I still remember playing The Irish course at Whistling Straits for the first time. Borders The Straits course, very similar to it.
My good friend was the foster care coordinator where I currently work....he was a clubmaker and golf nut, playing all the time. I made my first set in his basement! He hooked me back into the game ⛳, building, playing, all things golf!. He retired and took a job with the Kohler Company as a Starter/Ranger....I think they called them players assistants, but ??. He had the knickers, etc as part of his outfit he had to wear at work....always got a kick outta that! Anyways, the benefits of his job we're good, damn good. And once and a while they were damn good for m me too😉. That's all I'm saying about that!
He takes me to the Irish. Mind you I've never experienced good golf at this point in my life, not even close....just muni golf, grip and rip and hack. No idea this kinda thing exists really. 25ish. He preps me for the dress code😷, I'm like really, LOL, ok I have khakis and a collared shirt....oh yeah no cargo pants either🙄. I almost didn't go. Glad I did. Like walking into outer space. That's the best I can describe The Irish coming from your everyday muni. I was in awe! Suffice it to say the course kicked my ass hard for many times. Then I got decent at the game and could play the course and was not intimidated by it. Not to say it didn't present challenges. I had one of, if not the best ball striking rounds ever at the Irish, yet putted 36 times and still busted 80. How he came up with those two courses in that land is crazy to me. My understanding is it was a military dump. He moved the dirt to create it all....everything, the mounds, undulation, etc. One thing to use what you have and work with it, but, and a big but, all he had was lake Michigan. IMO Lake Michigan is the most overrated thing about it. If u ever are out this way, go play the Irish and see what I'm saying. RIP