Cold Water Canyon Golf Course at Chula Vista Resort

Head golf pro Pat Stein was our guide the day we tooled around Wild Rock Golf Club at the Wilderness. Ranked the #5 Best New Course of 2008 by Golf Magazine, Wild Rock is built around and through a former quarry and offers beautiful views. We slowed down at Hole 15. It's 169 yards to the green, with a drop so steep that anyone who's afraid of heights will be a tad intimidated. As Stein matter-of-factly pointed out, if you miss the green, there's probably no way to retrieve the ball. Good naturedly, Stein agreed to demonstrate the proper way to play this hole. After some gentle ribbing that he better hit a hole-in-one, he nearly did. And that's why he's the pro.

A recent $2 million renovation makes this course a must-try. General Manager Tom McClurg says, of the 18 holes, he'd point to Hole 4 as the toughest. "It's downhill about 200 yards with a 50 foot elevation drop. If you miss the green on the side of the hill, you're in the canyon and will have to play a 40-yard chip to get back," described McClurg. The original nine-hole course here was built in 1923, making it one of the oldest in the Dells and actually in the whole state. With the addition of the second nine holes, McClurg says it's like golfing two different courses in one day - a new Scottish-style links on the back nine and a traditional Wisconsin course with small greens on the front nine.

After nearly 20 seasons with Trappers Turn Golf Club, Patrick Steffes, Director of Golf Operations, didn't hesitate a moment when asked to take us to the most challenging hole on the course. He steered us right to Hole 7 on the Canyon course. It boasts an extreme elevation drop into a small green in the midst of a glacier-formed canyon. The challenge here is not the length, but what you're potentially hitting into and that would be thick woods and a rock ledge. This course was designed by Andy North and Roger Packard, so you have them to thank for this one.

Wisconsin Dells golf courses are world class and are great attractions that any avid golfer would appreciate. With close proximity to Wisconsin Dells resorts, you can enjoy luxurious accommodations after your round of 18 holes too. So go ahead and grab your clubs, schedule your tee times and test your skills against these challenging holes in the Dells.

This section allows you to download the Wisconsin Dells area price guide. We're certain you'll land on the right dollar figure.

http://www.wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells-family-vacation/search-guides/2015-Price-Guide.htm

1. Golf’s the Game: Round up those friends who will make your golf game look better and hit the links at one of the area’s three championship courses - Wild Rock Golf Club, Trappers Turn Golf Club and Cold Water Canyon Golf Course at Chula Vista Resort. There are also a handful of fine executive courses to choose from for a quick afternoon round. Golf villas and spacious condominiums around the Dells area allow you ample space to celebrate afterwards. Or, if you’re a non-golfer, throw down the gauntlet at a mini-golf course, like Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf or Timber Falls Adventure Park; there are plenty of options to choose from.
    
2. Spa and Shop: Those three little words will light a fire under any group of girlfriends who’ve been trying forever to coordinate schedules. This itinerary also presents a nice twist for a bachelorette party. There are day spas, spas at the waterpark resorts, an overnight destination spa and even a trip to one of the lakeside Wisconsin Dells resorts with a spa. Shop the cute gift selection at Cranberry Connections on one end of town, then head downtown for boutique apparel shopping at Alpha Beta Karma and jewelry shopping at Winnebago Fine Goods & Gift Shop to name just a few shopping options this fall in the Dells.
    
3. Munch a Bunch: For discerning palates, plan a Wisconsin Dells vacation built around food and beverage finds. There are quintessential Wisconsin supper clubs, a vegetarian restaurant with ethnic fare, tasty fish fry joints, confectionaries, two wineries, two microbrew restaurants and the list goes on and on. Stay at an area B&B and enjoy a gourmet breakfast.
    
4. Hit the Outdoors: For outdoorsy types, pack comfortable shoes and warm clothes for zip lining at one of the three zip line tours in town, kayaking and canoeing the Wisconsin River, Lake Delton or Mirror Lake and hiking at one of the three nearby state parks. Staying with this theme, try Wisconsin Dells camping. The Dells has some 3,200 campsites in all, from rustic tent camping to “glamping” (glamour camping).
    
5. Fall Festivals: Fall could rightly be called Festival Season in the Dells. We have harvest fests, community fests, Halloween fests, food fests, even a festival dedicated to cranes. If you need a little nudge to get in a festive state of mind, we’re just the place to make that happen. It seems Wisconsin Dells has a fall festival or event to suit any fancy. So plan your visit around our calendar of events, or add an event to your itinerary once you arrive.
    
6. World Waterpark Capital: You didn’t think we’d leave out the waterparks in Wisconsin Dells, did you? Grown-ups like to take in the waterparks too, especially when a luxury poolside cabana and adventurous rides and slides are involved. Lodging options are as varied as the indoor waterparks themselves, with oversized condos a great choice to keep the group together.