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4.0
28 Reviews (28)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
2.3
Value
3.2
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
1.6
Pace
3.2
Amenities
3.1
97.5%
Recommend this course
24 out of 28 reviews
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Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
0
Pace
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Average Rating
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4.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
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0
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0
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0
Conditions
2.0
Value
3.0
Layout
4.0
Pace
3.0
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
1.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7231 yards
Slope 136
Rating 74.0

Big Fish Golf Club boasts a Pete Dye-designed championship layout. The course starts outs with a links-style front nine that is relatively wide-open and virtually treeless. There is some fescue on the front but it does not pose much of a threat. The seventh is the course's signature hole. It is a tricky par 5 that calls for creative shot-making with sand and water all along the left side. The ninth is a great finishing hole for the first half before the even more challenging and scenic back nine. One feature both nines definitely have in common is the abundance of strategically placed bunkers, including pot bunkers. The 13th hole is another of the golf course's memorable par 5s, flowing downhill from left to right and down along the right to the green, grazing a strand of mature trees.

Course Details

Year Built 2004
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round. High Season: 05/11 - 09/20
Architect Tim Liddy (2004) Pete Dye (2004)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Unacceptable attire includes tank tops, cut-offs, and bare feet.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

Reviews

4.0
28 Reviews (28)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 6
Course Challenges Include:
Undulating Greens 7
Bunkers 6
Elevation Changes 6
This course/club is great for:
A Weekend Splurge 6
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Recommended
Handicap
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Type of Golfer
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Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0

Fun Course

Fun course and a great time but your clubhouse attendant Dan needs an attitude adjustment. Told us we were late after arriving early and was very rude.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Hayward Buddy Weekend

Our group played Big Fish a couple of times in 2 days. Big Fish course defense relies heavily on the slopey greens, if you hit it on the wrong side of a pin and can be treacherous. The front 9 is a links style with no trees and is fairly straightforward. The only water hazard on the front 9 resides on the par-5 7th hole that runs along the length of the hole on the left-side. Once you make the turn, the course changes dramatically with tree lined fairways and elevation changes. The par-3 12th is a neat hole where you tee off some 50-75 feet above the height of the green. Unfortunately the par-5 13th is one of the worst golf holes you will ever play. A sharp dogleg-left with a steep sloping fairway makes it almost impossible to hit the fairway. If you hit it too far and to the right you will be down a steep hill and the green had an irrigation sod fix right in the middle of it. A few neat holes coming in salvage the back 9. The course condition was extremely dry leaving our group a challenge to see the difference between fairway and rough. Because of the dryness of the course the greens were extremely firm and in some cases unapproachable with the wrong wind. In order for the course to survive, they need to invest in some water and see if the course can thrive in lush conditions. The staff was courteous and welcoming of our group and the clubhouse offers minimal food options. I hope Big Fish can get things straightened out because our group loves the Hayward area but right now there are much better options to play than Big Fish.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/08/2021

Unfortunatley course conditions have plagued this course for a long time. Very nice layout, friendly staff, etc. People will come back if the course is in decent shape. The time I played, the greens were unplayable. They were so rock hard you couldn't stop a ball on them from anywhere, with any club. Its too bad. I write this with the hope that it gets resolved. Hopefully management reads these.

Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/25/2021

We apologize Sir. We had a control drive issue within our irrigation system. We were operating on only one pump and thus a low capacity. Rest assured, the drive has been repaired and mother nature has finally lended a hand as well :). We welcome you back, to give it another shot. You will not be disappointed!
Hit em well!

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Excellent Course

Big Fish course as designed by Pete Dye is truly a work of art and the front 9 plays as a link course with the back nine being a wooded setting with lots of terrain changes. The staff are extremely pleasing and can answer any questions about the course or area I will always go back to my favorite Hayward, WI golf course!!!!!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Start to a Guy's Weekend

We hit Big Fish on day one of a golf trip with 12 guys. They were great about slotting us into three consecutive tee times and the pace of play was really good. Under five hour for our group.

Course was in great shape and we had a blast. A fun treat to have almost two different courses between the front and back. Front plays like a links course with little danger.

Also loved the stopover at Mulligan's Pub at the turn. Good food and a great atmosphere.

We will be back!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

The course is beautiful.

