Follow in the Steps of Albert Einstein

You can count your lucky stars, because University of Chicago’s famed Yerkes Observatory is just four miles from Geneva National, allowing visitors the opportunity to test their celestial vision and marvel at the Roman brick-and-terracotta building’s late 19th century architecture and mythological ornamentation. Founded in 1897, the astronomical observatory is home to the world’s largest refracting telescope, a 24-inch and 40-inch reflecting telescope and more than 170,000 photographic plates precisely detailing star locations. Known to this day for its research and popular for its educational tours, star parties and summer day camps, Yerkes also attracts building and landscape architects as well as photographers to its 77 acres designed by John Olmsted, whose brother was the landscape architect for New York’s Central Park. Visit the website for up-to-date tour times, special events and to make reservations for an observing session.

Novels have the Pulitzer, movies the Oscars, and music the Grammys. In golf, we have the rankings – and Geneva National’s Gary Player Course was just called up to stage this spring as one of Golfweek’s 2018 Best Courses You Can Play. The Black Knight’s par-72 layout is the only Lake Geneva, WI course to make the list this year.

 

To compile Golfweek’s coveted list, a team of some 850 experienced raters assess courses based on 10 criteria, including routing, conditioning, variety and memorability of holes. The resulting average of scores determines a course’s overall ranking. The number of courses honored per state is based on the state’s course supply, population and level of play.

 

“I play about 50 different courses throughout the U.S. and Europe each year, and I keep coming back to Player,” says Geneva National’s Member Head Pro Bryan Brotchie. “Every tee box is framed by stunning scenery, and every hole offers a tempting risk-reward opportunity. I’ve no doubt Player scored high with the raters on memorability.”

 

When it comes to naming a favorite on Player’s diverse design, Brotchie points to no. 10, which at his skill level can set up an eagle … or double-bogey. “You need to employ a strategy to be in the right spot on this hole, which is complicated by dual tree lines, a water hazard, and diners spectating from the Hunt Club Steakhouse – that is, if you’re unnerved by an audience.”

 

Each year, Wisconsin rises in the ranks as a premier golf destination, which makes the competition to make the cut increasingly fiercer. “Sometimes when you have a resort that offers more than one top-notch course, the courses get lumped together,” adds Brotchie. “This just proves how memorable the Player Course truly is.”

 

If you haven’t taken on Geneva National’s Player design, might we suggest you add it to your must-swing bucket list this year? With its spectacular views, rolling hills and bent grass tees, fairways and greens, this Wisconsin beauty will not disappoint.

As far as restaurants in Lake Geneva go, the Hunt Club Steakhouse in the historic 100-year-old Crane Manor is in a category of its own. Offering the choicest cuts and winningest wine list in a casual and clubby atmosphere, this Geneva National gem sits along the Gary Player Course with panoramic views of Lake Como. Winner of Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” for eight consecutive years with repeated accolades from TripAdvisor and Open Table, this chic southeast Wisconsin steakhouse delivers a passion for excellence with every dish and drink.

Just an hour from Milwaukee and 90 minutes from Chicago, Geneva National Golf Club presents the unique opportunity to take on the design challenges of golf legends Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino at one singular and stellar location. Carved out of the rolling Wisconsin countryside and bordered by the Lake Como shoreline, these magnificent signature courses feature meticulously manicured bent grass tees, fairways and greens and five tee boxes for every level of player.

EVENT DETAILS
Shhh- THe Award-Winning 1920’s SpeakEasy Bar, located in the basement of the Maxwell Mansion will be open Fridays from 9pm- Midnight. A password is required for entry and can be found their their FaceBook page, if they don’t have one posted, messege them and they will respond with the password phrase of the week and you will gain entry.

This is a one of a kind Bar that is open during Special Events during the OffSeason. THere is a secret entrance, swanky rooms and the feel of a real 1920’s SpeakEasy. While you are there, be sure to head upstairs to the Apothecary Bar (Open Daily from 4pm-10pm)(Lake Geneva’s Oldest and Newest bar).

Tom Stanfield is also playing most Fridays with Piano and horn at the same time- an amazing sight to experience.

