SentryWorld
Some resorts just get it, and “it” is most easily defined as leaving no stone left unturned to create a lasting memory for their guests. SentryWorld in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is one of those resorts.
The revelation begins the moment you turn onto the property. There is a sense of serenity that you will feel immediately. Intentionality has been applied to every square inch of the 276-acre campus.
The surrounding birch and pine forest wraps around you like a warm blanket, and the quiet confidence of the grounds communicates something before you’ve even parked the car, giving you the feeling that you are somewhere that takes what it does very seriously.
That level of care begins with the golf course which has become among the very best in the country in a very short time.
The course
Robert Trent Jones, Jr. originally designed SentryWorld, which opened in 1982, and his fingerprints remain all over the layout today. The graceful routing through corridors of oak and pine trees, the natural lakes feeding into extensive bunkering, and the thoughtful balance of challenge and playability can be felt throughout your round. Jones oversaw a full renovation in 2013, and the course was tuned up again in 2021 ahead of hosting the 2023 U.S. Senior Open. The result is a course that carries the hush and polish of a private club, yet opens its gates to the public every day.
Playing here feels different from anywhere else in the state. Tee times are spaced a full 20 minutes apart, which means you will almost never see another group during your round. The fairways roll out ahead of you like green velvet, and the greens, supported by sub-air systems, putt with a consistency that would rival almost any course in the country. The routing is cleverly varied as you move from tight, tree-lined corridors to open parkland holes with long views, never quite knowing what the next tee box will reveal.
Then there is the 16th hole. Known simply as “The Flower Hole,” this par-3 is ringed by more than 30,000 flowers in full bloom. It’s a sight so unexpectedly gorgeous that first-time visitors can be so mesmerized that they forget when it is their turn to tee it up. It has become the most photographed hole in Wisconsin, and rightfully so. And while no photograph can do it justice, we hope the below exclusive drone footage of the course helps tell some of the story for you as you’ll see that this course is special all the way from the 1st tee to the 18th green.
The refreshment stations
Here is where SentryWorld separates itself from nearly every other public course in America. The fully inclusive experience means your green fee covers everything on the course, and by everything, we mean everything. Two on-course refreshment stations are stocked with sandwiches, salty snacks, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and confections that have no business being this good at a golf course. You’ll come across the on-course refreshment stations several times during your round, and can eat and drink as much as you wish. And as we previously mentioned, the 20-minute tee time intervals make it so you can actually take a minute and enjoy your beverage and snack instead of having to sprint to the next tee.
It sounds like a small thing…it is not. It transforms the feel of the round to that of the most exclusive private clubs in the country and you quickly realize that bucket list golf can come at an exceptional value.
SentryWorld
The Inn
Opened in 2021, The Inn at SentryWorld sits just off the 18th fairway, close enough that you can watch golfers finish their rounds from your private patio with a drink in hand. The 60-plus rooms and suites are designed with modern Wisconsin sensibility featuring warm wood tones, fireplaces, and luxurious bathrooms that feel genuinely indulgent rather than performatively so. A complimentary cocktail greets you at check-in, and the living room and fire pit areas invite the kind of lingering conversation that golf trips are made of.
SentryWorld
The dining and off-course activities
SentryWorld’s culinary program is a genuine destination in its own right. PJ’s, the more casual clubhouse bistro, fires wood-oven pizzas and serves cheese curds that will recalibrate your understanding of that beloved Wisconsin staple while the bar pours from numerous local and regional breweries, with over 25 beers on tap in total.
Muse, the fine dining restaurant that has been housed at the Sentry Insurance headquarters building, is currently undergoing a renovation along with the entire headquarters and they will be setting up a new dining experience at The Inn in late May 2026.
After your round, there are indoor tennis courts, a fitness center, volleyball, a golf simulator, and access to a 27-mile recreational trail that you can hike or explore with a bike from The Outfitter located at the front of The Inn.
SentryWorld
Recommendation
Very few golf resorts manage to make excellence feel effortless. SentryWorld does exactly that, and the Midwestern hospitality will make you feel right at the home from the moment you arrive on property.
While a visit here is certainly worthy on its own, SentryWorld is also conveniently located only 45 minutes away from Sand Valley, and about two hours away from both Kohler, Wisconsin and Erin Hills creating a concentration of exceptional golf that is second to none.
If you’re looking to plan a visit here, we suggest you act quickly as the course is going to shut down for the entire 2027 season as it prepares to host the 2028 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and the 2034 U.S. Senior Open.
Come here once, and you will understand immediately why people keep coming back. We know you won’t regret it.