Geneva National includes fifty-four holes designed by three legends of the game: Palmer, Player, and Trevino. Carved out of the rolling countryside of Southeastern Wisconsin four miles west of Lake Geneva, it’s near the shores of Lake Como. It’s an easy 90-minute drive from Chicago or Milwaukee. The club is semi-private, with a variety of membership opportunities. An array of shot-making skills is required due to the differences between the courses. The Palmer and Player courses are most memorable and more challenging, while the Trevino course is easier. The tees, fairways, and greens are all bentgrass.
The Palmer Course is the longest of the three championship venues. From 2006 to 2008, it hosted an LPGA Futures Tour Event. It’s usually the favorite of the three courses for most golfers. Continuous elevation changes and tree-lined fairways provide both pastoral beauty and shot-making challenge. Arnie shaped the wetlands actively. Each hole is different, and he offers different feels as you move around the course. I was struck by the marvelous mixture of open holes intermixed with tight forested holes, ending with three marvelous holes along the lake. These medium-sized greens are the toughest of the three courses with severe front-to-back slopes along with subtle breaks.
Starting at the range, breathtaking views of Lake Como are commonplace. The course opens with a splendid Par4. A creek winds through the fairway at the corner of the sharply right dogleg, presenting danger for golfers who push it down the right side. Running toward the green, the creek protects it short and left on the approach shot.
The Palmer course finishes with three marvelous holes along Lake Como. A striking contrast to the rest of the heavily wooded holes, these closing holes feel like a different course. Enjoy the scenery. The sixteenth is a long Par3, nicely protected by bunkers in the front and water in the back. The seventeenth is a medium length dogleg left Par5 entirely along Lake Como. Approach shots left of the green will be wet. There is no room for error. The eighteenth hole turns back to the clubhouse. It’s a problematic uphill Par4.
This course can be tough if you’re not striking it well and especially if played from the wrong set of tees for your ability. The varied course architecture at the Palmer course at Geneva National is simply enjoyable and represents Arnold Palmer at his best.
If You Go:
Course Info – Geneva National Resort & Club includes fifty-four holes of championship golf with the Palmer, Player, and Trevino courses. The semi-private club allows public access to all courses on a daily rotating basis.
Location – One hour west of the Milwaukee International airport, one and 1/2 hours southeast of the Madison Regional Airport and one and 1/2 hours northwest of the Chicago O’Hare airport.
Lodging – Geneva National Resort and Inns of Geneva National are on the property.
By Chuck Fox, Owner, Quintessential Golf, Resident since 2012