Places
A Grand ‘Pivot’ & Opening for Whistling Straits
With the opening of the KOHLER golf courses for the 2026 season, let’s look back at the grand opening of Whistling Straits on July 6, 1998.
“The course offers a succession of spectacular views, each more remarkable than the last.” —Herbert V. Kohler, Jr. at the dedication of Whistling Straits; July 6, 1998
As the KOHLER golf courses open for another illustrious season, we harken back to when Whistling Straits initially opened to the public on July 6, 1998, with a grand opening that featured major star power – former President George H.W. Bush, multi-Grammy Award singer Amy Grant, and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem to name a few.
Nestled along the western Lake Michigan shoreline, Whistling Straits is modeled after famed seaside links-style golf courses found in Ireland and Scotland and was created by former Kohler Co. Executive Chairman Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., and hall-of-game course designer Pete Dye. The masterpiece’s first 18 holes comprised the Straits course, which literally rose from the shoreline as a million-plus tons of cubic earth were moved to transform the former U.S. Army anti-aircraft training facility into a world-class golf venue. More than 13,000 truckloads of sand were transported to create the picturesque bluffs and massive sand dunes that continue to astound golfers for their raw, majestic beauty. Today, Whistling Straits features 36 holes between the Straits course and the Irish course, which opened in 2000.
At the 1998 grand opening, Herb Kohler praised Dye for “having truly outdone himself” and stated, “The course offers a succession of spectacular views, each more remarkable than the last.” The event also served as a tournament fundraiser raising $500,000 for non-profit group, The First Tee, which makes the game of golf and its values accessible to economically disadvantage youth. Everything appeared to be well-choreographed, but the entire affair was thrown a curve ball before the first tee shot could be heard ‘round the world.
Back in the Village of Kohler, the first major golf championship ever hosted by Kohler – U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run – became a bit surreal when the tournament required an 18-hole Monday playoff along with two sudden death holes to determine the winner. Then rookie Se Ri Pak of South Korea, whose career culminated with induction to the World Golf Hall of Fame, ultimately defeated amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn.
Legendary professional boxing champion Mike Tyson once said of his opponents, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,” and the notion of having to adjust quickly becomes real. Instead of the planned golf course dedication, featuring a 10am shotgun start, Herb Kohler and event planners had little time to pivot, moving all festivities up a few hours to accomplish both the Straits course grand opening and then scrambling to Blackwolf Run to view the riveting conclusion of the U.S. Women’s Open.
Seven majors and one record-breaking Ryder Cup later, KOHLER golf courses have cemented a revered reputation and are deserving of the moniker “bucket-list” global golf destination. The courses and are consistently in Golf Digest “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” including the Straits course currently ranked number four.
The KOHLER golf portfolio consists of Whistling Straits (Straits and Irish courses), Blackwolf Run (River and Meadow Valleys), and the 10-hole, par-3 Baths of Blackwolf Run and 2-acre putting course. The golf course inventory will soon increase when the 14-hole Purebred Farm golf course, west of Blackwolf Run, opens to the public in summer/fall 2027.
