Christmas Mountain Village

The Oaks at Christmas Mountain Village is an Art Johnson design located in Wisconsin Dells, a region better known for its tourist attractions and natural sandstone formations than for golf. Johnson, a prolific Midwestern architect active from the 1960s through the 1990s, designed numerous courses throughout Wisconsin and neighboring states, typically working with rolling terrain and incorporating natural features into playable resort and daily-fee layouts. The course serves the Christmas Mountain Village resort community in the wooded hills south of the main Wisconsin Dells strip. The routing takes advantage of the area's glacially influenced topography, with elevation changes and wooded corridors characteristic of central Wisconsin's transition zone between the state's northern forests and southern farmland. Johnson's design philosophy generally emphasized strategic options for average golfers while maintaining interest through varied hole lengths and green complexes that reward accurate approach play. The Oaks fits the pattern of his accessible resort courses, designed to accommodate visitors of varying skill levels. The course operates as part of the broader Christmas Mountain Village property, which includes lodging and seasonal recreational amenities. The setting provides a quieter alternative to the commercial bustle of downtown Wisconsin Dells, with the golf experience centered on tree-lined fairways and the natural contours of the property. The layout reflects the practical resort golf of its era, offering a straightforward test without the severe hazards or extreme length that characterize championship venues.