Post by sroel908 on Apr 27, 2021 22:23:08 GMT -5
Situated on the picturesque bluffs overlooking Moonlight Bay, Cherry Bluffs is the premier golf destination in Wisconsin’s Door County. Known far and wide for its tourism, Door County offers wineries, breweries, outdoor recreation, shopping, dining, and more. Add in world-class golf, and you’ve got yourself the perfect place for a getaway!
Our Name
Door County's cooler spring months and unique soil composition make it an ideal spot for growing cherries. Early farmers in the county observed this and developed some of the earliest and largest fruit orchards in the state.
In honor of the county’s historical affiliation with the popular product, our course has taken on the name, “Cherry Bluffs”. It combines the popular local fruit with the predominant geological features in the area, giving it a flavor that’s uniquely Door County. You’re even likely to notice that every hole has a cherry tree planted near the tee box. There’s also a fully functional orchard located along the driveway and near our clubhouse! We use these cherries to make our signature homemade cherry products, like our popular cherry pie and delicious cherry wine. Try some of each in The Bayview Bar & Grill, located in the clubhouse, or on the patio overlooking the water!
The clubhouse features original sections of the old Moonlight Bay Lighthouse and Coast Guard station, which had been in operation from 1889 to 1928. The building was recently restored and is now home to our Pro Shop! You'll find the new Moonlight Bay Lighthouse near the 15th hole of the golf course.
The clubhouse features original sections of the old Moonlight Bay Lighthouse and Coast Guard station, which had been in operation from 1889 to 1928. The building was recently restored and is now home to our Pro Shop! You'll find the new Moonlight Bay Lighthouse near the 15th hole of the golf course.
Our Course
Constructing a golf course that would excite and challenge golfers of all skill levels was the top goal in mind for the founders of Cherry Bluffs. Using natural features, the course winds and weaves its way through hilly terrain, ultimately culminating with several holes that run right along the bay, sitting atop the rocky bluffs. The scenery is sure to please, but the golf will require your full attention, too!
Prepare for elevation changes, strategically placed bunkers, tree-lined fairways, and intermittent water hazards to test your game. The course stretches to over 7,200 yards from the championship tees, but also comes in at just over 6,200 yards from the forward tees. With four total tee options to choose from, an accessible round of golf is available for all.
Hole-by-Hole Course Tour (Measurements are in Yards)
The Cherry Nine - Par 35 - Gold: 2,870, Green: 3,052, White: 3,304, Black: 3,432
Each set of nines at Cherry Bluffs is named appropriately for the endeavor you’re about to embark on. The first set of nine holes is dubbed “The Cherry Nine”, due to the fact they might seem sweet, but you’ll find some tartness along the way, too!
Hole 1 - Par 5 - Gold: 497, Green: 513, White: 525, Black: 543
The opener at Cherry Bluffs showcases that classic Door County hospitality in golf form. This wide-open, par-5 hole gently greets your round with a honest-to-goodness birdie (or eagle) opportunity. Avoid the large sand traps found along the fairway, and put a red number on the card to start your day.
Hole 2 - Par 4 - Gold: 366, Green: 375, White: 391, Black: 404
Hope you’re not getting too comfortable after that opening hole! The second tightens things up with a narrow fairway protected by a bunker on the right, as well as a tree-lined left side. Keeping your tee shot to the left side of the fairway ensures you can see the flag on your approach. The elevated green is also guarded by a trap in the front, so be sure to pick the right club to get the ball to the putting surface.
Hole 3 - Par 3 - Gold: 132, Green: 148, White: 189, Black: 203
The first single-shot hole of the day is a lovely par-3 that is framed by a large hazard on the right and a pond on the left. This is the longest par-3 on the course, and the green runs toward the pond. If you want to guarantee you stay dry, take advantage of the ample bailout areas to the right and past the green.
Hole 4 - Par 4 - Gold: 388, Green: 417, White: 436, Black: 448
This dogleg left par-4 is defended by one solitary bunker at the bend in the fairway. Find the short grass off the tee, and the putting surface is wide open for the taking! A slight depression in front of the green will corral any balls hit short of the surface, however.
Hole 5 - Par 4 - Gold: 424, Green: 438, White: 504, Black: 513
This is likely one of the most challenging par-4s in Wisconsin! Your first task is to avoid the large fairway bunker off the tee. Secondly, you must hit a long iron or hybrid into a green perched 35 feet uphill, while avoiding the treacherous “Cherry Pit”' bunker that stands in the way of a green in regulation. Be sure to take enough club to escape "The Pit", as you're sure to be almost 20 feet below the hole if you find it! The small green slopes dramatically from back to front and has a pronounced false front, but does offer a backstop to help keep long approach shots on the putting surface.
Hole 6 - Par 3 - Gold: 114, Green: 145, White: 161, Black: 165
If you survived the brute that is Hole 5, you’re rewarded with a pleasant par-3 that plays back down the hill you just climbed up. A generously sized green allows you to take a bit of a breather on this hole. But don’t get too careless and hit your tee ball into the pond or sand!
