Public Play · Golf Trips from Chicago
Geneva National — Palmer CourseLake Geneva
Arnold Palmer's 1991 course at Geneva National, finishing beside Lake Como near Lake Geneva.
Par
72
Yardage
7,083
Rating · Slope
74.5 · 134
Holes
18
Green Fee
Contact for pricing
The Course
About Geneva National — Palmer Course
The Palmer is one of three signature courses at Destination Geneva National, a resort and residential community west of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and an overnight or a long day from Chicago rather than a quick outing. It is semi-private: the public can book up to 60 days out, but one course is held for members six days a week on a rotation, so the Palmer is not open every day. Riding is optional.
History
Geneva National — Palmer Course — History
Golf Course News reported in 1989 that construction of the Palmer and Trevino courses had begun on the 1,600-acre Geneva National site, developed by the Anvan Company at the west end of Lake Como; it was Palmer's first Wisconsin design. Both opened in 1991, with a grand opening on August 12 of that year. Gary Player's course followed, and Paloma Resort Group bought the golf courses in 1996.
Design
Geneva National — Palmer Course — Design
Golf Course News described the Palmer in 1989 as an upland course built around the site's natural woods, streams, ravines and views, on ground rising some 300 feet above the Lake Como shore. At the opening, Palmer said he wanted to build a beautiful course while keeping what God had put there. Dave Winget, then the director of golf, described the round in stages: shotmaking early, a links feel in the middle, then trees and water before the lake.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Geneva National — Palmer Course
The closing stretch runs down to Lake Como, and the resort says Palmer placed the par-5 17th, played along the shoreline, in his personal Dream 18. Courses by Lee Trevino and Gary Player share the property.
The Round
The Journey at Geneva National — Palmer Course
I.
The Opening
The Palmer opens with par 4s of 383 and 407 yards, then the 162-yard 3rd. Winget called these first holes a test of shotmaking, where hitting the right parts of the greens matters more than length. The 535-yard 4th is the first par 5, the 410-yard 5th follows, and the 385-yard 6th, modest on the card, is rated the hardest hole on the course.
II.
The Middle
The 533-yard 7th is the second par 5 in four holes. From the 8th, a 225-yard par 3, through the 10th, the course opens up with a more links-like feel and more exposure to the wind. The 9th, at 467 yards, is the longest par 4 on the card. The 11th and 12th, at 422 and 387 yards, start a stretch that winds through trees and around water.
III.
The Finish
The 175-yard 13th and the 571-yard 14th, the No. 2 handicap, finish that wooded, watery run, and the 15th and 16th head toward Lake Como. The 214-yard 16th usually plays into the wind off the lake. The 568-yard 17th follows the shoreline with the water down the entire left side, and the 429-yard 18th climbs back toward the clubhouse.
How to Play It
Geneva National — Palmer Course — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
The Palmer rates 74.5 with a 134 slope from the Black tees, so a shorter set suits a first round. On the 17th, the safe route is a drive down the right, a layup and a wedge. Expect the 16th to need more club than its yardage when the wind is off Lake Como.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
Position wins the early holes: aim for the correct portion of each green rather than the flag. Through the open 8th to 10th, club for the wind. Of the four par 5s, the 4th and 7th, both around 535 yards, are the realistic scoring chances before the long par 5s on the back nine.
Advanced / Low Handicap
Going for the 17th in two is a carry to a green that looks like it sits in Lake Como, with water the whole way down the left; the 14th, rated second-hardest, is the other long par 5 to plan around. The 467-yard 9th and the uphill 18th demand long approaches, and the 6th, the No. 1 handicap at 385 yards, rewards precision over power.
Signature Holes
Geneva National — Palmer Course — Signature Holes
The Card
Geneva National — Palmer Course Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 383 | 407 | 162 | 535 | 410 | 385 | 533 | 225 | 467 | 3,507 | 419 | 422 | 387 | 175 | 571 | 391 | 214 | 568 | 429 | 3,576 | 7,083 |
| Handicap | 5 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 3 | — | 8 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 4 | — | — |
Good to Know
Geneva National — Palmer Course — questions answered
- How do I book a tee time at Geneva National — Palmer Course?
- Find and book live tee times at Geneva National — Palmer Course through GolfNow — Golf in CHI links straight to its tee sheet on this listing.
- Who designed Geneva National — Palmer Course?
- Geneva National — Palmer Course was designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 1991.
- What is the par and yardage at Geneva National — Palmer Course?
- Geneva National — Palmer Course plays to a par of 72 over 7,083 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 74.5 and a slope of 134.
- Is Geneva National — Palmer Course public or private?
- Geneva National — Palmer Course is open to public play. Tee times can be reserved in advance.
- Where is Geneva National — Palmer Course located?
- Geneva National — Palmer Course is located at 1221 Geneva National Avenue South, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, in the Golf Trips from Chicago area of Chicagoland.
More in Golf Trips from Chicago
More golf courses in Golf Trips from Chicago
Gary Player · Lake Geneva
Geneva National — Player Course
Gary Player's only Wisconsin course, a woodland and wetland layout at Geneva National near Lake Geneva.
Lee Trevino · Lake Geneva
Geneva National — Trevino Course
Lee Trevino's fade-friendly signature course at Geneva National, a resort trip from Chicago to Lake Geneva.
Robert Bruce Harris · Lake Geneva
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute
Robert Bruce Harris's big-bunkered resort course at Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
How to Play It
Book a Tee Time at Geneva National — Palmer Course.
Geneva National — Palmer Course is semi-private — it still releases public and twilight tee times. Find and book them on GolfNow.
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