A Golf Trip Should Involve More Than Just Golf

New generations of golfers are seeking more than just golf on their trips and those wanting thrills should consider The Wisconsin Dells

Music blasts from speakers as people cheer and scream in jubilation. The source of these sounds on this particular golf trip isn’t from other golfers or from fans at a tournament; it’s the slide at the water park.

LIV has reshaped golf, modernizing coverage, graphics, and the fan experience to better suit a younger generation. The fair/concert-like atmosphere may be foreign to older generations of golfers, but for millennial and Gen Z patrons, it’s the setting they are most accustomed to.

In a world predicated on dopamine thrills, two generations of young adults are simultaneously seeking clout and stardom, and those sensations are now being sought on the golf course.

Much like the modernization of golf apparel and the proliferation of on-course music and liquor consumption, the golf trip has evolved. Traditionally, a guys’ golf trip consisted of an all-inclusive resort with a few golf courses, some bars on the property, and late-night poker—more a place to reconnect with old friendships than a thrill-seekers' adventure.

That has changed as younger millennials and Gen Z enter the space. Course architecture and conditioning are now praised as much as off-course amenities, and unlike generations past, those amenities don’t need to be extravagant. Status and materialism still play a role in the ego of these new golf consumers, but life experiences are held in similar regard.

With newfound spending power and a preference for creating memories, a new demographic is beginning to enter the golf trip scene. The modern golf trip is a hybrid—a mix of adrenaline and golf

Few places exhibit this mix better than Wisconsin Dells. Originally a natural wonder, the river that now runs through the town offers tourists 30-foot rock plunges into the turbulent waters below. In the 1920s, people flocked to the area to take the leap. Since then, the Dells has morphed into the water park capital of the world.

Previously thought of as a family-oriented vacation spot, the Dells offers ample activities, including duck boat tours, jet boating, mini golf, go-kart racing, museums, water shows, live music, magicians, roller coasters, carnival rides, water slides, lazy rivers, and a vibrant bar district. Your next golf trip may not include all of the events listed above, but for a diverse, large group of golfers, everyone can find something to enjoy post-round.

As golf becomes more popular among younger generations, these off-course activities become as focal a point as the golf itself. At The Wilderness Resort, a group of eight twenty-somethings in Good Good and Titleist hats waited patiently to race down the water slide in an attempt to break the long-distance record set in the splash pond. Cheers erupted from the group below as one by one, participants careened into the water basin at the bottom of the slide.

For this younger golf cohort, Wisconsin Dells is a perfect destination, offering a combination of great golf—with Wild Rock and Trappers Turn providing some of the best in the state—and adrenaline-inducing thrills.

Wild Rock is a forgiving forested course with elevation changes and forced carries. The thick forests framing each hole provide ample room for misses with the driver, while deep bunkering and thick rough impose a steep penalty for missing the fairway. Wild Rock also offers an executive short course experience, perfect for a warm-up or for a day when most time will be spent off the course.

Trappers Turn features 27 championship holes, with each nine-hole course having a unique identity. The lake course is wide with few trees in play but has multiple water hazards. The canyon course features rocky outcroppings and tree-lined doglegs, while the Arbor nine serves as a blend of the two. Trappers also boasts a large putting course and a 12-hole short course, where little more than a wedge is needed on any hole. The rustic bunkering resembles that of Pine Valley, and the heavily tiered greens make even short putts a challenge.

While there are several other courses in the immediate area, with so many activities, a golf trip may be best suited to focus on these two. For adventurous young golfers with energy and flexibility, Sand Valley Golf Resort is only an hour and a half away.