Lake Geneva Golf Trail
Quick answer: Geneva National (54 holes by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino) and Grand Geneva’s The Brute are the 2 best golf experiences in Lake Geneva. Hawk’s View is the best public value, and Grand Geneva’s new Wee Nip short course is the most fun 90 minutes in the area.
The Lake Geneva Golf Trail covers 15 courses across Walworth County and its edges, about 90 minutes from Chicago.
Few places within 2 hours of Chicago pack this much golf into one county. You can play a championship course in the morning and be on Geneva Lake by late afternoon.
Here’s how the courses rank, which ones the public can play, and how to string them into a weekend.
Which Lake Geneva course should you play?
Lake Geneva golf courses compared
| Course | Town | Holes | Access | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva National | Lake Geneva | 54 | Book via Destination GN | Championship golf |
| Grand Geneva: The Brute | Lake Geneva | 18 | Public, book online | A hard test |
| Grand Geneva: The Highlands | Lake Geneva | 18 | Public, book online | Links style |
| Grand Geneva: Wee Nip | Lake Geneva | Short course | Public, book online | 90-minute rounds, groups up to 8 |
| Hawk’s View | Lake Geneva | 18 + 18 par-3 | Public | Value |
| Evergreen | Elkhorn | 27 | Public | Variety |
| Majestic Oaks (Lake Lawn) | Delavan | 18 | Resort course | Resort round on Delavan Lake |
| Alpine Valley | Elkhorn | Varies | Public | Hilly terrain |
| Lauderdale Lakes | Elkhorn | 9 | Public | Lake views |
| Abbey Springs | Fontana | 18 | Private | Members only |
| Twin Lakes CC | Twin Lakes | 18 | Private | Members only |
The top 10 Lake Geneva golf courses
Ranked on course quality first, then on how easy it is for a visitor to get a tee time.
1. Geneva National
ChampionshipStay and playThree 18-hole courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino, laid out around Lake Como. 2026 marks 35 years of golf here.
Play 1 course or try 2 in a day. Stay-and-play packages bundle tee times with suites, cottages or Lodge Geneva National, and the resort adds saltwater pools, kayaks on Lake Como and The Dance Floor putting course.
Tip: Finish at Hunt Club Steakhouse, or grab a casual bite at Turf Kitchen + Tap after your round.
2. The Brute at Grand Geneva
ToughestPublicThe name fits. 68 bunkers, big elevation changes and greens that average more than 8,000 square feet. 4 tee sets keep it playable for mid-handicappers.
Grand Geneva uses demand-based pricing, so weekday and twilight times run much cheaper than Saturday morning.
3. Hawk’s View Golf Club
Best valuePublicVoted Lake Geneva’s best golf course every year from 2020 to 2024. No membership needed. Como Crossings is a full championship layout; Barn Hollow is an 18-hole par-3 course for a fast, easy round.
Tail Feathers Bar & Grill runs a Friday fish fry. Book ahead.
4. The Highlands at Grand Geneva
Links stylePublicA Scottish-style course over open hills and creeks. It’s more forgiving than The Brute, and the better pick if you want to play 36 at Grand Geneva in a day.
5. Wee Nip at Grand Geneva
NewAll agesGrand Geneva’s new short course, built for all skill levels. Groups of up to 8 can play together, which makes it the easiest way to get non-golfers out on a course.
6. Evergreen Golf Club
VarietyValue3 nines you can mix into different 18-hole rounds, at lower rates than the resort courses. The Bunker Bar & Grill handles lunch.
7. Majestic Oaks at Lake Lawn Resort
ResortThe on-site course at Lake Lawn Resort, a 250-acre property on 2 miles of Delavan Lake shoreline. Easy to pair with a night at the resort.
8. Alpine Valley Resort
HillyGolf on the same Kettle Moraine hills as the ski runs, so expect uphill and downhill lies. See the Alpine Valley guide.
9. Lauderdale Lakes Country Club
Lake viewsHistoricA 9-hole course on 45 acres beside the Lauderdale Lakes, with a view of the water from every hole and a new clubhouse.
10. Nippersink Golf Club
HistoricA century-old course in the farm country south of Lake Geneva, under new ownership since 2017. Good for a quiet round away from the resort crowds.
More courses on the trail
Public courses
Delbrook Golf Club
A long-running parkland course in Delavan. Call ahead for tee times.
Willow Brook Golf Course
A relaxed 9-hole course with multiple tees, open to everyone.
