What Western Lakes Golf Club does

Western Lakes Golf Club is a privately held, family-owned 18-hole championship public golf course and event venue located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, approximately 20 minutes west of Milwaukee in the Lake Country area off I-94. Originally designed by Lawrence Packard in 1963 as Tumblebrook Golf Course, the property was purchased by Greg and Paula Essig in 1988 and renamed; it has since been operated continuously by the Essig family, with Jason Hoelz as General Manager. The club operates as a multi-vertical golf and hospitality facility serving public golfers, annual members, corporate and charity outing groups (24-144+ players), wedding and event clients (up to 300 guests), and junior golfers through what it claims is Wisconsin's largest junior golf program.

The club's operations are supported by standard golf-industry technology: ForeUp Software for online tee time booking, Golf Genius for member/tournament/junior program management, WSGA handicap integration, Fiberbuilt driving range mats, and PayPal for online payments. The course features four tee box options (Red, Gold, Blue, Black) across a par 72 layout with yardages ranging from 5,320 to 6,625. A material capital project is scheduled for Fall 2026 with installation of a new HDPE double-row irrigation system to replace the original 1962 infrastructure. The facility includes an award-winning practice area, a renovated banquet hall, a 2025-built outdoor patio, and a bridal suite. The club holds The Knot and WeddingWire 'Best Of' wedding awards and markets to a database of over 24,000 local customers.

Western Lakes generates revenue across eight primary streams: green fees and cart rentals (weekday 18-hole rates $35-$58; weekend rates $49-$68), three-tier annual golf memberships, corporate and charity outing packages ($44-$70 per player), wedding and event venue rentals (exclusive catering through Zilli Hospitality Group starting 2026), private and group instruction with PGA professionals, pro shop merchandise (TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno, Cobra, Titleist, Footjoy), multi-round VIP golf passes (Bronze through Platinum, 10-100 rounds), and three-tier hole sponsorship programs ($375-$1,150) with signage and email-marketing benefits. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the website, phone, and on-site pro shop, with corporate outing sales handled by the General Manager.

Name

Western Lakes Golf Club

Legal name

Western Lakes Golf Club

Website

https://westernlakes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Western Lakes Golf Club is a privately held, family-owned 18-hole championship public golf course and 300-guest event venue in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, serving public golfers, annual members, corporate outings, weddings, and junior golfers across Southeastern Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf Course & Event Venue

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Public golf course
• Wedding venue rental
• Golf instruction
• Golf memberships
• Corporate golf outings