 

The Hunt Club’s bartender Ralph Kennedy says, “Mixology is more of an art than a science,” as he shared drink recipes enjoyed by both locals and tourists. Tito’s Cosmopolitan is a friendly pink drink shaken with upscale Tito’s vodka, triple sec, fresh lime juice and a hint of cranberry. The upscale vodka and fresh lime juice turn this everyday Cosmo into a fun and flirty version just right for party time.

The Chocolate Martini is decadent and delish. The vodka and Kahlua mixed drink is laced with Lady Godiva dark chocolate creating a dessert and drink all in one. Served beautifully with a chocolate-etched starburst design, this is a chocolate lovers dream.

 

TOURS
There is no better way to experience Geneva Lake than on board a narrated boat tour with Lake Geneva Cruise Line. Choose from a wide variety of unique sight seeing tours that all provide an up close view of the beautiful estates and mansions that line the shores. Whether you are looking for a historical tour that tells about the famous names that settled in the area or a relaxing sit-down evening dinner cruise, Lake Geneva Cruise Line truly has something for everyone. Don’t miss the world famous US Mailboat Tour, which celebrates it’s 100th year in 2016, or indulge in a delicious ice cream sundae on the Ice Cream Social Tour. Join us for the true Lake Geneva experience!

Black Point Estate and Gardens evokes the sense of a time and place when urban Chicago families escaped to Wisconsin to spend lazy summer days entertaining guests on the wrap-around porch or sailing on Geneva Lake. Explore the elegant trappings of this magnificent summer estate built by Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp in 1888 as a family getaway from the heat and bustle of the city. Today’s guestsarrive at Black Point by boat, just as the family did in a bygone era. The Estate is open for tours from May 1st – October 31st. The Estate hosts numerous special events throughout the season as well.For tickets call the Lake Genvea Cruise Line at 262-248-6206. For additional information call Black Point Estate at 262-248-1888.

 

 

262.245.7200 | 555 Hunt Club Court, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147

 

 

OUR STORY
With panoramic views of the Gary Player designed golf course and the western shore of Lake Como, Geneva National’s rustic Hunt Club Steakhouse draws loyal diners year-round with the choicest cuts, winningest wine list and clubby ambience.

Partly visible from Highway 50 in Lake Geneva and set just inside the entrance to Geneva National, the restaurant is housed in a grand gray-and-white Palladian-style estate ensconced among a quaint gathering of cedar, maple and pine trees. Built in 1915, this gracious two-story was once home to plumbing magnate Richard Crane and a retreat for Crane Plumbing’s executives. Its finest hour yet, however, was circa 2013, when the mansion was revived and reopened as the Hunt Club Steakhouse.

Four booths and three tables in the dining room, two bar tables and nine tables in the bar area and a separate private dining room make the setting intimate. Darkly stained pine paneling, a holdover from its days as a hunt club, make it comfortable. A crackling fire, framed by a stone fireplace, creates warmth.

Focus on Excellence
A passion for superlative ingredients spans every inch of the seasonal, fresh menu — from the corn-fed Sterling Silver steaks to the New Zealand Ora King salmon. Aged a minimum of 28 days, each steak is at the top one percent of choice and prime and personally inspected before being allowed into the restaurant.

The most requested starters are the cast iron skillet of warm spinach and artichoke dip as well as the calamari. The 8-ounce filet mignon, 16-ounce ribeye, cedar-planked salmon and steak burger with truffle fries are the most popular entrées among palates, says Hunt Club manager Martha Militello, who adds that few can pass on the menu’s divine crème brûlée and tiramisu. Patrons also embrace the Club’s thematic specials — including the Monday Funday prime rib dinner and Tailspin Tuesday lobster tail — as well as half-off select wines on Wednesdays and daily happy hour from 4-6pm.

Drink to That
Known for artistically pairing food and wine, the Hunt Club hosts monthly five-course meals matched with meticulously selected wines from the evening’s featured vineyard. “All of our wines are carefully chosen by taste, structure and price to match with our distinct menu offerings,” Militello said.

The restaurant’s cellar is so ambitiously stocked that Wine Spectator magazine has eight years in a row bestowed its coveted “Best of Award of Excellence” to the Hunt Club’s acclaimed list of more than 400 selections from notable wine regions across the globe.

Touch of Comfort
As a fine dining restaurant with such high standards, a striking juxtaposition is the relaxed dress code, which Militello said jibes with the restaurant’s comfortable, cordial atmosphere. “Our servers wear denim so that whether you are stepping off the golf course or dropping in after work, you will feel at home here,” says Militello, who hopes each guest is “blown away by the feel of this wonderful old house, the high quality of the food and the dedicated service.”

