Big Fish Golf Club

State: WI City: Hayward
Price Range: $75 - $99
Weekend Rate (w/cart): $75
Address: 14122 N True North Ln
Zip Code: 54843-4575
Phone Number: (715) 934-4662
Website: View Website
Tee Times: Get a Tee Time

7.48 CONDITIONS out of 10

Upkeep
Green & Clean
Above & Beyond

7.48 HOSPITALITY out of 10

Guest Services
Amenities
Experience

7.16 PLAYABILITY out of 10

Design
Difficulty
Carts & Cards

8.51 FACILITIES out of 10

Tee Times
Teach & Learn
Accessibility

6.51 VALUE out of 10

Actual Costs
Fun Factor
Value

FORWARD SCORE79.80out of 100

819

TOTAL SCORE out of 1000

This is a Pete Dye designed course, but honestly, this rater probably has more to do with its current look than he does. For sure, the foursome playing in front of us do. Dye designed TPC Sawgrass and Whistling Straits. If those are his "A" courses, this one is his "C+". Big Fish is not a bad course. It is half beautiful and a whole lot of fun. However our expectations in driving five hours up there were not met. Their advertising admittedly took us hook, line and sinker.

First of all, a round at this course is WAY overpriced. They tout their price as the best of Dye's courses, but that doesn't take much. You still don't get what you pay for here. They need GPS. Or at least yardage books. They have neither, but charge as if they do. Range balls should be included. They aren't. Supposedly there are distance markers all over the fairways. That's anything but true. It wouldn't take much to put distance markers down the middle of each fairway... or the sides... something, anything, consistent. Yes, unfortunately, this is a second-rate course with first-rate potential.

But enough of the bad... The course is in fabulous condition. The front nine is a links style course, with tons of bunkers and pot bunkers. It's relatively wide open, and tree free, but the road and casino views on a couple holes are regrettable. There is fescue but, on the front, it's not tall or thick enough to even be a half-hazard. Hole 7 is the front "Signature" and #9 is a great finisher. Yet the greatness, and toughness, of Big Fish awaits you on the back. (Snag a mid-round restroom break and quick nibble at Mulligan's Pub overlooking the 9th green.)

There's TONS of beauty on the back nine. #10 was the first hole we played that met our expectations of the course. (Okay, maybe #7) 12 is a great downhill par 3... (Crazy long but picturesque from the tips.) 13 is an unbelievable hole... A downhill par 5 that, if reversed, would have to be a par 9. Certainly our back nine "signature" hole, and then 18 superbly reels you back in to the clubhouse.

As far as "fish tales" go "Big Fish" is a stretch... but all in all it's still worth "keeping."

Latest Update: 11/8/2010

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User Golf Course Ratings

Average user rating from: 2 user(s)

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Overall rating:		7.5
Condition of Course:		6.0 (2)
Course Design:		8.0 (2)
Course Difficulty:		8.0 (2)
Fun/Interesting Holes:		8.0 (2)
Customer Service:		4.5 (2)
Value for what you paid:		8.0 (2)
Are you likely to return?:		8.0 (2)
Personal opinion of course:		7.5 (2)
Amenities and Practice Facilities:		7.5 (2)
Pace of Play/Atmosphere:		9.0 (2)

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Customer Service*
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Overall rating:

7.9

Reviewed by Guest | July 12, 2011

We played the after 5pm "super twilight" for $30 riding. What a deal. This was my second time playing here. Other than paying in the clubhouse and having a drink cart on the front nine, service is non-existent. At least they slashed rates across the board this year, so they aren't in the league of rates that require something extra. Played the course on July 9. The front nine clearly didn't make it through winter. Most of the fairways and greens had large dead spots and the roll on the greens was subpar. This is not unlike many courses in the Twin Cities area, many of whom elected to replant their greens. The back nine at Big Fish was in much better shape, although not free from winterkill. The tree cover must have protected the back nine. Design wise, I will never understand why they didn't cut all 18 holes through the woods, because the back nine is what brings me back to this course.

All in all - with their reduced rates, it is worth playing.

User Review

Would you golf here again?

Yes

Overall rating:

7.0

Reviewed by ForeMan | November 20, 2010

I both love and hate this course. The service is typically terrible... every time we've gone there at least. The course was in beautiful condition this year. The front nine is nothing special, other than 7... but the back 9 makes the trip almost worthwhile. This is a course that is surviving on the name of its designer, Pete Dye. They need better distance markings and either yardage books or GPS, but they're stubborn and kind of elitist... which has hurt them in the opinions of myself and the six people I golfed there with.