Geneva National: The Trevino Course

By Dave Thomas, Contributor

From the moment you pull into the entrance at Geneva National you are immediately aware of attention to detail, size and sense of class. This Wisconsin gem, located approximately 65 miles from Ohio is a must-see destination. The large parking lot at Geneva National almost calls for a shuttle bus service for some of the senior citizens, but then again if you are coming out to play 18 holes, you expect to get some type of exercise.

This natural setting in Southern Wisconsin must have sent goose bumps up and down Lee Trevino's spine as he looked out over the wooded acreage. It features trees, water, hills, elevation changes, wildlife, everything a golf designer looks for when sculpting a golf course. The course developers and Trevino must have heard a voice from a nearby field saying, "If you build it, they will come." This is a true golf experience.

As you enter the clubhouse you are greeted by a professional staff that is waiting to make you day as enjoyable and memorable as possible. With a fully stocked pro shop, full service restaurant, banquet rooms, conference rooms and locker rooms for both men and women, this is nothing short of Country club golf with public access. Outside of the clubhouse awaits two large practice putting greens with a driving range only steps away for you to get your game in shape for the up coming round. This helps you relax and ease into the day without having to race back and forth from putting green and range.

Arriving at the first hole of the Trevino course, you are quickly alerted to the beauty of this course. A picturesque par four that offers an elevated teeing area and a tree lined fairway waiting below. The landing area is generous but coming from the wide open driving range area to the wooded first hole makes you look down the fairway with blinders. Five tee boxes are offered to offer a solid challenge to all levels of play. The course from the back tees measures 7,116 and from the forward tees 5,261.

You are tested on the very first hole with club selection as you will be faced with an uphill approach shot. The elevation changes are subtle but crucial to scoring on the Trevino course. This will not be your typical eight iron from 145 day. With many greens well protected by bunkers, getting the ball close to the pin will call on your nerves and shot making ability.

The two nines on the Trevino course are a good mix of holes. Offering dog legs both left and right, short par fours to long par fours and reachable par fives for the big hitters as well as unreachable par fives. The par three holes are all set in the woods and are all from elevated tees giving you a down hill shot which makes the hole look easier than it is. Of course the pin placements are closely positioned by bunkers, so aim for the fat of the green and two putt and go quietly or you will be looking at bogey or worse.

Another interesting aspect of the Trevino course is the tee locations. The tees are staggered to offer the most scenic views of the course but beware your address position. Standing on the tee you are faced with a wide open fairway to one side but you are tempted to blast one over a tree to shorten the hole, or pump one over a fairway bunker giving yourself a better angle into the green. If you pull the shot off you are in the driver seat but miss hit the ball and be prepared to enter the large number on your card. Course management is crucial. Furthermore, the holes abound with swales and valleys. Choosing the right club off the tee and on your approach shots will be at a premium.

The course is lined with the dreaded cart paths. This might be your biggest disadvantage if you are forced to play cart paths only. On wet days, don't be afraid to bring the hole bag to your shot. As you wind up the cart path to your ball, the hole curves and bends and rises or is well below you so don't assume you are about 150 out. Take enough clubs to hit the proper shot, or head back to the cart and get the right club. Sometimes walking back to the cart might seem like you are slowing up play, but hitting the wrong club into the bunker and struggling to get out of the bunker or the rough might make play even slower. So when in doubt, bring the bag.

The greens on the Trevino course are very subtle. Reading the greens are difficult at best. They roll very true with little bounce since they are a soft spike facility but the breaks on the greens are hard to ascertain. Look for the high side of the green or look for a dominant hill around the green. Even though the laws of physics say a putt can't break uphill, I witnessed two balls that did exactly that. But after looking around I noticed that the putt might have been affected by the nearby side of a hill adjacent to the green. Look at your surroundings, get a good read and make a good stroke! If that doesn't work, try getting the ball closer to the hole!

Overall, the Trevino course at Geneva National is a challenging, enjoyable, scenic day of golf. A must play if you are in the Lake Geneva Wisconsin or Ohio land area.