Wild Rock Golf Club at The Wilderness

Wild Rock Golf Club at The Wilderness: Just a couple of hours drive from Milwaukee, you'll find the popular leisure destination of Wisconsin Dells. Here the Wisconsin River impressively wriggles its way through a gorge, with striking sandstone formations lining the river on both sides. Here also is the home of the excellent Wild Rock golf course, one of many attractions and activities offered by the captivating Wilderness Territory resort.

Skilfully designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, Wild Rock's wonderfully crafted out-and-back layout, takes you on an expansive journey through natural woodland, and occasionally more open areas. From its higher elevations there are scenic views out across surrounding tree-clad hills.

After the opening holes played on flatter terrain, the gently uphill par-4 5th introduces greater elevation change, which many subsequent holes also enjoy. Neat, square-cut tee-boxes and a stylish array of fairway and greenside bunkering underline the quality of both design and upkeep at Wild Rock.

Water doesn't make too many appearances, but certainly does threaten alongside the par-3 4th green. Streams will also need to be avoided in front of the green of the par-5 1st and on a few other occasions. The generally good width fairways should inspire confidence from the tee, but there's enough woodland on the tree-lined stretches and fescue-grasses in the more open areas, to put a premium on straight hitting.

You'll need to choose your tees wisely; at over 7,400 yards from the tips, Wild Rock can play long! A wonderfully natural and testing layout, with plenty more in the area for you and the family to do after the final putt is holed.

Pick of the holes: among many memorable holes, the par-3 15th lays down a scenic challenge, bringing into play some of the area's former quarry workings. You'll have the red barn of the par-4 16th in view, but will need to focus on clearing the ravine that lies between you and the green on this testing par-3.