Headquarters

HQ city

Pewaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Green Fees and Golf Play: Revenue from individual and group golf rounds including weekday/weekend rates, special promotions (All You Can Golf, Senior Days), and cart rentals. Includes 18-hole and 9-hole options with walking or riding rates.
2. Annual Golf Memberships: Annual memberships offering preferred tee times, member tournaments, WSGA handicap, member pricing on beverages, discounts on range tokens and pro shop items, and access to WLGC Cup year-end tournament.
3. Golf Outings and Events: Corporate and charity golf outing packages with various formats including consecutive tee times, shotgun starts, weekday and weekend options for groups of 24-144+ players.
4. Wedding and Event Venue Rental: Indoor and outdoor event space for weddings, banquets, corporate events, holiday parties, anniversaries, graduations, and retirement parties. Events up to 300 guests (plated 275, buffet 250). Catering exclusively provided by Zilli Hospitality Group.
5. Golf Instruction: Private and group lessons with PGA professionals Garrett Mack and Colton Brendel, plus junior golf programs and Ladies 'Get Golf Ready' clinics.
6. Pro Shop Merchandise: Golf clubs, apparel, gear sales including equipment from major brands (TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno, Cobra, Titleist, Footjoy, etc.), club repair, and re-gripping services.
7. VIP Golf Passes: Multi-round passes with bulk discounts (10-100 passes) that can be gifted to customers or employees, valid any day/any time with cart and range token included.
8. Hole/ Tee Sponsorship: Sponsorship programs at three levels ($375-$1,150) offering signage, VIP passes, email blasts to customer database, and associate golf membership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Western Lakes Golf Club operates an 18-hole championship public golf course designed by Lawrence Packard in 1963, offering green fees, annual memberships, golf leagues, junior golf programs, and private lessons with PGA professionals. The property also functions as a wedding and banquet event venue accommodating up to 300 guests, with exclusive catering by Zilli Hospitality Group. A full-service pro shop sells equipment, apparel, and club repair services, complemented by a driving range and practice facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Golf Play (Green Fees) 9-hole and 18-hole green fee play on the championship course with multiple tee options (Red, Gold, Blue, Black) ranging from 5,320 to 6,625 yards, with walking or riding cart options and seasonal, weekday, and twilight pricing tiers.
• Annual Golf Memberships Annual golf memberships offered as Full, Thurs/Sat, and Associate tiers providing preferred tee times, member tournaments, WSGA handicap, member pricing on beverages, discounts on range tokens and pro shop items, and access to the WLGC Cup year-end tournament.
• Corporate and Charity Golf Outings Group golf outing packages for corporate and charity events with consecutive tee times or shotgun starts for groups of 24-144+ players, weekday and weekend options, including green fees, carts, flag signs, registration area, scoring, and range balls.
• Wedding and Event Venue Rental Indoor and outdoor event space for weddings, banquets, corporate events, holiday parties, anniversaries, graduations, and retirement parties accommodating up to 300 guests (plated 275, buffet 250), with exclusive catering by Zilli Hospitality Group.
• Private and Group Golf Lessons Half-hour and full-hour private and group lessons with PGA professionals Garrett Mack and Colton Brendel for adults and juniors, with multi-lesson bundle pricing ($50/half-hour adult, $40/half-hour junior, 5-pack bundles at $225 adult and $175 junior).
• Junior Golf Programs Wisconsin's largest and most successful junior golf program offering summer programs, spring/fall clinics, PGA Junior League teams, and private lessons under the direction of Director of Junior Golf Colton Brendel.
• Pro Shop Merchandise and Club Repair On-site pro shop selling golf clubs, apparel, and gear from major brands (TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno, Cobra, Titleist, Footjoy and others), plus club repair, re-gripping services, and Tour Edge junior club sets in five sizes ($169.99-$279.99).
• VIP Golf Passes Multi-round pass packages (Bronze 10, Silver 20, Gold 50, Platinum 100) valid any day or time with cart and range token included, offering 20% to 40% discounts off the per-round rate for gifting to customers or employees.
• Hole and Tee Sponsorship Program Three-tier sponsorship program ($375, $600, $1,000) for local businesses offering tee signage, website listing, email blasts to 24,000+ customers, VIP passes, and Associate Golf Membership benefits.
• Organized Golf Leagues Weekly organized golf leagues including Monday Shankapotomus, Tuesday Women's, Wednesday Dusk Patrol, Thursday AM Senior and 2-Man, Friday Couples, and traveling leagues for various demographics.
• Driving Range Access (Range Tokens and Punch Cards) Driving range access via range tokens (Small 35 balls $7, Large 70 balls $12) and discounted punch cards (20 tokens $108, 35 tokens $180, 70 tokens $336) on Fiberbuilt Driving Range Mats.
• Golf Gift Cards Stored-value gift cards in denominations of $50, $100, $150, $200, $250, and $300, with no expiration, valid for rounds, merchandise, lessons, and food & beverage.
• WSGA Handicap Membership Wisconsin State Golf Association handicap tracking membership via the World Handicap System, available as a $40 annual standalone subscription or included free with paid golf membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• New irrigation system will allow watering up to 90% of mowed turf (vs. significantly less currently), reducing hard-pan areas and providing more consistent playability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zilli Hospitality GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Exclusive catering and event management partnership for weddings and events at Western Lakes. Zilli provides custom-designed menus, full-service event production, and professional planning. New exclusive partnership starting 2026, replacing previous catering relationships. