Hidden Glen at Bentdale Farms Golf Club

Like many great endeavors the dream to build the first new private golf club in Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin in over 30 years began with good food, good drink and good companionship at a dinner in 1998. On May 4, 2001 after 2 years of planning and 2 years of construction Hidden Glen at Bentdale Farms opened for play.

P.B. Dye�s and the courses owners� vision for the course followed four characteristics. 'First, each hole had to be memorable. Each hole needs to be distinct in the golfer�s mind that they can play the hole over and over in their head after teeing it up on the hole just once. Second, the course has to be fun. It has to be the kind of course that people enjoy playing, weather they are a scratch golfer or a 35 handicap. Third, it has to be playable. Some of the so-called greatest courses are among the most unplayable of the lot. And finally, the course must be so exciting, so fun to play that it inspires the golfer to play round after round.'

Designing and construction of the course was an organic process where relying on the implementation of well defined design and construction documents was abandoned in favor of one that emphasized the more creative and intuitive design and construction approach of orchestration. In a letter that P.B. wrote regarding the courses design he noted, 'Hidden Glen was not created on computer, but on the land itself. We used natural soils and natural land configurations to create a masterpiece. We took care to make each hole a true original.' In this vein there were a total of only 11 hand drawn sketches done for the courses design. These included a routing map drawn over a survey and 10 hole sketches done on 8 � x 11 legal pad paper. The remainder of the courses design was done in the field as the course was being built.

Instead of bidding out the project to a golf course contractor all aspects of the project were self performed by the owner. Construction crews consisting of heavy equipment operators, irrigation specialists, drainage specialists and general labors were hired directly by the owner and equipment such as bulldozers, backhoes, and earthmovers, were rented on a monthly basis. This approach provided the architect the required flexibility to work directly with the people building the course while giving the owners direct involvement in monitoring budgets and time.

Much of what gets built today is the product of well-crafted contracts and ridged design and construction documents. This might be due to modern societies punitive nature or western culture�s need for rationality. Regardless of its source, it has a tendency to promote a lack of richness and inventiveness in our built environment. The golf course at Hidden Glen at Bentdale Farms is an example of what can happen when experience, trust and imagination are the basis of entering into a venture rather than scripted creativity.

The Course

The clubs property is composed of 220 acres of which the golf course and practice areas occupy 180 acres. The course is a par 72 with four sets of tees: forward = 5278 yards, member = 6255 yards, championship = 6621 yards and tournament = 7017. The grasses used are Providence Bent for the greens, Putter Bent for the fairways and tees, Blue/Rye mixture for rough and Fine Fescue on outside berms. There are 23 acres of water features with three major lakes, four wetland lakes, two creaks with 11 holes where water comes into play.


P.B. Dye's routing for Hidden Glen at Bentdale Farms Golf Club.

The course was design so that the path for a player was from the parking lot to the clubhouse, from the clubhouse to the practice range then to the 1st hole. The course is designed as a walking course. Carts are available but with limited cart paths the ride is bumpy. Subsequent to the courses opening, holes 1 through 9 have been designated 10 through 18 and holes 10 through 18 are now 1 through 9. This change requires a player to back track to the 1st hole and has put three of the most challenging holes #11, #12, and #13 late in a round where they are difficult to recover from if poorly played.

Course / Slope Rating

Men: Ladies:

Tournament 74.0/139 Tournament 75.2/134

Championship 72.1/132 Championship 70.7/125

Member 69.7/127

Hole #1

Par 4

#15 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 326 Yards, Member = 353 Yards, Championship = 384 Yards, Tournament = 404 Yards

The hole is a slight dog leg right. There is a 20 - 30 foot drop from the tees to the fairway. From the tee trees on the left and right frame the fairway. The fairway is flat and generous in width. From the tee a small steam crosses the hole at 175 � 200+ yards. A bunker runs the length of the fairway on the right abutted by a pond. From 100 yards to the green there are a series of deep bunkers lining the left side of the fairway. The green slopes right to left and front to back. There is a bunker on right side of the green abutting the pond, both of which come into play when approaching the hole from the right side of the fairway.


P.B. Dye's drawing of the 1st.


The approach to the 1st.

Hole #2

Par 4

#5 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 326 Yards, Member = 353 Yards, Championship = 384 Yards, Tournament = 404 Yards

This hole is a long dogleg left. The tee is about 25 paces from the first green. The tee is slightly elevated. The fairway slopes left to right and narrows at the dog leg. A large bunker runs the length of the fairway on the left and the stand of trees on the right are a lateral hazard. From the fairway the green rises about ten feet. The green is set at an angle to the fairway, double tiered with the front tiered sloping back to front and the rear tear sloping front to back. There are large bunkers protecting the right side of the green and a collection area on the greens left backside.


