SentryWorld in Stevens Point a Perennial Course of the Year Winner

Out of This World

By Glen Turk

When the pursuit of excellence becomes the norm, receiving prominent awards are possible. Such is the path that SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wisconsin has been following since the course opened its doors to the public in 1982. In 2009 SentryWorld won the prestigious Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin Golf Course of the Year for the second time since 2007. "Recognition in this competitive market is humbling," stated Susan Placzek, SentryWorld's Director of Hospitality. "This truly is a group effort as our golf professional, superintendent, pro shop staff, and food and beverage team takes such pride and ownership in their areas of expertise. Collectively, they make SentryWorld successful. The award is confirmation that we are doing our jobs and accommodating our customers," stated Placzek.

Being named the Wisconsin Course of the Year is truly a worthy achievement, especially when you consider the criteria and the former winners of the award. In order to be considered a Course of Year, the GCOW looks at the following five standards: exceptional quality of the course, exceptional quality of management, outstanding contributions to its community, significant contributions to the promotion of the game, and finally having an outstanding staff that makes for a memorable golf experience for the consumer. Past winners of the award include Midwestern icons The Bull at Pinehurst Farms and Lawsonia in Green Lake.

From the start, SentryWorld positioned itself as Wisconsin's golf treasure. First they enlisted design legend Robert Trent Jones Jr. to take a rolling forested terrain and turn it into a memorable golf experience. Second, Sentry Insurance CEO John Joanis created a talking point, the par-3 16th hole known as the flower hole. Each year workers plant over 60,000 annuals on the banks surrounding the green. It may be the most photographed hole in the Midwest and is reason enough to make a tee time between May and September when the flowers are in full bloom. And finally, and most importantly, SentryWorld has never priced themselves out of the market. To the contrary, green fees at SentryWorld range between $48-$85, extremely reasonable considering it's on every major publication's Top 10 list of Wisconsin courses. "SentryWorld is considered a destination course. We need to keep our rates attractive for the destination golfers," said Susan Plazcek. "A rate that is reasonably priced for a course of this caliber will entice the golfer to make the trip.

Every great course deserves an equally great first hole and SentryWorld does not disappoint. Playing 387 yards from the tips, this is not a hole you have to hit driver on as the fairway narrows down the left side. Two large bunkers down the right side at 150 yards out is another mark in the "I don't have to hit driver column." Two more large sand hazards practically denies a run-up shot and provides a visually intimidating approach.

Bountiful water features come into play during a fantastic three hole stretch on numbers 3-5. Sure big numbers can come into play after one wayward shot, but all three can be birdied with precision play. Head Golf Professional Brian Dumler discusses this great triumvirate from there. "Hole #3 demands a precise drive where you can try to cut the corner for a shorter approach. As with most of our greens there are several good locations for pins including front right on this hole. Hole #4 has many tee area options and the hole changes dramatically with each. A back left pin is a fun one to go for, but very dangerous. There is a generous bail out area short and right of the green however. Hole #5 is our second signature hole after the flower hole. It's the ultimate risk/reward as you can cut off more water and have a shot at reaching the green in two. The smart play is three safe shots staying well right on each shot. Large trees 100 yards short of the green stand in way of many approach shots," concluded Dumler.

The back nine really gets cooking at the par-5 11th, one of the finest brawny par-5's in the state. Make sure you stay to the right center on your second shot as a large wetland area cuts in to the left side of the fairway between the 150 yard and 75 yard marks. Your approach shot to the green should favor the right side, as a wetland area flanks the port side of the putting surface.

The same wetland area from the 11th then turns into a full blown water hazard on the par-3 12th. At 223 yards from the black tees, it is one of those holes where if someone offered you a three on your card without having to play it you'd take all day long on twice on Sunday. If the wind is blowing into you at over 20 MPH be prepared to potentially hit driver!

The final par-3 on the inward nine is four holes later and is, of course, the memorable 173 yard flower hole. Brian Dumler discusses the consistent comments of shock and awe when first time golfers gaze upon this hole for the first time. "Golfers are amazed at how many flowers and also how great they smell. Still to this day we get a group or two per day in the summer that come just to see the flower hole - and they're not even playing the course!" And what happens if your tee shot happens to find the colorful distractions? "The flowers are not a hazard rather ground under repair from which play or entering the flowers is prohibited. The player must take relief no closer to the hole with no penalty," explained Dumler.

It is my humble opinion that the most underrated hole at SentryWorld is their penultimate one, the 412 yard, par-4 17th. Every shot must be Tour grade on the severe dog leg right or a chip-out or penalty stroke will be in your future. "Number 17 is a tough driving hole as you must place your ball in the fairway to have any shot at hitting the green in two. You need to know the distance from the tee to the safe landing area as a long drive may run through fairway and into trees. The green is guarded by a pond and back left pin location is the hardest of any on the course," stated the 7th year head pro.

And lastly, you don't have to be a golf aficionado to love SentryWorld. The huge indoor SportsPlex features six tennis courts and seven golf hitting bays so you can hone your skills year round. And once you're done either on or off the course, make sure to check out Sports Plate Restaurant.

So to succinctly recap - 17 Championship golf holes plus a world famous one at a facility you'll want to stay at all day. Now that's golf in the 21st Sentry. For more information on SentryWorld, visit their website at www.sentryworld.com.

Revised: 05/15/2011 - Article Viewed 32,731 Times

About: Glen Turk

Glen Turk is a Wisconsin native and is the Senior Writer/Editor of Midwest Golfing Magazine. Midwest Golfing Magazine was formerly known as Pub-Links Golfer's Magazine and is a free publication distributed four times per year throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio.

His duties at MGM include writing course features, facilitating product testing, and overseeing the overall content and look of the magazine. But clearly his most important task is playing as much golf as his wife allows. Fortunately for him, she plays also and loves out-driving him even with a 60 yard head start.

Glen plays to a 6 handicap but once set a record by having his ball retriever regripped 15 times in one calendar year. It was a December trip to Guam that ultimately did him in. Finally, if you haven't caught on by now, the two most worthy weapons in Glen's writing arsenal are self-deprecating humor and pithy one-liners.

My signature line, "Be A Force on The Course" and now more recently, "Hit 'Em Where They Mow!" can be reused at no charge.