Portage Country Club

Portage Country Club sits in south-central Wisconsin along the banks of the Wisconsin River, in a region where the river corridor creates natural elevation changes and wooded corridors uncommon in the surrounding farmland. The course was designed by Art Johnson, a Wisconsin-based architect who worked primarily in the upper Midwest during the mid-twentieth century and built a regional reputation for routing courses that worked with existing terrain rather than imposing dramatic earthwork. Johnson's designs typically emphasize strategic variety and playability across different skill levels, characteristics evident in courses throughout Wisconsin and neighboring states. The layout at Portage takes advantage of the river valley topography, incorporating moderate elevation shifts and mature tree-lined fairways that define playing corridors and frame approach shots. The property includes both open stretches where wind becomes a factor and tighter, wooded sections that demand accuracy off the tee. Water features, including the proximity to the Wisconsin River and internal ponds or creeks, come into play on several holes, adding both visual interest and strategic consequence to club selection and shot placement. Portage Country Club functions as a traditional member-owned facility serving the local community and surrounding Columbia County area. The club maintains a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere typical of smaller Midwestern clubs, where golf is central but the social and family aspects of membership remain equally important. The course hosts regional amateur events and provides a home course for high school and collegiate teams in the area, contributing to the local golf culture in a town positioned along historic transportation routes between Madison and the Wisconsin Dells.