Rolling Hills has undergone transition
Former La Belle now a public courseThird in a four-part series
For 40 years or more, Lac La Belle Country Club was one of the most successful private golf courses in southeastern Wisconsin and throughout state. The course was always in excellent condition, and the restaurant and bar areas fared extremely well. It was not uncommon for more than 100 diners to enjoy the food nightly.
But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the complexion of the club began to change. A newer, younger group of members became involved, and they wanted to build a new clubhouse, including restaurant, bar and locker rooms.
That's when some problems began to arise. The old guard didn't think the expensive renovations were necessary. Before long, the club had been split between those who wanted the new changes and those who didn't.
In the end, the club shockingly folded. The once-proud Lac La Belle, with a long history of success, was no longer.
Jeff Kernen, who purchased the course and the buildings more than three years ago, made the decision to go public with the course after he couldn't get commitments from enough former members to stay private. Kernen renamed the tree-lined, picturesque course Rolling Hills Country Club.
"We got off to a little bit of a slow start, but business has been very good this season," Kernen said. "We offer country-club conditions to the public golfer. The golfers enjoy the course and the service they receive. We've added some early-day specials this year, and they've done well for us. I'm happy the way things are going."
Course condition has been very good this summer. Because of some low holes on the back nine, the course is better when the weather stays dry. The greens are healthy and fast, and the high grass in the roughs on the front side compels players to hit the ball straight.
From the back tees (blues), Rolling Hills measures 6,540 yards, second-longest of the four Oconomowoc courses. Rolling Hills has five sets a tees.
"We have tee boxes for golfers of all ages and skills," Kernen said. "We've got water, lot of trees, plenty of sand traps and long rough in some spots. It's a challenging course. We get a lot of positive feedback from the people who play."
The par-36 front nine plays long, measuring 3,445 yards from the back tees. The two par-5 holes measure 539 and 536 yards and require straight tee shots if par is the goal. The two par-3 holes are long, stretching out to 196 and 177 yards. Both of those holes have tough difficult putting surfaces if you get on the wrong side of the hole.
No. 3 is the longest par-4 on the course, measuring 439 yards. For many players, it's a difficult hole to reach in regulation.
The seventh hole years ago was a straight par-3, over a creek. Now, it's a sharp dogleg-right par-4 that measures 367 yards. The green is located in the middle of a woods.
The back nine is short, measuring 3,095 yards, and plays to a par of 35. Some of the best holes on the course can be found on the back.
The 10th hole is just 322 yards but doglegs slightly to the left. It could be the signature hole at Rolling Hills. Big, old trees border the fairways on both sides. An accurate tee shot is almost a must to make par. The green is small and tricky.
The 13th hole is one of the longest par-3's in the state, measuring 232 yards. The hole goes south to north and is uphill all the way. Realistically, it's probably the toughest hole for par on the course.
The finishing hole is another uphill par-4 (380 yards) that's tough. Once again, trees line both sides of the fairway that features an elevated green with traps on both sides. A straight tee shot is a must if you want to make par.
Vital Stats
Rolling Hills Country Club
• Public facility
• 6,540 yards blue tees, par 71
• 6,244 yards white tees, par 71
• 5,758 yards gold tees, par 71
• 5,107 yards red tees, par 71
• 4,839 light blue tees, par 71
• Owner/General Manager - Jeff Kernen
• Superintendent - Jim Whelan
• Golf Instructor - Bill Harms
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