’s Top 100 Classical Courses.” Nearby, the Heidel House Resort offers meeting planners flexible meeting space, scenic views from the carriage tent and patio and even the resort’s Escapade yacht for social functions on the lake.

Golfers can find a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course at SentryWorld Golf Course in Stevens Point. With 55,000 square feet of flexible functional space at SentryWorld, golfers never have to leave the complex.  However, meeting planners needing larger meeting space will find the Holiday Inn Convention Center and the new Country Springs Hotel Conference & Convention Center nearby.

Golfers looking for the challenge of a Scottish-links-style course can head to Fox Hills Resort in Mishicot just minutes from Green Bay.  The resort has a total of 336 rooms and suites plus plenty of adaptable meeting space for a board meeting or full sit-down reception for up to 460 people.

Southern Wisconsin

As the state’s largest city, Milwaukee offers all of the state-of-the-art convention facilities that you would expect from a city recognized for its outstanding performing arts groups, professional sports teams, nationally acclaimed zoo, and art and natural history museums.  However, nestled in this urban city center is a network of golf courses managed through the Milwaukee County parks department, including Brown Deer Golf Club.  This course is home to the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee PGA Tour event and was the site of Tiger Woods’ professional debut. Just north of Milwaukee, in Saukville, is The Bog, a premier course designed by Arnold Palmer. In addition to its Golf Digest rating of “7th Best Golf Course in Wisconsin,” The Bog offers banquet facilities for up to 160 people.

A convention center located just five minutes from Brown Deer Golf Course is the Daniel M. Soref Community hall.  With banquet seating for up to 300 guests or theater seating for up to 550, this new elegant space will exceed your expectations.  Features include a full service catering department, flexible space that may be customized for a variety of gatherings and full AV capabilities in each space.  The facility also provides pre-event, indoor and outdoor areas along with a number of additional conference meeting rooms.

West of Milwaukee, Erin Hills Golf Course in Hartford is regarded by experts as one of the best natural sites for a golf course in the nation and receives its inspiration from classic Scottish and Irish courses.  Nearby, The Delafield Hotel offers a private atmosphere and state-of-the-art technology for board meetings, annual meetings and other special events.

The historic mansions and resort atmosphere of the Lake Geneva area in southeastern Wisconsin led to the nickname, “Newport of the Midwest.” Aside from its roster of 20 golf courses, the area has more than 2,500 rooms and four major resorts with extensive meeting facilities: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, The Cove of Lake Geneva, Bella Vista Suites and the Lake Lawn Resort.  Lake Lawn will boast 150,000 square feet of meeting space, 1,000 new rooms, waterpark, spa, 165-slip marina, spa, and five new restaurants after its current renovations are completed.

West of Madison, the House on the Rock in Spring Green combines two famous names in design: Frank Lloyd Wright and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The hotel features 80 luxury two-room suites inspired by its famous resident, architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Surrounding the resort are 27 holes of championship golf, 18 of which were designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. On-site conference facilities can accommodate up to 200 people.

Wisconsin Dells isn’t just for child’s play anymore. A lot of serious meetings – and golfing – happen at this popular family vacation destination. For serious golf, the area’s leading course is Trapper’s Turn, a 27-hole Roger Packard-Andy North design that has hosted numerous Wisconsin State Opens.  Other new or redesigned courses include The Wild Rock at the Wilderness Resort, opening fall 2007, and Coldwater Canyon at Chula Visit Resort. Where meetings are concerned, the Dells serves 2,500 meetings annually and offers 10 convention venues, ranging in size from 250 square feet to 100,000 square feet. Some of the larger-capacity meeting facilities include the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Ho-Chunk Hotel & Convention Center, the recently expanded Chula Vista Resort, Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center, and the Glacier Canyon Lodge Banquet And Conference Center opening at the Wilderness Resort in 2007. 

Just north of the Dells, on the secluded shoes of Castle Rock Lake, lies one of the state’s newest golf course, Northern Bay Golf Resort & Marina.  Golf Digest named the 18-hole course “One of the Best New Courses Nationally” in a recent issue. With nine holes replicating some of the most exciting and legendary holes in the world, golfers can play Sawgrass’ gut-wrenching 17th island hole; Pebble Beach's picturesque first; and Augusta National's 16th hole, site of Tiger Woods’ lip-hanging chip in the 2005 Masters in just one round. Meeting space, indoor waterpark, restaurant and spa are currently under construction.
 
Northern Wisconsin

For strategic play laid amid the woods, the Hayward and Cable area in Northwest Wisconsin offers everything from 18-hole championship courses to friendly 9-hole courses.  The natural beauty and outdoor recreation of this Northwoods area allow corporate staff to get down to business with a fresh perspective.  Lakewoods Resort and Telemark Resort & Convention Center offer comprehensive meeting facilities for the perfect combination of work and play in one location. For a more intimate retreat, Ross’ Teal Lake Lodge and Teal Wing Golf Club provide an informal setting for executives to relax, golf, and take in a little musky fishing while conducting business.