Great course can be challenging but fun.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Pretty close to perfection

Golfing this time of the year at a northern Wisconsin course can be challenging for a number of reasons. However yesterday's weather was pretty close to a perfect October day and Big Fish was the perfect course to golf. Although amenities were somewhat lacking we expected that just due to the time of year and it really was no problem.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Great layout---horrific condition

Love Pete Dye layouts and this is a very fair and playable golf course for everyone.
The greens were in ok condition but hard as a rock. Fixed no ball marks after hitting14/18 greens because you don't make ball marks here---the greens were that hard!!
The fairways and tee boxes were awful--especially on the back nine. In some cases I'd say 90% of the fairway was bare/burnt out. I was saddened because I was really looking forward to playing here.
I asked an employee after the round about the course conditions and they told me that the irrigation system has been broken for the past couple of years so they only water the greens. They said they get comments from people about it all the time because of it. They went on to say the front nine was in better shape because they did recently fix the irrigation on the front nine because a golf magazine was coming out to take pictures.
I'm really hoping they can pull this together because the layout is great. However the conditions were probably some of the worst I've seen. Sad. Very sad.
C'mon Big Fish........lets get together!!!

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course in better shape then last year.

Nice day! Greens rolled much more true this year.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Average at best

Greens were immaculate. The rest of the course could use some work. If we would have had to pay full price for the round I would not recommend the course. The people that we first met at the club house were very friendly and helpful. The bar/restaraunt was basically out of beer when we made the turn and the cart on the course had a very limited selection. We would golf here again with a hot deal from golf now but would never pay full price.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Big Fish

I booked my tee time through Golfnow.com and played Big Fish on June 11, 2016. Reservations and check-in went smoothly. Staff was courteous and friendly. The course was in very good shape. Tee boxes were in average condition. The greens rolled nicely but were very hard. Had fun, enjoyed the course and would play it again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

For the value and challenge great course!

Have played Big Fish every other week almost thru the summer and fall. Two very distinctly different 9's. Both have different challenges and degree's of difficulty. Greens are fairly beat up after a high traffic season. Course is still in great shape and a ton of fun to play.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Best Bet In Northern Wisconsin

The BEST of the BEST in Northern Wisconsin! If you like Pete Dye creations you will be at home, If you think Pete DIE is diabolical you may want to choose another course as the challenges are abound and the rewards are endless and earned! Pete Dye designed a masterpiece out of virgin farm land and thick forests to bring together a golfing experience of a lifetime! I can't wait to go back to the little town of Hayward WI and play this fabulous golf course! Where in this world can you find a Pete Dye course under a hundred bucks, the answer is the Big Fish golf course in Hayward WI!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Big fish out of water

My first time at big fish. Loved the lay out, but I felt that the course was really dry. The lies in the fairway were thin, some bare spots and in a few places the ground appeared to be cracked from the lack of water. The greens were fast, although they did not look very pretty with all the brown spots on them. The staff did say that they had just been advised to raise the mowing height a little for the fairways. The round was definitely worth the "hot deal" price I paid. Having been there once, I don't think I would go back at the full greens fee rate until it was in better shape

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good course. Average condition

Fairways have suffered in summer heat. Greens ok. Interesting routing with links fe for front nine and woods on back. Blue tees on back nine very tough with a 465 yard par 4 as example. Would play again but play blue on front and white on back.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Big Fish was windy the day we played

It was a windy day, but the course played well. We had a great time.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Fair weather
Used cart

Chicago Golfer on a Fishing Trip

I found this to be a very challenging round of golf. 7am tee off in mid Sept was not a smart idea though, would have preferred a 10am tee time less condensation on the ground.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Must Play!

I am a local who has never played here until Golf Now came along. Thank you Golf Now!!!

The front 9 makes you feel like you are playing a links course in Scotland. Long holes, water, lots of bunkers, and big greens.

The back nine is carved out of the beautiful north woods. Many north woods courses have fairways that are far too narrow. This is NOT the case here. Beautiful rolling wide fairways, amazing views, and perfect undulating greens offer something for everyone. I found myself pausing to take in the views several times while playing.

Must Play!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tough

Need to play the course a few time to understand the nuances on the layout. Tight lies in the fairway when you find good grass to hit off of. A lot of bare areas. Greens are fast and undulating. Many shots are blind so get to know the course first before setting up your expectations. Hot deals provided +60% off regular fees so it made it a great value. Doubt I would pay full price to golf here

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

tee box help

Loved the course. The tee boxes could use some work. I will play it again!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Not what I expected

For years I wanted to play the course it wasn’t what I expected it was not in very good shape, staff very good

Difficulty Moderate
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Golf Packages

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn on Woodlake and 4 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River & Meadow Valley Courses) and Whistling Straits (Straits & Irish Courses).

SentryWorld Stay & Play Package

FROM $347 (USD)
STEVENS POINT, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at SentryWorld and 2 rounds of golf at SentryWorld Golf Course (site of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open).

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
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