Golf Courses Near La Crosse, WI

Located at the junction of the Mississippi and La Crosse rivers on Wisconsin’s western border, the city of La Crosse takes its name from a Native American game played with sticks. Our favorite game played with “sticks” of another sort is now a passion in the topographically intriguing Driftless Area that includes parts of Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. The Driftless Area’s deep-carved river valleys feature a diverse and beautiful mix of hilly forestlands, lush ridges, prairie grasslands, wetlands, and cold-water streams, making for a glorious setting for golf. Coveted tee times in and near La Crosse include the bluff-laden 19 holes of Forest Hills, an updated classic where golf has been played since 1892; Fox Hollow, a very hilly, scenic, family-run course that features an island green; Drugan’s Castle Mound, an environmentally sensitive layout with a country club feel; Trempealeau Mountain, a well-manicured layout perched on rolling farmland; Coulee Golf Bowl in Onalaska, a popular nine-holer where you might score a Hot Deal (and can go bowling as well); and Walsh Golf Center, a 9-hole executive course. Courses in neighboring Minnesota are also within range, notably Cedar Valley and The Bridges in Winona.

The city of La Crosse has a lively, youthful vibe thanks to its three local colleges. This is a city that likes its beer, wine and spirits. La Crosse has more bars and nightclubs per capita than almost any place in the country. Popular attractions in La Crosse include river cruises, Castlerock Museum, which showcases Old World arms and armor; and Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum, where classic cars and vintage model toys are on exhibit. The most famous local landmark is Grandad Bluff, which towers 600 feet above La Crosse and provides distant Driftless Area views into Minnesota and Iowa. Even if you find stunning vistas during your golf tee time, don’t miss Grandad Bluff, often called “the most scenic view in Wisconsin.”