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Dynamic Destinations

The Kohler Co. continues to diversify the guest experiences at its two hospitality venues, Destination Kohler in Wisconsin and the Old Course Hotel in Scotland.

Dynamic Destinations

The Kohler Co. continues to diversify the guest experiences at its two hospitality venues, Destination Kohler in Wisconsin and the Old Course Hotel in Scotland.

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y the time golfers reach the halfway point of the second hole on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, the significance of Pete Dye’s and Herb Kohler’s accomplishment begins to set in. This is especially true for players who are seeing the course for the first time. As golfers venture out along the lengthy fairway, Lake Michigan’s vast expanse of rippling azure water stretches for miles to the left, while shaggy moguls of turf—many punctuated by thin, irregularly shaped bunkers—line the right hand side of the playing corridor.

Those who have been fortunate to play in Ireland will draw immediate parallels between the Straits and some of the Emerald Isle’s greatest links courses, and such a reaction only re-emphasizes the successful design of this major championship venue, since Kohler gave the late course designer a single directive during the late 1990s when the two set out to build a dynamic golf course on a parcel of land that was then devoid of character.

“Make it look like Ballybunion,” the late business magnate instructed.

Dye accommodated, bringing in more than 10,000 truckloads of sand with which he transformed the property into a collection of rumpled fairways surrounded by dramatic, steep-faced dunes. The layout trundles up and down those artfully sculpted ridgelines and presents golfers with a challenging test of uphill and downhill shots, as well as frequent sidehill lies and stances.

For all of those reasons, the Dye-abolical course has hosted three PGA Championships, the Senior U.S. Open, and the Ryder Cup. Such a championship pedigree further encourages visits from golf travelers who are seeking memorable experiences, and Destination Kohler’s recent commitment to spread tee times out every 13 minutes (instead of the customary 10) only enhances the enjoyment that golfers are certain to have on each of Destination Kohler’s four championship layouts.

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Yet, the on-course experience is just one of many exemplary facets that define a getaway to Destination Kohler. Later this year, the resort will unveil a new food truck at The Baths—Destination Kohler’s ridiculously fun 10-hole short course and two-acre putting course—while a food trailer will also open at Whistling Straits. Those amenities are set to bolster the pre- and post-round experiences at both golf venues; and since players are already inclined to linger after their rounds, especially at the Straits—where a ring of Adirondack chairs provides an ideal vantage point to watch groups finishing the 18th hole—it’s safe to say that Destination Kohler’s two golfing hubs will soon boast an even stronger attraction and staying power.

As enhancements go, the more significant improvements to the resort’s suite of amenities can be found at Kohler Waters Spa, where the lower-level relaxation pool has been rejuvenated, along with renovations to locker rooms, relaxation spaces, and other amenities within the facility. “We are thrilled to debut a new era of elevated luxury,” says Nikki Miller, the director of Kohler Waters Spa. “Our priority is to help guests discover and enjoy the wellness benefits of our innovative treatments and therapeutic spa experiences centered on the restorative power of water.”

Once golfers pull themselves away from Whistling Straits or Blackwolf Run—a feat that will prove all the more difficult once the aforementioned food trucks open for service—they’d be wise to make their way to the new and improved spa, if only to enjoy a CBD Massage, which Ashley Kohler, the resort’s director of wellness, acknowledges is the most popular treatment for golfers. “If they’ve been on the golf course all day and have tired muscles or are just feeling fatigued,” she says, “that’s a go-to experience.”

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Across the pond, Kohler’s other hospitality venue, the Old Course Hotel, also has benefited from a slew of recent renovations and new amenities. Updates to the Scottish property’s spa facilities and fitness center are currently underway, with renovations slated to be completed by the beginning of the fall. The hotel’s Jigger Inn re-emerged this spring sporting refreshed interior décor and an expanded kitchen, which now allows “the most famous 19th hole in golf” to offer a diverse menu, including venison charcuterie boards, haggis crumpets, and standard favorites, such as Jigger Ale-battered fish and chips. In the words of the establishment’s Bar Manager, Louise Dougall: “The Jigger Inn proudly remains the same Scottish pub we all know and love, now with a refreshed space and updated menu celebrating local ingredients.”

Elsewhere, the hotel recently unveiled a new rooftop dining venue, the West Deck, which features cozy seating areas set under a canopy of twinkling lights, as well as private glass pods that allow patrons to enjoy the space (and a meal) no matter the weather. “Just as St Andrews has been graced with the first sunny days of the season, we’re so pleased to begin welcoming guests to the West Deck to soak in the beautiful summer nights above the town in such a lovely setting,” the hotel’s Bar Manager Peter Walters said at the time of the West Deck’s opening near the beginning of the summer.

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Kohler Co. also made significant improvements to its Scottish golf venue the Duke’s Course. While many associate the Old Course Hotel with the town’s iconic links layout—it’s hard not to given that the hotel overlooks the famous Road Hole—equally as many will be surprised to learn that the hotel offers exclusive access to the only heathland course in St Andrews.

The Duke’s just completed a £1.7 million renovation project, which improved the 7,512-yard course’s drainage and irrigation systems and, in turn, ensures that the course continues to play firm and fast. Additionally, the Duke’s now offers an all-inclusive greens fees package that offers a menu at the halfway house (the Wee buth) as well as the use of a golf buggy (commonly referred to as golf carts here in the States).

In other words, no matter the destination you choose for your next golfing getaway—be it along the western shores of Lake Michigan or the east coast of Scotland—the Kohler Co.’s hospitality ventures will ensure a dynamic and unforgettable experience.

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