Links Course
Green Lake, WI, USA
Lawsonia Links, carved into the glacial drumlins of central Wisconsin, whispers tales of a bygone architectural era. This golden-age marvel, hewn from the rolling landscape north of Green Lake, delivers an unrelenting test of strategy, demanding a mastery of ground game and a shrewd understanding of angles. Narrow fairways tumble and pitch, leading to crowned greens perched precariously amongst the rugged terrain, punishing errant approaches with swift, inevitable consequences. It is a thinking man's course and a brute for the careless. Designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau in 1930, the Links course exhibits a rugged, unapologetic character, a stark contrast to manicured, modern landscapes. The infamous "Deep Bunker Nine," with its staggering excavation, stands as a testament to their audacity and vision. While largely unchanged, subtle refinements over the years have only served to enhance its inherent challenges and preserve its raw, untamed beauty. Lawsonia Links holds a revered, if somewhat understated, position within the game. While it may not claim major championship pedigree, its unwavering commitment to classic design principles and challenging layout have earned it a devoted following among purists and architectural aficionados. The club also harbors a fiercely loyal membership known for their unpretentious camaraderie and shared appreciation for the game's traditions, often debating course strategy well into the twilight hours, fuelled by the club's well-regarded Friday night fish fry.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #108
Best in USA
Public: #44
Best in WI
Public: #6
Golfers say Lawsonia Links delivers a memorable experience with standout routing and conditioning, particularly praising the back nine as "something special" with spectacular greens and bunkers that most find nearly perfect. Reviewers note the layout offers great scale and views across the property, with many calling it a must-play for purists at around $125 with a cart. Most appreciate the friendly hospitality and consider the course properly rated or even underrated, though one dissenting voice finds it overrated and farm-like when the fescue is mowed down. Some mention slow service at the turn for food, but the consensus remains enthusiastic about the overall value and quality of this links-style design.
8.6
274 players
Lawsonia Links is a golden-age masterpiece that every architecture fan should experience. Massive fairways, bold template greens, and strategic bunkering reward creativity over power. It has an old-school feel where every shot presents options, and the course gets more enjoyable the more you learn its subtleties. Timeless golf at its finest.
Motorcycle golf carts is the greatest thing to happen to the golf industry since Tees
Fun layout with greens that you typically do not see in the Midwest outside of top courses. Conditions were high quality, only knock is that it doesn’t have the views or “awe” factor of other similarly ranked courses. Would love to play again.
get. the. bikes.
Great course
Overrated course that is ranked 100 spots too high every year because they pay golf digest. If the fescue is mowed, it’s like playing golf on a farm with random pins. Not worth it to travel to, worth it if you’re 20 mins away
Played Lawsonia Links in August 2025. The drought this summer I’m sure made it a little dried out. But the course was a blast and the people were so kind. This was our 7th round in 4 days so we were pretty beat down. The greens and bunkers were nearly perfect. The layout and the views of the whole course were so great. Can’t wait to play again someday.
The back 9 of lawsonia is something special and at 125$ with a cart; this is a must play. Some great scale and spectacular greens.
Loved playing this one on a buddies golf trip. My first and only links course so far!
Langford & Moreau’s masterpiece. A must-play for a purist.
Public courses closest to Links at The Golf Courses at Lawsonia.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Links at The Golf Courses at Lawsonia has a Course Vaults score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 127 explicit golfer ratings.
Links was designed by William Langford.
Yes. Links at The Golf Courses at Lawsonia is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Links is 72.
Links plays 6,764 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Links is 130.
