Wisconsin’s Ernie Ernst reports on a delightful event on the Baths and Irish courses at Kohler:
The Kohler Par 3 Hickory Challenge was contested over July 1-2 at the Kohler Blackwolf Run location (The Baths, Kohler par 3 course) and the Straits on the Irish course. It was two days of partner golf starting with 30 holes on the Baths course. The Baths is a 10-hole course of par threes ranging, on this day, from 80 to 150 yards. Each two-man team took three trips around the course, playing scramble, best ball and alternate shot. Day two was a two-man best ball, with strokes, on the Irish course. Weather both days was outstanding and the facility in perfect shape.
On day one at the Baths there was no doubt who the better pairing was as Jon Grandelis and Jason Kauflin led in all 3three events with a score of 27 in the scramble, 29 in the best ball and 30 in the alternate shot (Baths is a par 30 course). The winners of the closest-to-the-pin awards were Grandelis, Gregg Thompson, and Dan “Missile” Hoffmann. One of the cool features of the Baths is the two-plus acre putting green and one of the nascent players to hickory, Joey Miller, won the putting contest with an 18-hole score of 39. Joey also showed a correct devotion to hickory golf by entering the pond on No. 7 to recover a golf head that broke in mid-swing. A true veteran move by a up-and-coming player.
Day two found us at the Irish Course at Whistling Straits. By the way, I have yet to visit the Straits course without having someone, and many times more than one person, ask what we are doing and ends up hitting balls with me on the range. Always a grand time.
Day two’s format was two-man best ball with strokes. Players, based on their age, were assigned different tee boxes to play with the appropriate handicap. Winners on this day two were Gregg Thompson and Ernie Ernst, who bested Mr. Grandelis and Kauflin by one stroke – 65 to 66. But it was not enough to catch the hot Grandelis-Kauflin team for the overall championship.
It was just great fun all around. We look forward to next year’s challenge and will definitely do this again. Come and join us at the courses at Kohler: they never disappoint.
A view of the par 3 Baths Course at Kohler.
Dan Hoffman was one of the three closest-to-the-pin winners.
The players at the 2025 Kohler Par 3 / Irish Challenge.
Jason Kauflin, left, and Jon Grandalis triumphed at the 2025 Kohler Par 3 /Irish Challenge. Event host, Ernie Ernst, center, presented the awards.
Gregg Thompson, left, was one of three closest-to-the-pin winners at the Kohler Par 3 Challenge. Ernie Ernst is on the right.