The design philosophy here was simple: take the wildness of an Irish links and magnify it dramatically. Dye did this by moving mountains of earth to create soaring dunes, shaping tight, rolling fairways framed by rugged fescue, and sprinkling the landscape with over a thousand bunkers. That said, the challenge isn’t just avoiding the sand; it’s negotiating the wind and the firm, fast conditions.

The course features a figure-eight routing that ensures the wind impacts you from every direction, giving the layout a different feel every time you play it. Worth noting, you’ll be treated to eight holes running right along the Lake Michigan shore, giving you continuous, breathtaking views. The Straits is famous for its par threes, a set that is virtually unmatched in American golf. The 17th hole, “Pinched Nerve,” is perhaps the most famous, a lengthy one-shotter that requires a heroic carry over a deep wasteland to a green that hangs perilously close to the lake. It’s a spectacular, intimidating moment that every experienced golfer dreams of facing.