Wisconsin Golf Resort Offers Families a Great Vacation

It's only been open a little more than a year, but big accolades are being bestowed upon the Northern Bay Golf Resort & Marina on Castle Rock Lake in Wisconsin.

Golf Digest named it the Best New Public course in America for 2006.

The course features Wisconsin's only 18-hole championship replica golf course. What that means is that golfers get to play holes that exact copies of holes that pros play on the PGA Tour. The holes have been designed to look like famous holes at Augusta, Bay Hill and others.

With four different sets of tees, golfers of any level are able to play the 7,200 yard course.

It also is one of the few resorts in the state or neighboring states to feature a public course at a lakeside resort. You can find the resort 30 minutes north of Wisconsin Dells, the Waterpark Capital of the World.

Once you finished your round of golf, the fun doesn't stop. Northern Bay is meant to be a resort and vacation destination for families, couples, girlfriends, retirees or anyone else. The new $150 million development was built on 320 acres.

You can rent one of the 160 new condominiums constructed along lake's shoreline. A variety of sizes of completely furnished condos are available. Some have four bedrooms, three baths and can accommodate 10 people. Girlfriend getaways, family reunions, class reunions and more can be booked here.

All of the roomy condos have fireplaces and many with whirlpool tubs. The rooms either face the golf course or the lake.

Some of the activities include tennis course, volleyball sand court, basketball courts, heated outdoor swimming pool and children's pool, whirlpool, picnic area with grills and state-of-the-art children's playground.

The lake also allows guests to enjoy water activities or just relaxing on the 600-foot long private sandy beach. Guests can rent pontoon boats, wave runners and paddle boats. If you want to bring your own boat to the marina, there are plenty of slips for everyone. You can tube, water ski or fish.

Fishing guides are available to help you find the best spots and biggest fish. The lake is known for bluegill, bass, walleye and Northern pike.

Castle Rock Lake is the fourth largest lake in the state.

Around the lake also sits 47 home sites which have all been purchased. Some will hold as many as 16 people, and can be rented, too.

Bicycles can also be rented for $10 a day to enjoy the outdoors on wheels. Close to the resort, you can also rent all-terrain vehicles to explore one of the state's most popular trail systems through the forest.

For those wanting to spend time at a casino, a large waterpark or miniature golf, Wisconsin Dells is just a quick drive. They can also partake in activities such as rock climbing at one of the three state parks that are a 10 to 30 minute drive from the resort.

"Families like the resort because of its northwoods atmosphere without going way up north," said developer Bill Ranguette. He is one of six partners who invested in Northern Bay. "They appreciate the on-premise excellent recreational opportunities."

If you are a golfer, there are many special stay and golf packages you can purchase. Packages can include range balls and golf carts equipped with GPS.

Just because it's a golfing resort, that won't mean they close up shop when the snow flies. Northern Bay is open year round. The lake will still be there for fishing, and the areas around the resort attract people, cross country skiing, hiking and running ATV and motor cross bikes on public land.

The summer 2007 rates start at $125 to stay in one of the condos and play golf. This is based per golfer on quad occupancy from Sunday through Thursday. Weekends are more expensive. Spring and fall rates start at $89 per golfer.

They also offer a 2-night condo package for families for $478 and gives Wisconsin Dells theme park tickets and gift certificates to a restaurant.

For information about the resort, call toll-free at (866) 784-2291, or click on www.NorthernBayResort.com.