Lake Geneva 's Geneva National Exemplifies Three Iconic Careers

Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino - three legends combined with Jack Nicklaus defined the game in golf's most competitive era. Some 20 years later, this "Big Three-Quarters" ascended upon a gorgeous stretch of land in Lake Geneva , Wisconsin to create Geneva National Golf Club -- one the state's finest multi-course facilities.

Bordering the western and northwestern shores of Lake Como , Geneva National rises in elevations of over 300 feet above the lake. The property features a diverse landscape including glacier carved highlands, woodlands, prairies and wetlands, with each golf course taking on its own unique characteristics. The property was the ambitious brainchild of the Anvan Corporation, who owned and operated the resort properties of Interlaken Resort & Country Spa on Lake Como and The Abbey on Lake Geneva . During the late 1980's, they were alerted that an extensive farm parcel located just west of Interlaken was going into receivership. The concept of introducing a multi-faceted recreational-residential golf course community was born.

The 1600 acre parcel would be known as Geneva National, featuring three Signature Championship golf courses designed by living legends Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player. The community now includes a Hunt Club restaurant, an outdoor pool, and tennis courts. (Please see the timeline on the bottom of pages - through - for a more complete history of Geneva National.)

It's a rarity when one property has the fortune of capturing the distinctive personalities of its designers, and Geneva National does it with flare and grace. What Palmer, Player, and Trevino have left behind may be just as significant as what they have meant to the game. Clearly, that's what sets Geneva National apart from the competition according to Assistant General Manager Jennifer Myers. "The golf, hands down. There are not too many places with three Championship courses, and none with the combination we have - Palmer, Player and Trevino. All three of our courses offer the same high quality in challenge, playability, layout and aesthetics. From there it just comes down to picking your personal favorite," stated Myers.

I would never be so bold as to pick a favorite at Geneva National, so I will review each course the only fair way possible- in alphabetical order. Growing up with a last name starting with "T," it's amazing I know anything about fairness at all.

Palmer Course

At 7171 yards, the Palmer Course is the longest of the three championship venues. As host of a LPGA Futures Tour Event from 2006-2008, Arnie's design could be considered the flagship course on the property. The par-72 layout is highlighted by stunning views and just enough elevation change to leave you second-guessing on shot selection. It's one of those very rare courses where no two holes are even remotely close to each other. The King certainly followed his design axiom when he laid out the course. "My idea is to build a beautiful golf course and at the same time maintain what God has put there."

Geneva National's Resort Head Golf Professional, Dave Winget, believes the Palmer provides the property's ultimate challenge. "The Palmer Course has the toughest greens on the complex. They are filled with very subtle breaks along with some dramatic slopes. A good amount of the greens slope front to back making approach shots more challenging," stated Winget.

The first hole that will certainly grab your attention is the plunging 387 yard par-4 6th. From an elevated perch you're asked to fit your tee shot in between a series of uphill bunkers on the right and the thick forest left. The best play is something other than the big dog, which should take most of the trouble out of play. This strategy will leave a longer club in to a slightly elevated green. But, even if you're short, it's much easier to chip uphill toward the hole from a sunken position in front of the putting surface than try to gauge the speed of a tricky downhill pitch.

The 184 yard par-3 13th is the type of hole that begs to be played all day. Firing at the flag never felt so right thanks in large part to a one-club less downhill affect thanks to yet another elevated tee box. I was pursuing another course's website when I came across a Pro Tip that fits the 13th to a tee. It simply said, "If you want to score on this hole, hit the green!" So pick the right club, make the proper swing and wait for four seconds as your ball is suspended in animation before it descends to the dance floor. Then if nobody's behind you, do it all over again and take the closer of the two.

The Palmer course completely changes for one indescribable hole, the 573 yard par-5 17th. I'll let Dave Winget describe it from there. "The 17th offers the best view on the property. This par-5 runs right along the shore of Lake Como . The tee shot is tough as the lake is to the left and out of bounds are to the right. The second shot must miss trees, fairway bunkers, and the lake. The green is relatively small and borders the lake. It includes a rock wall boundary that's three feet off the left side of the green and slopes from the fairway to the lake. From the fairway it looks like the flag is in Lake Como ," explained Winget.

