Bonding with a billionaire: My time golfing in Kohler

Just back from a four-day foray to Destination Kohler–the Five-Diamond Mega-Resort and Spa that has made the unlikely blue-collar outpost of Sheboygan, Wisconsin one of the most sought-after destinations in golf.

The trip began with a bang—a one-hour face-to-face with the Billionaire owner, the Grand Poobah of Plumbing himself—Herb Kohler. Our chat was illuminating, as he was providing some excellent insight into the subject of my next book - the great golf course architect Pete Dye. But the conversation, no matter how stimulating, was an absolute yawner in comparison to the opportunity to play the quartet of stunningly beautiful courses, all designed by Dye, that have burnished Kohler’s worldwide reputation in golf.

Although the resort was built for and caters to the resort golfer, it’s where champions are made. The original Blackwolf Run course played host to the ‘98 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Se Ri Pak. It will host the same championship again in 2012. On the banks of Lake Michigan, the dazzling Whistling Straits course played host to the ‘04 PGA Championship (won by Vijay Singh) this past summer’s U.S. Senior Open, (won by Brad Bryant) and will host the PGA Championship in 2010, 2015, and the ultimate accolade - the 2020 Ryder Cup. Meanwhile, the other two golf courses, Meadow Valleys and the Irish, are no slouches themselves.

In this Vagabond Golfer’s opinion, Destination Kohler is undoubtedly on a very, very short list, with Kiawah Island, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and Bandon Dunes, as one of the top 5 destination golf resorts in the nation.