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Winter Wonders

You might think of Kohler only as a bucket-list golf destination when the weather is warm, but the Wisconsin resort is equally enticing when its fairways are frozen.

Winter Wonders

You might think of Kohler only as a bucket-list golf destination when the weather is warm, but the Wisconsin resort is equally enticing when its fairways are frozen.

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y the time costume-clad children are gleefully traipsing from house to house, ringing door bells and exclaiming “trick or treat,” Destination Kohler’s four championship golf courses are preparing to shutter their doors for the year—that is, if they haven’t already closed for the season. While the luxury resort on the shores of Lake Michigan is most famous (and most visited) for its world-class golf, equally alluring experiences can be had once the mercury plummets and those courses go dormant for the winter.

Three years ago Destination Kohler unveiled Winter Wonderland—a collection of traditional outdoor winter activities—but this year, the resort is doubling-down on that initiative, bolstering those activities with a greater infrastructure, accessorizing them with festive food and drink, and relocating the entire operation, now called Frozen Fairways, to a scenic locale that better transports guests to an idyllic, snowglobe-like scene.

“This is when the magic happens,” Jenna Check, Kohler’s associate director of resort events and experiences, says of the trio of months—December, January, and February—when Frozen Fairways will operate.

The Blackwolf Run clubhouse (and the grounds immediately surrounding it) now serve as the primary location for those seasonal outdoor activities. Guests can rent ice skates at a charming skate shack, for example, then glide al fresco on a rink built just beyond the shared double green for the 18th holes of both the River and Meadows Valley courses. “In the evening, you can skate under the lights with all these trees lit up around you,” Check says, describing the postcard-like scene.

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Guests can also venture into a temporary structure not far away to try their hand sliding the rock on a couple of curling lanes, aided by activity coordinators who will be onsite to offer guidance and explain the rules. That feature in particular is one that Check believes sets Kohler apart from other resort properties. Not a lot of places, she says, have curling lanes on real ice and with Olympic-size curling stones. Moreover, what makes Frozen Fairways so noteworthy is its ability to offer guests a chance to try something new while pairing those activities with a festive, welcoming environment. “What we’re trying to capture with Frozen Fairways is that mix of activity and fun and relaxation,” Check says.

Should Mother Nature cooperate with copious amounts of snow, guests can go cross-country skiing on groomed trails that traverse the River Wildlife property (and connect to a portion of Blackwolf Run’s land); they can go snowshoeing; and there’s even a sledding hill, which golfers might recognize as the 10th fairway of Blackwolf Run’s original course. Regardless of how much snow is on the ground, guests also have the ability to take hikes on any of the trails surrounding River Wildlife, they can go fat-tire biking, enjoy carriage rides, or simply visit the property for live music on Friday night or come on Saturdays when a DJ spins some tunes.

And don’t forget the fun snacks and beverages, too. Inside a warming hut, guests will find a popcorn bar and a hot cocoa bar, and they’ll be able to order mugs of mulled wine and winter-themed cocktails. Cranberry Mimosas are always popular, but guests will definitely want to try the Sweater Weather—a hot cider cocktail crafted with local maple syrup and Wisconsin-made bourbon. With a drink in hand, guests can then adjourn to the nearby patio outfitted with Adirondack chairs and Solo Stoves, which makes it an ideal space for s’mores-making. As Check explains, it’s all about bringing an “apres-ski feel” to Kohler.

“We’re building out Blackwolf Run to be a great location all year-round for guests, and over the past three years guests have really loved these winter activities,” she says. “With the name Frozen Fairways we can tie it back to golf and to what people know us for, but it’s really exciting for us to show off the resort and these winter activities that allow guests to enjoy the resort year-round.”

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