Despite the natural beauty of the Wisconsin Dells area, golf didn't play much of a role in the outdoor recreation scene until 1991, when Trappers Turn Golf Club opened. Trappers Turn offers 27 meticulously groomed holes of golf designed by Andy North and Roger Packard.
Later, the golf course was acquired by Kalahari Resort, and a state-of-the-art clubhouse was opened in 2008, along with the Kalahari Golf Academy. The practice facilities are excellent, and The Mystic restaurant in the clubhouse is one of the better dining experiences in The Dells.
The varied topography of The Dells makes for a lovely pastiche of golf holes, with about one-third of them being linksy, one-third water-lined and one-third heavily wooded. Trappers Turn Golf Club's three nines - the Canyon course, Lake course, and Arbor course - can be played in any combination, but whichever you choose, yardages will be just under 7,000 from the tips and around 6,500 from the blues.
Although these yardages sound respectable, Trappers Turn Golf Club places an enormous premium on accuracy. So much so, in fact, that if you are having trouble hitting it in the short grass off the tee, you may just remember your round for the number of lost balls rather than the idyllic scenery and immaculate conditioning.
Trappers Turn Golf Club - Wisconsin Dells
The landscaping and maintenance at Trappers Turn Golf Club are second to none in the Wisconsin Dells area.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - Arbor course - hole 2
The 502-yard, par-5 second on the Trappers Turn Arbor Course is very pretty, but hitting the ribbon-like fairway is easier said than done.
Andrew Hollingworth/WorldGolf.com
Trappers Turn Golf Club - Arbor course - hole 6
The 441-yard sixth hole on the Arbor Course at Trappers Turn Golf Club would be simply stunning if not for the road running alongside. As it is, the 40-plus foot elevation drop from tee to fairway is still quite memorable.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - Arbor course - hole 7
The 217-yard seventh on the Arbor Course epitomizes Trappers Turn Golf Club: beauty and challenge rolled into one.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - Canyon course - hole 1
The stream that runs in front of the green on the 446-yard first hole on the Canyon Course at Trappers Turn Golf Club skirts the hole down the right side and is blind off the tee.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - Canyon course - hole 4
The 203-yard fourth on Trappers Turn Golf Club's Canyon Course allows no room for error: dense woods left, a deep ravine just a few yards off the green on the right. No room to bail out short or long, either.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - greens
Trappers Turn Golf Club's greens are generally small and undulating, well-guarded by sand, woods, water or sometimes all three.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - Canyon course - hole 7
The 176-yard seventh on the Canyon Course presents golfers with one of the most memorable par-3 tee shots at Trappers Turn Golf Club. Again, no room for error.
Andrew Hollingworth/WorldGolf.com
Trappers Turn Golf Club - Canyon course - hole 9
The rollercoaster-like 549-yard ninth on the Canyon Course at Trappers Turn Golf Club is an excellent closing hole.
Andrew Hollingworth/WorldGolf.com
Trappers Turn Golf Club - Lake course
See that sliver of fairway to the left of the lake? The one just to the right of the stone wall? That's the target on the first hole of the Lake Course at Trappers Turn Golf Club.
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Trappers Turn Golf Club - Lake course - hole 3
The green on the 614-yard third hole on the Lake Course at Trappers Turn Golf Club is a welcome sight.
Andrew Hollingworth/WorldGolf.com
Trappers Turn Golf Club - Lake course - hole 6
The 193-yard sixth on the Lake Course is a worthy addition to the strong collection of par 3s at Trappers Turn Golf Club.
Andrew Hollingworth/WorldGolf.com
Trappers Turn Golf Club - Lake course - hole 9
The 534-yard ninth on Trappers Turn Golf Club's Lake Course is another great closer, with a risk-reward tee shot and an approach that must negotiate the rather irksome but lovely creek that meanders in front of the potato-chip green.
Andrew Hollingworth/WorldGolf.com