P.B. Dye's drawing of the 2nd.


The approach to the 2nd green.

Hole #3

Par 3

#7 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 148 Yards, Member = 185 Yards, Championship = 210 Yards, Tournament = 237 Yards

Tee looks down on an elevated green. Pot bunkers flank both sides of the green. A large bunker flanks left side of green. The green slopes right to left and front to back at the front and right to left and back towards the rear.

Hole #4

Par 4

#1 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 374 Yards, Member = 397 Yards, Championship = 421 Yards, Tournament = 470 Yards

Slight dogleg right. Tee looks up to the fairway. Mounding defines the right side of the fairway and the fairway drops off on the left side. Bunkers run the full length of the green on the left and right side with water abutting the left bunker. The green is two tiered sloping right to left.


The undulations on the 4th green make an otherwise straightforward hole quite a challenge.

Hole # 5

# 9 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 420 Yards, Member = 462 Yards, Championship = 491 Yards, Tournament = 497 Yards

Slight dogleg left. Tee looks down on the fairway Large bunkers on both the left and right side of the fairway. There is a generous landing area at 100 - 150 yards. Green is flanked by large deep bunkers on the left and mounds on the right and back. The green almost equally slopes back to front and front to back with a ridge running diagonally through its mid point.

Hole #6

Par 4

#11 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 263 Yards, Member = 294 Yards, Championship = 325 Yards, Tournament = 353 Yards

Tee is even with an up sloping fairway. Water runs the full length of the hole on right. Bunkers run the length of the fairway at landing area on right. Green sits below fairway requiring a blind approach shot. The green is kidney shaped and slopes right to left and front to back. A pot bunker abuts the green at its right mid point and water abuts the green on the left. There is a pot bunker on the left side of the green abutting the pond. Both of which come into play when approaching the hole from the right side of the fairway.


P.B. Dye's drawing of the 6th.

Hole #7

Par 4

#13 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 260 Yards, Member = 346 Yards, Championship = 373 Yards, Tournament = 396 Yards

Abrupt dogleg left with the fairway unobservable from the tee. Bunkers run the full length of the fairway on the left. Trees define the fairway on the right. The green is narrow and runs perpendicular to the fairway and slopes left to right and front to back. The green is elevated with a generous false apron and drops off on the left. A bunker protects the right side of the green and hollows and mounds define the green�s backside.


The approach to the elevated 7th green complex.


P.B. Dye's drawing of the 7th green complex.

Hole #8

Par 3

#17 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 104 Yards, Member = 137 Yards, Championship = 161 Yards, Tournament = 189 Yards

Tee is even with the green. Tee shot to green is over water. Green is two tiered sloping left to right and front to back. Water runs the full length of the hole on the left. A shallow bunker abuts water on the left and runs around the left side of green. Deep bunkers flank the right side of green. Mounding defines the green�s back side.


P.B. Dye's drawing of the one shot 8th.

Hole #9

Par 5

#3 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 422 Yards, Member = 483 Yards, Championship = 532 Yards, Tournament = 559 Yards

Strong dogleg right. Tee looks down on the fairway. Water runs along the full length of the fasirway on the right. Fairway slopes at mid point right to left. At 140 yards and 100 yards from the green deep bunkers flank both sides of second shot landing area. Green is two tiered and slopes left to right and forward at the front and right to left and back at the rear. A pot bunker comes into play on the left front of the green. Deep bunkers abut the green on the left back and a collection area adjoins the green on the right.


P.B. Dye's drawing of the 9th and 18th green complexes.

Hole #10

Par 4

#18 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 279 Yards, Member = 306 Yards, Championship = 328 Yards, Tournament = 342 Yards

Tee shot requires a strait drive to a generous fairway. Out of bounds is on the left and a series of bunkers are on the right within driving distance. Green is abutted by water on the left and deep bunkers on the right. The green slopes right to left and is relatively flat from front to back.

Hole #11

Par 4

#14 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 284 Yards, Member = 341 Yards, Championship = 369 Yards, Tournament = 394 Yards

This hole begins three of the most decisive and controversial holes on the course. Tee is fronted by water and is even with up sloping fairway. Water and a bunker runs full length of diving area on the left. Bunkers on the right are with in driving distance. Green sits above and perpendicular to the fairway. The left side of the green slopes right to left and front to back. The right side slopes right to left and front and back to front. A deep bunker protects the greens right side. And a series of bunkers abut the green on the left.