   

Studio Winery
Taste the Good Life at Lake Geneva’s Local Winery & Music Studio

Not your typical rustic winery, this urban property just outside downtown Lake Geneva blends small-batch, artisan-style wines on-site, where it also houses a recording studio and art gallery. Check out their live music year-round on Saturdays or schedule to partake in one of their Cork & Canvas painting classes (wine included) or sit outside and sip & savor a glass of handcrafted wine and snacks. Studio Winery has its own parking lot and is closed on Tuesdays. Check out the website for details and to make reservations.

262.348.9100
401 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva, WI
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Studio Winery Activities
Wine Tastings
Live Music
Painting Classes
Art Gallery

 

Lake Geneva School of Cooking

262.245.7000
Savor an Evening Cooked to Perfection

Whisk, chop, drink, repeat. At the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, you will relish refining your culinary skills – and savor the results. Choose between one of the scheduled daily hands-on classes or book a private event at the school, located in a charming historic parsonage downtown. Whether notice or gourmet, you will enjoy being a student of owner Chef John Bogan, who makes every class entertaining and delicious.

262.248.3933
727 Geneva St, Lake Geneva, WI
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Lake Geneva School of Cooking Features
Hands-on Cooking Classes
Private Parties
Team Building
Catering

Outdoor Fun for the Entire Family
Nature invites you at every glance – impeccable fairways, beautiful vistas, scenic views of Lake Como, wildlife at every turn, and a community that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape.

Hiking
Geneva National offers over 3.5 miles of wooded hiking and biking paths for guests to enjoy. Geneva National’s Upland, Lowland, and Grassland Trails are located in distinctively different habitats offering a variety of experiences throughout the year. You will also see an abundance of avian life be viewed in all seasons. Among the more than 100 species sighted here are the Northern Oriole, Sandhill Crane, Belted Kingfisher, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Bluebird, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl, and more!
Biking
Complimentary bike rentals are available to all Geneva National Resort guests who stay at either Geneva Ridge or The Inns.

For more information on our Outdoor Activities available at Geneva National Resort, please call 262.245.7000

 

I Do…Want An Unforgettable Lake Geneva Wedding
Are you ready to select the perfect details for your Lake Geneva Wedding? Keep Geneva National Golf Club on your list. We enjoy hosting weddings, and our dedicated team of Wedding Coordinators look forward to assisting you in making your wedding day live up to all your dreams and expectations.
Our elegant Grand Ballroom is unlike many you will see, featuring 90 feet of windows offering a breathtaking view of Lake Como and golf courses. The Legends Room also features breathtaking views of Lake Como and the golf courses on a smaller scale. The Pavilion and Lakeview Terrace are perfect settings for your outdoor wedding in Lake Geneva, or cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Planning a more intimate Lake Geneva Wedding? Our Lake Geneva Room is the ideal location to host smaller parties – with a service that is still grand.
Please contact our Wedding Coordinator today to begin planning the wedding of your dreams.
weddings@gnresort.com (262) 245-7046.

The award-winning Hunt Club Steakhouse at Geneva National unveils its succulent summer lineup featuring elegant new meats and cuts, property-foraged herbs and vegetables, and the esthetic epicurean touch of Chef Ryne Harwick.
“You eat with your eyes first,” notes Chef Ryne, “and summer-fresh ingredients are inherently beautiful.” Relish some of the chef’s new seasonal selections, pleasing to both the eye and palate.
For a full menu or to make reservations,  call 262.245.7000

 

 

Shopping For All
Lake Geneva has long been known for its downtown shopping experience. With a sea of visitors flowing in and out of the unique storefronts, a visit to shop in Lake Geneva is one to remember. Explore a multitude of specialty shops, boutiques and galleries all located within only 5 minutes of our resort.

The Outdoor Brick Pizza Oven at Geneva National Golf Club offers pizza lovers a little piece of heaven.
We are dedicated to making the highest quality pizza, and giving our guests a dining experience to remember. Using only the freshest ingredients that are locally sourced, our pizzas are created with the quality you would come to expect from Geneva National. We look forward to providing you with the most mouth-watering pizza in the Lake Geneva area.