Glen Erin is a public course located on the south side of Janesville, WI about an hour and half away from Milwaukee. A personal favorite of this golf blogger, Glen Erin was designed by Greg Martin. The course sits directly next to an airport but is not flat like you may think with its proximity to the airport. The property itself actually sits on very nice land for golf. Rolling but not dramatically so with pockets of woods scattered about. Plenty of features that allows for each hole to feel unique.
The atmosphere is of a higher end public facility. A nice clubhouse/restaurant, new banquet facility are generally newer than its main competition in Riverside. Riverside is an 18-hole muni that is much more traditional and is quite popular with the locals in Janesville. While I think Riverside is decent, I think Glen Erin is a notch above especially considering rates are comparable.
To touch on condition, the fairways are unusual for a course of this caliber. Instead of bent fairways, which most high-end public courses go with in Wisconsin, Glen Erin instead has low mow bluegrass. For the most part they are above average and if that helps to keep the price down, I can understand the decision as Glen Erin is cheaper than most courses with this quality of a layout. Regardless, I would love to hear the owners reasoning. Just don’t expect the same sort of fairways as a course with a price point around $75. Otherwise, the greens, tees and bunkers are all also above average with the only thing to note is that the bunker sand is generally quite soft.
My last note before the hole by hole is that Glen Erin is by far the best draining course within 2 hours of Milwaukee. I’m not sure if it was built on a sandy site or what, but there is never standing water on the course, and they almost always have carts. A nice added benefit.
- One of if not the best layouts in the greater Milwaukee area
- Great green complexes
- Gets better as the round goes on
- Price for quality of layout
The Good
The Bad
- Atmosphere with airport close is lacking
- 14th is a weak hole
- Conditions may be disappointing for some
Hole-by-Hole
1st Hole – Par 4
The 1st is a fantastic opener. A short par 4 in which the tee shot is played from a section of trees out onto a wide fairway. Anywhere at least 180 yards and not in the left bunker will leave you a fairly short shot in. The difficultly does increase as you get to the green as the surface is three-tiered and fronted by a deep bunker in the front right.
The first green is like many at Glen Erin and a main reason I think so highly of the course. While there are distinct tiers, they are not greens where if you miss the correct tier, it is an automatic three putt. The putt is certainly difficult if you do miss, and I think that’s an appropriate test.
The other part I enjoy is more about the green complex, not just the putting surface itself. Using the 1st again as an example, there is plenty of room to the right on your tee shot. Even if you get it into the rough, you have a clear shot to hit the green. However, the closer you hit your tee shot to the left bunker, the better your angle into the green as the architect has the green opening from left to right. Many architects use this concept, but I think the small addition I see Martin make at Glen Erin is that he almost always leaves at least a 1/3rd of the green visible to the golfer on their approach and allows them to bounce or roll a ball on. This balance of tiered putting surfaces and accessible green openings is a fantastic way to provide both difficulty for the better player and making the game enjoyable for the novice.
Many of us forget how exciting it was to just hit a green in regulation when we first started playing and putting for par. Having greens such as Glen Erin vs ones with the bunkers fronting the entire surface makes a huge difference! Why more courses didn’t/don’t do that is a shame, as it makes golf much more fun. I could go on, and talk about my affinity for grass bunkers too, but for now I’ll move on to the remainder of this profile.
2nd Hole – Par 3
With the easy opener behind you the 2nd is the longest par 3 on the course. Most players will be hitting a long iron into the wildest green on the course. This green again is three-tiered, and has the most pronounced tiers of them all. 2 bunkers sit right and left of the green, with a 3rd about 20 yards in front of the green. Back right or back left hole locations are diabolical with a front pin your only break. Take a 4 and move on to the 3rd.
3rd Hole – Par 4
The name eagles’ nest is very appropriate for the 3rd. A straight par 4 that goes down a relatively steep valley and back up to a perched green. You have a choice on the tee. Lay up on top and leave yourself 150ish yards to a narrow green fronted by 4 bunkers you do not want to be in or take driver and hit it to the bottom of the hill which is pinched by trees leaving yourself 50ish yards. A fun and picturesque hole just don’t hit it in the bunkers if you want to record a good score.
