Grand Geneva Resort

The Brute at Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, opened in 1968 as part of what was originally the Playboy Club resort complex. Robert B. Harris designed the course to challenge players with significant elevation changes and strategic bunkering across rolling terrain characteristic of southeastern Wisconsin's glacial landscape. The property sits on high ground overlooking Geneva Lake, and the routing takes advantage of natural contours and wooded corridors that define individual holes. The course measures over 7,200 yards from the championship tees and earned its name from the demanding length and shot values Harris built into the design. Several holes play uphill or require carries over ravines and wetlands, testing both distance control and course management. The layout features narrow landing areas framed by mature hardwoods, and the green complexes incorporate subtle undulation that rewards accurate approach play. Grand Geneva has hosted various regional amateur and professional events over the decades, though the course is primarily known as a resort amenity serving guests and members. The property underwent ownership changes after the Playboy era, eventually becoming the Grand Geneva Resort with expanded lodging, dining, and conference facilities. The Brute remains the resort's championship test, complementing a second eighteen-hole course on the property and serving golfers who visit the Lake Geneva area for its combination of recreational golf and resort amenities in a setting that has long attracted visitors from Chicago and Milwaukee.