Hole 7 - Par 4 - Gold: 359, Green: 367, White: 405, Black: 423
The dogleg right gives you options off the tee: hit driver, aiming over the bunker to try and cut the corner, or play it safe with iron, hybrid, or fairway wood to keep left of the trap. The approach to the green is downhill to a two-tiered putting surface protected by two bunkers, including one large one in the back that catches any long shots.
Hole 8 - Par 4 - Gold: 331, Green: 374, White: 401, Black: 424
The second in a set of back-to-back dogleg right holes, this one plays more downhill off the tee than the previous one. However, the elevated green here has an interesting shape that can make for challenging pin positions.
Hole 9 - Par 4 - Gold: 259, Green: 275, White: 292, Black: 309
Get ready for some fireworks at this short par-4! Heading back up the hill toward the clubhouse, Hole 9 features two fairway bunkers and a sand trap next to the green as well. If you’re feeling adventurous, pull out the driver and see if you can set yourself up for an eagle-2! The green here is shared with Hole 18, so perhaps do some scouting to see where the last pin of the day is set up!
The Bluffs Nine - Par 37 - Gold: 3,331, Green: 3,423, White: 3,679, Black: 3,796
Welcome to the second nine at Cherry Bluffs, “The Bluffs Nine”! This set of holes is named for the geologic features you’ll be encountering during the second half of your round, as well as the elevated difficulty and added length of the holes that lay ahead - it might get a little rocky!
Hole 10 - Par 5 - Gold: 488, Green: 500, White: 518, Black: 524
While the second nine may feature some holes that will test your mettle, Hole 10 isn’t really one of them. A sister hole to No. 1, Hole 10 is another straightforward par-5 that can be reached in two. Avoid the dual fairway bunkers, as well as the natural rock outcroppings on the right. The green is long and narrow, but is sure to offer up plenty of birdies.
Hole 11 - Par 4 - Gold: 391, Green: 401, White: 423, Black: 439
The dogleg left gives you a great view from the tee; the Moonlight Bay Lighthouse is visible through a window in the trees ahead of you, while the No. 11 green is also visible to the left, beyond the pond. The tee shot here will likely leave you with a sidehill lie, and your approach to the green is defended by two bunkers and the aforementioned pond.
Hole 12 - Par 4 - Gold: 404, Green: 416, White: 448, Black: 457
The fairway narrows between the two bunkers here on this long par-4 to just under 16 yards, so be sure your tee shot is accurate! The Cherry Bluffs State Park campground is located beyond the 12th green, so say "hi" to any campers you might see as you head to the No. 13 tee!
Hole 13 - Par 4 - Gold: 356, Green: 371, White: 414, Black: 427
This is the final uphill trek you must endure before reaching the scenic bluffs overlooking Moonlight Bay! A single bunker and a tall pine tree are your only worries off the tee, while the green is defended by a trap and dramatically slopes from front right to back left. Take in your first glimpse of the bay for a moment before walking over to Hole 14!
Hole 14 - Par 3 - Gold: 145, Green: 152, White: 159, Black: 166
Enjoy the view from the tee box! The green here is downhill, so consider using one less club on your tee shot; don’t forget to factor in the wind, though! The putting surface is quite tame here, so finding the green is sure to yield a makeable birdie putt.
Hole 15 - Par 5 - Gold: 466, Green: 475, White: 541, Black: 559
This stunning par-5 runs right along the bay, as you tee off from in front of the Moonlight Bay Lighthouse. Be sure to look through the trees on the left to get some great views of the water, too. The fairway is protected by two bunkers, and a large sand trap guards the left side of the green, as well.
Hole 16 - Par 3 - Gold: 132, Green: 136, White: 139, Black: 163
The signature hole at Cherry Bluffs is a gorgeous one-shotter that requires you to hit a wedge or iron into a green set atop the rocky shoreline bluffs above the bay. Anything left is DOA, as the rocks are out of bounds. And anything hit right is sure to land in the large greenside bunker. Be sure to snap some photos while playing this hole!
Hole 17 - Par 4 - Gold: 393, Green: 400, White: 433, Black: 445
For one final time, you’ll be heading back inland as you tee off on this dogleg left par-4. A wide fairway offers some relief on this penultimate hole, but the putting surface is a slick one. Being out of position on your approach could lead to some three-putts. Don’t go over the green, either, as the rocky area beyond the putting surface is OB.
Hole 18 - Par 5 - Gold: 556, Green: 572, White: 604, Black: 616
The longest hole at Cherry Bluffs is also it’s last, so buckle up for a wild ride to the finish! Avoiding the fairway bunker off the tee is key to giving yourself an easier chance at making birdie here. A nasty left greenside bunker will catch errant shots that way, and a hazard set at the front right will corral those offline on that side. Three well-placed shots are required to position yourself to go under par on No. 18, and doing so could make or break your round!
The greens are set to Fast (175) speeds, but have been tested at Very Fast (187) as well. I recommend a low/medium wind from any direction for a solid round with a bit of challenge. But feel free to crank up the breeze off the bay and play in high winds, too! Read more about the course and its inspiration at the WIP thread here.
Enjoy your time in Door County, and thanks for playing a round at Cherry Bluffs!
Enjoy your time in Door County, and thanks for playing a round at Cherry Bluffs!