Golf in Howard

Fairways stitched by mature trees connect across 6,802 yards of rolling greenery to form Royal Scot Golf Club’s 18-hole, par-72 course. Water hazards come into play on 10 holes, including the par-4 fifth, where a bashful green flanked by bunkers on both sides conceals its ballmarks by hiding behind a front water hazard. Replete with eight yardage signs that extend 250 yards into the distance and a large grass hitting area, the club’s 30-stall driving range gives guests the upper hand by straightening out swings before upcoming rounds.

After hacking their way from green to green, hungry golfers can replenish at the club’s two full dining rooms—both with full-service bars—or place an order from their perch on the expansive outdoor deck. Wireless Internet keeps devices abreast of the latest news, personal emails, or domestic-cat sightings, and golf supplies and veteran instructors wait to enhance games at the pro shop.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Length of 6,802 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.0 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 124 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Link to scorecard

Awarded with numerous accolades from the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin, The Golf Club at Camelot earns recognition for the course's pristine playing conditions of wooded hills and valleys whittled into the landscape by ancient glaciers. Water flows into the picture on half of the holes, including twice on the par 5 ninth, where the fairway bend features an elongated lake and makes players hit their first and second shots with hydrophobic golf balls. On the back nine, the par 3 13th hole places golfers 120 feet higher than the green on a tee box that affords panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and acts as the best place to spot outlaw foursomes on the lam.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course

• Total length of 6,304 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 69.4 from the back tees

• Course slope of 125 from the back tees

• Four sets of tees per hole

Tucked along the east side of the bay, Shorewood Golf Course’s 2,792-yard, nine-hole layout challenges club-swingers with unforgiving fairways and small, breaking greens whose impressive upkeep earned the course an appearance and maintenance award in 2009. Since the first post-putt strut in 1931, the course’s oak- and hickory-lined fairways have invited players to overcome undulating terrain both scenic and demanding. The zenith of these hilly hazards is found on the 492-yard par 5 fourth hole, where golfers must overcome a dogleg right off the tee before hitting multiple shots to the green located at the end of a narrow fairway that encourages conga lines along its gradual incline. After a day out in the sun, golfers can adjourn to the course’s restaurant to munch on pizza and sandwiches or enjoy a frosty beverage.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par-35 course

• Length of 2,792 yards from the farthest set of tees

• Course rating of 35.9 from the farthest set of tees

• Slope rating of 124 from the farthest set of tees

• Two tee options

• Link to helpful course notes

The instructors at First Coast Golf Academy help their students attain a better swing by first establishing fundamentals and building an impeccable stroke from there. Whether a player is a newcomer to the game or a longtime enthusiast in need of minor tweaks, lessons begin by reviewing proper club grip. Next, the instructor moves on to correct posture and alignment, key components that must be addressed prior to beginning any backswing or political campaign. Once pupils have a solid base, the instructor makes tweaks to the swing in a logical, easy-to-follow manner.

The extensive facilities at Bisbee Golf Center, which include a driving range with 40 grass tees and a 5,000-square-foot putting green, set the stage for practice and improvement under the expert eyes of professional teachers. Since opening the center in 1988, owner Jeff Bisbee, a Class A PGA professional, and his father, Doug, a PGA Class A member since 1962, have helped students lower scores and increase their enjoyment of the game through private and group lessons. Their instruction involves thorough analysis of the swing to identify areas for improvement, calling upon computer-aided techniques to break down the swing into its most basic components of backswing, downswing, and bowing to vanquished opponents.