Hole #12

Par 4

#2 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 328 Yards, Member = 364 Yards, Championship = 393 Yards, Tournament = 406 Yards

Hole is a quirky strong dogleg right over water. Tee is elevated above the fairway. Out of bounds is on the left and water dominates the right. Second shot is 120 to 175 yards over water to a green that moves away from the fairway. A series of pot bunkers abut the left side of the green, water abuts the entire right side and a collection area sits behind the green. The green slopes right to left and front to back with a ridge running through its middle section.


A perfect drive leaves this approach shot into the 12th green.

Hole #13

Par 3

#12 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 86 Yards, Member = 109 Yards, Championship = 121 Yards, Tournament = 133 Yards

Tee shot is over water to a tabletop green surrounded by water. Green is situated right to left and away from the tee. At the front it slopes left to right and forward and at the rear right to left and back. A small pot bunker that rarely comes into play abuts the green on the left.


The intimidating shot at the 13th.

Hole #14

Par 5

#10 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 423 Yards, Member = 488 Yards, Championship = 522 Yards, Tournament = 540 Yards

Gentle dogleg left. Tee looks down on the fairway. Water extends full length of fairway on left side. On right side of fairway a series of bunkers come into play on the tee shot. At 150 - 130 yards deep bunkers cross the fairway. A generous landing area exists from 130 yards to the green. The green is elevated with a false front. The putting surface is two tiered and slopes right to left and forward. A pot bunker guards the left edge of the green. Deep bunkers abut the green on the right and back left.


The view from the back markers on the 14th.

Hole #15

Par 3

#16 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 110 Yards, Member = 163 Yards, Championship = 188 Yards, Tournament = 211 Yards

Tee looks slightly up to an elevated green. Large bunkers flank the right side of green and a collection area abuts the right side. The green is two tiered and slopes at the front left to right and forward and left to right and toward the rear at the back.

Hole #16

Par 4

#8 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 372 Yards, Member = 433 Yards, Championship = 448 Yards, Tournament = 464 Yards

Long gentle dogleg right. Tee shot requires a 175 � 200 yard carry over light rough to a generous fairway. Large deep bunkers, which are not observable from the tee, define the right side of the landing area. Second shot is to a 'top hat' green raised above the fairway. Green is two tiered and slopes left to right and front to back. Rough surrounds the right and back of the green and a large collection area comes into play on the left.

Hole #17

Par 5

#4 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 467 Yards, Member = 505 Yards, Championship = 532 Yards, Tournament = 551 Yards

The story goes that P.B Dye did not have a complete conception of this hole until the end of the design / construction process and some feel 'it plays like that'. It requires a strait drive to a generous fairway. A large bunker on the left partially crosses the fairway and a series of bunkers on right define the right front of the fairway. On the second shot the green is blind from the fairway to a small green. At about 120 yards from the green the fairway abruptly turns right. The landing area at this yardage is the only location from where the green can be seen on the third shot. The green is two tiered and slopes left to right and back to front. The green is guarded on the left front by a series of pot bunkers. A strategically placed pot bunker is located on the right side of the green to catch blind shots from the right. A large deep bunker abuts the green on its left backside.


The approach to the 17th is potentially blind.

Hole #18

Par 4

#6 Handicap

Tees: Forward = 341 Yards, Member = 388 Yards, Championship = 429 Yards, Tournament = 462 Yards

Gentle dogleg left. Tee looks down on the fairway. Water runs along the fairway�s left side. Fairway slopes at mid point to the left. At 150 yards from the green a bunker crosses the fairway. The green is elevated and slopes right to left and forward at the front and right to left and back at the rear. Deep pot bunkers and a collection area abut the green on the left.


A view from the 18th tee.

In terms of design process Frank Lloyd Wright was an enigma by being aligned with the guilds and craftsman of the gothic period while being a force in modern architecture which was marked by the tenants of industrialization. In the same way the Dyes have had a similar impact on late 20th century golf course design and construction which has seen a rise in homogeneous corporate design teams in place of individual artisans. Under the guild system the art and craft of design and construction was passed on through experience from generation to generation rather than formally taught. Similarly the Dyes have been able to pass onto subsequent generations a process built on experience, knowledge and intuition in a way that formal education could not replicate. It is from this heritage that Hidden Glen at Bentdale farms has evolved. The organic nature of the course is such that every year of maturity brings with a richness and character that over time will continue to add to the memorable quality that was envisioned at that fortuitous dinner in 1998.