Country Club Estates
A short parkland course near the west end of Geneva Lake.
Oak Grove Golf Course
A public course and Audubon Certified Signature Sanctuary, with 5 tee sets from just over 5,200 to 7,000+ yards.
Prairie Woods Golf Course
Laid out through farmland and mature trees northwest of Lake Geneva.
Private clubs
Abbey Springs
A private 18-hole course inside the gated Abbey Springs association on the south shore.
Twin Lakes Country Club
A family-owned private club with a traditional parkland layout and a roughly 100-year-old Red Barn event venue.
How to play the Lake Geneva Golf Trail
Weekend (2 days)
Day 1: Geneva National (any 1 of the 3). Day 2: The Brute in the morning, Wee Nip in the afternoon. Swap in Hawk’s View if you want to save money.
Long weekend (3 to 4 days)
Add a second Geneva National course, The Highlands and either Evergreen or Majestic Oaks. Leave one afternoon for a boat on Geneva Lake.
Full week
All of the public courses fit in 7 to 8 days with a couple of 36-hole days. Mix in Lauderdale Lakes and Nippersink for something different.
Season tip: Most courses open in April and play into late October. Late September and early October bring cooler days, fall color and lower rates.
Where to stay: see the Lake Geneva resorts guide. Planning the rest of the weekend: see the Lake Geneva weekend getaway guide.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Geneva National | 54 holes by 3 legends |
| Hardest | The Brute | 7,000+ yards, 68 bunkers |
| Best public value | Hawk’s View | Voted best in Lake Geneva 2020 to 2024 |
| Best short course | Wee Nip | About 90 minutes, groups up to 8 |
| Best par-3 | Barn Hollow | 18 holes, all par 3 |
| Best lake views | Lauderdale Lakes | Water on every hole |
| Best variety | Evergreen | 27 holes, 3 combinations |
| Best stay and play | Destination Geneva National | Suites, cottages and lodge on site |
Mistakes golfers make in Lake Geneva
Waiting to book weekend tee times. Summer Saturdays at Geneva National and Grand Geneva fill early. Book when you book your room.
Paying peak rates. Grand Geneva prices by demand. Weekday and twilight rounds cost much less.
Assuming every course is public. Abbey Springs and Twin Lakes Country Club are private.
Skipping the short courses. Wee Nip and Barn Hollow are the best way to fit golf into a day on the lake.
Golf communities around Lake Geneva
Geneva National is a gated community with 54 holes, single-family homes, condos and fairway lots, plus golf and social memberships. Some homes have cart access to the course.
Abbey Springs is a gated association on Geneva Lake’s south shore with an 18-hole course, marina, beach, pools, tennis and pickleball.
Country Club Estates in Fontana is an ungated neighborhood around a 9-hole course, a few minutes from Fontana’s beach.
Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses are in the Lake Geneva area?
The Lake Geneva Golf Trail covers 15 courses in and around Walworth County, including 54 holes at Geneva National and 3 courses at Grand Geneva.
What is the best golf course in Lake Geneva?
Geneva National, with 3 courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. The Brute at Grand Geneva is the toughest test, and Hawk’s View was voted Lake Geneva’s best golf course from 2020 to 2024.
What are the best public golf courses near Lake Geneva?
Grand Geneva’s The Brute, The Highlands and Wee Nip, Hawk’s View, Evergreen in Elkhorn, Majestic Oaks at Lake Lawn Resort and Lauderdale Lakes.
What is the Wee Nip at Grand Geneva?
A new short course at Grand Geneva designed for all skill levels. Rounds take about 90 minutes, and groups of up to 8 can play together.
Is there a par-3 course near Lake Geneva?
Yes. Barn Hollow at Hawk’s View is an 18-hole par-3 course, and Grand Geneva’s Wee Nip is a short course.
Does Geneva National have stay-and-play packages?
Yes. Destination Geneva National bundles tee times on its 3 courses with stays in its suites, cottages or Lodge Geneva National.
Can you live on a golf course in Lake Geneva?
Yes. Geneva National has homes, condos and lots along 54 holes. Abbey Springs has an 18-hole course on Geneva Lake’s south shore, and Country Club Estates in Fontana surrounds a 9-hole course.
How far is Lake Geneva golf from Chicago?
About 90 minutes from downtown Chicago via I-94 and US-12, and about an hour from Milwaukee.
Want your home course to be here?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover the golf communities around Geneva Lake, from fairway condos and homes at Geneva National to Abbey Springs on the south shore.
Search Geneva National properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.