4th Hole – Par 4
You turn back the other way for the 4th and play over the same valley as the 3rd. However in this case you are hitting your tee shot over it. The landing area on the 4th is littered with bunkers, with a large centerline one as the main hazard. There is plenty of room left of it however, and is the place to miss on your tee shot. As seen below, the green on the 4th is without bunkers but still a effective green. It is long front to back and has a ridge that splits it into distinct front and back portions. Many times, the pin will dictate whether you hit one high or need to hit a lower shot to run over the ridge. Simple, but gets you thinking on the approach.
This is also the portion of the course that has the starkest backdrops. Directly behind the 4th green is the airport, while 5 sits next to the road/airport as well. It is a bit unusual, but I don’t think it the course is horribly worse for it.
5th Hole – Par 4
The 5th is one of the flatter holes on the property and runs along the road to the airport and closer to the green the road into the course. The landing area is narrow with bunkers pinching the fairway on the left and a drop off on the right. A few years ago, the drop off to the right of the fairway was covered in native grass making the tee shot very difficult however in recent years that has been mowed down. Missing right will still make the hole more difficult though, as the opening is on the left as you approach the green with the drop off on the right side of the fairway running all the way up to the green.
6th Hole – Par 4
You cross the entrance road as you make your way to the 6th tee. The remainder of the front nine has a different look then the first 5 holes which I quite like. A bit more dramatic with bigger hole corridors and farther away from the airport. The tee shot on 6 is downhill significantly, with fairway bunkers out to your right. For 90% of players the bunkers are out of reach making this an incredibly wide fairway. There a few nuances in this fairway as Martin scooped out the land before the bunkers so if on the right side of the fairway your view can be obstructed. There is also more slope on the left side of the fairway that will kick your ball forward. Couple that with the better angle and thin rough on the left side, and it is definitely the side you want to be on.
7th Hole – Par 3
7 is the second par 3 on the front side and a relatively basic one. Playing over a small valley, the green opens up from left to right and is quite long. A left pin should be an easy par while a far right one makes the hole quite a bit more difficult as you then deal with some deep bunkers. A fine hole but not terribly memorable. It feels like a connector hole to get to one of my favorites the 8th.
8th Hole – Par 5
Again, downhill and a dogleg left as you work your way along the same ridge line as 7. The fairway is immensely wide, but a native grass covered hill cuts into the landing area on your left. You can safely play out to the right, or attempt to carry the hill and leave yourself less then 200 yards to this par 5.
After your tee shot the grove of trees to the right of the fairway comes into play(shown in the picture below). If you played out to the right a 200ish yard shot will get you past the grove and leave yourself less then 100. Hit something less and you need to be accurate.
The approach then plays to deceptive green set around trees that has 2 bunkers fronting it with a gap to run balls up in the front. This is one of only 3 greens that has bunkers on 2 sides on the course.
This hole is also unique in that it shares its fairway with the 9th. With woods on the left of 8 the 9th side of fairway does get a fair share of balls hit onto it by 8th hole players.
The 8th truly is one of the best at Glen Erin. I love that if you take the easy route on the tee shot the difficulty gets put on the 2nd. Take the aggressive line off the tee and get rewarded with a much easier 2nd. Weighing those costs and benefits based on the state of your game on any given day is so much fun. At least to this fanatic.
9th Hole – Par 4
Work your way around the 8th green and behind a stand of trees is the 9th tee. The 9th runs in the opposite directions as the 8th, with the “fairway” running to the left of the grove of trees. For Glen Erin the tee shot is fairly tight with bunkers pinching in on the left. The green is then uphill with a very deep bunker on the right hand side. As you can see in the pictures, there is now a block of pavement and small brick wall that you see on your approach if in the fairway because of the new banquet center they built last year. I understand the need to do so considering golf itself is a difficult business, but it does take a way from the atmosphere a bit on this hole. Doesn’t ruin the hole, but it is a bit of an eye sore.
10th Hole – Par 5
On to the 10th. A long par 5 that plays out of the section of trees around the clubhouse. The tee shot plays significantly uphill, with bunkers pinching in from both the left and the right. Like 9 it is quite narrow. If you’re able to hit these 2 fairways you’ve gone a long way in posting a good score.
After the tee shot, the hole opens and is quite wide while tumbling down a hill. Being a long par 5 hit as much as you have on your second. The approach is then to a very large, tiered green. If you’re close in 2 it is an inviting target, and should make for a potential birdie opportunity.