Player Course

Whenever I tackle the Gary Player Course at Geneva National I try to take the qualities of the designer with me into battle. No body ever worked harder or got more out of his game than Player did, amassing 9 major titles and 163 worldwide wins over a stellar five decade and still going strong career. But what always struck me was how much fun he had enjoying a game that so many others tersely played. Every hole at The Player Course offers a subtle reminder of the empire the 5'6" South African has built, as Player's famous Trojan Insignia dons every tee box. Gary must have an affinity for par-3's and par-5's as well, as his course features 5 par-3's and 5 par-5's, including five consecutive holes on the back nine that rotate back and forth.

The Player 18 is highlighted by five sets of tees that allow golfers to play the course from 7000 yards to 4800 yards in 600 hundred yard increments. Therefore, whether you're a scratch handicap or a novice, you'll be able to find a set of tees that suits your skill level. From the gold tees, which measure at 6408 yards you'll only find three par-4's over 400 yards. With the one extra par-5 and par-3 Player has implemented, low scores are possible due to my time tested theory of scoring. I've always contented par-5's are easier to par than par-4's because you've got the ability to recover from a bad shot much easier. Also, I find par-3's can be had as well because all it takes it one good shot to find the green instead of two on a par-4. If you didn't understand a thing I just said, make sure to purchase my new instruction manual "The Borderline Brilliant Golfer's Guide to Legally Adjusting Your Score." It's a huge hit at truck stops, you know.

Dave Winget's favorite on The Player Course is the fifth, a par-4 measuring 354 yards. "What a great risk/reward hole. You've got a split fairway that is hidden by a gulch and then fairway bunkers beyond that. The green is drivable, but the entire left side is a hazard which continues around the back of the green. There are many deep fairway and green side bunkers that protect a large three tiered green. Birdies and eagles can be made, but so can bogeys and double bogeys, so the hole is an adventure," stated Winget.

In conclusion, Gary Player's designer thoughts are evident within this one succinct quote. "Competition is the essence of life, but a golf course should also be designed for enjoyment." The Black Knight has truly succeeded with the course that bears his name.

Trevino Course

Much like the Player Course, the Trevino Course takes into account the designer's playing tendencies. Lee made a living out of a left to right, power fade ball flight, so it's only fitting that nearly every par-4 or par-5 is a subtle dogleg right. Also, the course implores his design philosophy. "If you miss a shot, you should have a chance to recover. People will want to come back to our course because they have fun playing it," said Trevino.

The signature hole on the property is the course's opening par-5. Head Professional Dave Winget describes the action from there. "My favorite on The Trevino Course is the 520 yard par-5 5th. It's one of the best par-5's on the property. The hole has got it all, an elevated tee, a tree lined fairway all within a slight dogleg right. The relatively short yardage allows a player to go for the green in two. A creek does run across the front of green, making it a great risk/reward hole. Green is not as simple as you'd think, but it does allow for a realistic birdie/eagle chance," stated Winget.

Assistant General Manager Jennifer Myers has this great perspective on the 'Merry Mex's" design at Geneva National. "Lee Trevino has not penned his name to as many courses as Palmer and Player, but his course is a wonderful challenge and probably technically the best layout of the three. The course is open and very playable but a monster from the tips," stated Myers.

It's important to note that Geneva National not only has 300 members strong that do receive preferential tee times and their very own clubhouse, but the facility is also open to the public. One perk that members receive is their exclusive "Par For Life" program developed by Jennifer Myers and Kevin and Melanie Paluch. "The Par For Life is a program developed to keep golfers in the game for a lifetime. Too many golfers succumb to the "normal" aches and pains of aging, and will play less golf as they get older - the exact opposite of their retirement plans! Par For Life offers simple golf instruction that is designed to get your body in a better alignment for your day and your game," said Myers.

In summary, it doesn't take long to realize Geneva National is a property overflowing with character, class, and charisma. One look at the signatures on each scorecard is confirmation enough as the design trio of Palmer, Player, and Trevino have been exuding those qualities for over 50 years. For more information on Geneva National, visit their website at www.genevanationalresort.com or call (262) 245-7000.