An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/852409
Being the official golf course of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, you might think Thornberry Creek at Oneida would require brute force to post a good score. But crushing the ball is not nec- essarily a requisite here. Rather, the pinpoint accuracy of a Bart Starr, Bret Favre, or Aaron Rodg- ers is the necessary ingredient. Thornberry Creek – a combi- nation of tree-lined, home-lined, and water-lined fairways – is a shot-maker's paradise or night- mare, as the case may be, where 'placement' is paramount. It all starts where it should on first-rate courses…on the first tee. No. 1 (428 yards from the tips) sets the tone for the round. It's a dogleg right downhill. Placement – there's that word – of your tee shot is critical. Too long and you're in the trees; too short and your path to a relatively benign green is blocked by trees. If you aren't aware of the connection between Thornberry Creek and the Packers, you will when you look down the first fairway. Emblazoned in green & gold in the turf on the right side is a huge Packers logo. Except for #3 (497 yards), all of Thornberry Creek's par 5s are strong, particularly #15 (550 yards), a double dogleg with water along the left from tee to green, and water in front of the green. At the first dogleg, a trap awaits an errant or weak tee shot. Go too far left of the trap and you might run out of fairway and end up wet. The best par 3 is #12 (190 yards). Over water with a yawn - ing sand trap in front and traps on either side make this hole a bit scary…and perplexing. It's hard to tell from the tee, but there's plenty of room between the trap in front and the green. Club se- lection is key. No. 18 (409 yards) is a spec- tacular finishing hole, a dogleg left that goes uphill at the turn to a blind green. Long and straight are good off the tee to make sure you have a clear shot to the green, guarded on the left by a bunker and steep hill. I believe the word is placement! After ac - complishing that, make sure you have enough club to reach the large round green. The best stretch on the course is #7 through #9 – pars 4, 3, and 5 respectively. No. 7 (383 yards): A dogleg left with water all along the left side that demands a tee shot right of center and long enough to avoid being blocked by a lone stately tree, also on the left. Too far right and you could find yourself in one of two bunkers. No. 8 (190 yards): While there is water from tee to green on the left and a bunker on the green's left side, the key element here is the extreme length of the green from front to back. It doesn't look that long from the tee, but when the pin is back, add a club. No. 9 (518 yards): The second and third shots are the challeng - es on this dogleg left with water, also along the left, from tee to green. After a longish, center-left tee shot, you have the decision to go for the green (good luck!) or layup by cutting off part of the dogleg. Sand traps highlight every hole. And water lurks on seven holes. Thornberry Creek, a short drive west of Green Bay, is visually pleasing from every tee. There are, however, places where you might not believe what you see. For instance, there's the false front on #11 (440 yards). That's when accurate distances are needed. Brand new carts have two charging ports to make sure your electronic gear is working and calculating the distance of your next shot. Golf here is primarily between the ears, not necessarily between the shoulders. Nevertheless, Thornberry Creek at Oneida still could leave you drained and roughed up a bit. After all, even the most accurate quarterback sometimes has a bad day. Visit golfthornberry.com. By Jerry Slaske, KEY Milwaukee Golf Editor Thornberry Creek at Oneida Official golf course of the green & gold won't leave you black & blue 32 keymilwaukee.com