11th Hole – Par 4
11 is a straight hole that runs along the edge of the property. The tee shot is wide and fairly flat. The intrigue comes around the green as there is a centerline bunker that looks to sit in front of the green, but is actually about 40 yards short. The putting surface itself is wide and narrow while sloping pretty heavily back to front. As one of my playing partners found out, it is also not a green to miss long as the recovery shot is almost impossible to keep on the green.
12th Hole – Par 4
12 at Glen Erin is…… divisive. The tee box sits in the open however your drive is played into a section of woods. The wood line starts at about 230ish yards, and at that point the hole becomes quite tight. As you can see from the picture, the land is also quite rolling making the landing area play even tighter. The smart play is to lay back to about where this picture was taken. The land is much flatter here. You are then left with around 170 yards to a green tucked into the woods with 2 large trees making a gate to get past at about 50 yards from the green. It is a great looking hole, but it is hard. Unfortunately, they are cramped for room considering the boundary on the right and the 13th hole on the left because the hole would be great if they were just able to widen the fairway.
13th Hole – Par 4
Very close to the 12th green is the 13th tee. A welcome respite from the 12th, the 13th is a short dogleg left par 4 in which you hit out of a chute of trees to a fairly generous opening. For many players this may be a hole you will pull less then driver. After hitting your tee shot, you are left with a short iron or wedge to a basic green with a bit of a fall off on the left. The 13th is maybe your best chance for birdie on the course. For being a short hole to me the green is disappointing.
14th Hole – Par 3
The 14th is the second par 3 on the back 9, and a tough one. Pin position is everything on this hole. A left pin is diabolical as a deep bunker guards the front left of the green. Even good players will struggle to keep one on the front left shelf. Any other pins are not so bad. There is also a large bailout area to the right that is quite easy to get up and down from.
I’m not the biggest fan of the 14th. It feels as if it plays uphill, and with it being long and having a somewhat narrow green, many times a good shot will roll just off the surface.
15th Hole – Par 4
To the narrowest hole at Glen Erin. 90% of the 15th has woods lining the hole with only the green and tee sitting slightly in the open. If you do manage to hit one straight the hole plays downhill, and most players will have 150 or less into this green. The green slopes left to right and is protected by a large tree front left. They may be getting close to the point of having to cut back the tree a bit as left pins from even the middle of the fairway are blocked by the tree.
16th Hole – Par 3
On to what I think is one of the best finishing 3 hole stretches of any public course in southeastern Wisconsin. 16 is a slightly downhill par 3 that is also the shortest on the course. The green is quite long and again has 3 tiers. A couple of trees guard the front left while a very deep bunker cuts into the right side of the green. A front pin gives you a real birdie opportunity, while a back pin is a lot of fun albeit dangerous as long is woods, and right is the bunker and a steep drop-off. Make a 2 or a 5 and move to the penultimate hole.
17th Hole – Par 4
17 is a brawny par 4. A wide landing area greets you as you look onto the fairway from the tee. Woods frame the tee shot, but will only be in play if hitting a quick hook or you are a longer driver of the ball. The approach is then to a perched green with trees left, a false front and a deep bunker to the right. Difficult but doable, the 17th is a fun hole as matches come down to the wire.
18th Hole – Par 5
A 5 par finisher the 18th is a true 3 shot par 5. The tee shot is played over a valley to a landing area pinched by bunkers on both sides. The 2nd shot is then played downhill slightly to an area pinched by trees. Once in position for your 3rd, you’ll be hitting significantly downhill to the green in the picture below.
As you can see in said picture, the new banquet center is the backdrop. It used to have just woods and I think did look a bit better. The new banquet center is quite close as well. Windows should not be a factor as they are up higher but the patio for the center is only 10 or so paces off the back of the green.
Final Thoughts and Grade
Glen Erin is not flashy. It sits next to an airport; the conditions aren’t pristine, and it sits pretty far away from metro Milwaukee. What it is does have is a great golf course.
I don’t mean to disparage places that have nice amenities. It is great having those extra things. The part that Glen Erin understands is that all of those other amenities mean nothing if you don’t have a fun, accessible golf course. They make the golf course the highlight.
Even if it is a drive from Milwaukee, I will continue to make the trek out to Glen Erin because the golf is worth it. I recommend you go check it out yourself.