Public Play · Golf Trips from Chicago
Grand Geneva Resort — The BruteLake Geneva
Robert Bruce Harris's big-bunkered resort course at Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Par
72
Yardage
7,029
Rating · Slope
74.3 · 141
Holes
18
Green Fee
Contact for pricing
The Course
About Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute
The Brute is one of two full-length courses at Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, a Robert Bruce Harris design of 7,029 yards from the Blue tees. The resort describes hilly, tree-lined terrain, 68 bunkers, raised greens averaging more than 8,000 square feet and the White River crossing several holes. It is open to the public with carts mandatory. From Chicago it is a trip, best as an overnight or a long day.
History
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute — History
The Brute dates to the resort's Playboy Club era: the Playboy Club-Hotel was completed in 1968, and Len Ziehm reports that golf arrived shortly after, when Harris designed a course that was long and heavily bunkered for its time. Playboy sold the resort in 1981. After two foreclosures, Marcus Corporation took over in 1993 and revived it with golf central to the plan.
Design
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute — Design
Harris built for size: the resort cites 68 bunkers and greens averaging more than 8,000 square feet, and longtime director of golf Dave Hallenbeck told Ziehm in 2017 that big greens, big bunkers and length were what Playboy wanted. Many tees are elevated and most greens are raised, many of them crowned, which the resort says makes downhill putts and two-putts hard work. Sloping, tree-lined fairways carry large bunkers and sculpted water hazards.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute
Built during the resort's Playboy Club era, the Brute plays 7,029 yards from the Blue tees with 68 bunkers and greens averaging more than 8,000 square feet, a scale the course name advertises.
The Round
The Journey at Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute
I.
The Opening
From an elevated tee, the 424-yard 1st has the White River running along the right and splitting the fairway, with a large bunker left. Out of bounds lines the entire left side of the 544-yard 2nd. The 374-yard 3rd drops to water on both sides, then climbs to a raised green. The 204-yard 4th carries water to a green ringed by three big bunkers, and the 514-yard 6th, the No. 1 handicap, is a dogleg-left par 5 with water short of an uphill green.
II.
The Middle
The 411-yard 7th bends left from another elevated tee, and the 175-yard 8th has a big green tilting hard from right to left. The resort calls the 432-yard 9th its signature hole, with lake and resort views down the left and two huge bunkers right. The 440-yard 10th needs a drive over the White River, the 500-yard 11th is a short dogleg-right par 5, and the 370-yard 12th doglegs right between trees and bunkers.
III.
The Finish
The 157-yard 13th plays down from an elevated tee to a green with four bunkers. At 605 yards the 15th is the longest hole, its second shot carrying the White River. Five bunkers surround the 190-yard 16th. The 420-yard 17th starts from the course's highest point, with a pond right and out of bounds left, and the 464-yard 18th, the longest par 4, finishes beside the resort and its lakeside fountains.
How to Play It
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
First-timers should move up from the Blue tees, which play 7,029 yards at a 74.3 rating and 141 slope. Take extra club on the uphill approaches the resort flags at the 3rd and 6th, and on the 4th, which usually plays into the wind. On crowned greens, leave approaches below the hole whenever possible.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
Follow the resort's tee-shot advice: a long iron or fairway metal on the 3rd, the left side on the 1st and 5th, and the safe right side on the 6th before laying up short of the water. On the 8th the resort warns that an aggressive chip or putt can run away on the right-to-left slope, so favor the middle of the green.
Advanced / Low Handicap
Long hitters can challenge the left bunker on the 6th to reach in two and the right fairway bunker on the 11th, the two par 5s the resort flags for aggression. The 605-yard 15th still asks for a carry of the White River with the second. Par on the 17th and the 464-yard 18th, where trees narrow the tee shot, protects a score.
Signature Holes
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute — Signature Holes
The Card
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute 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 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 424 | 544 | 374 | 204 | 409 | 514 | 411 | 175 | 432 | 3,487 | 440 | 500 | 370 | 157 | 396 | 605 | 190 | 420 | 464 | 3,542 | 7,029 |
| Handicap | 7 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 17 | 5 | — | 8 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | — | — |
Good to Know
Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute — questions answered
- How do I book a tee time at Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute?
- Find and book live tee times at Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute through GolfNow — Golf in CHI links straight to its tee sheet on this listing.
- Who designed Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute?
- Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute was designed by Robert Bruce Harris.
- What is the par and yardage at Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute?
- Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute plays to a par of 72 over 7,029 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 74.3 and a slope of 141.
- Is Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute public or private?
- Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute is open to public play. Tee times can be reserved in advance.
- Where is Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute located?
- Grand Geneva Resort — The Brute is located at 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, in the Golf Trips from Chicago area of Chicagoland.
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How to Play It
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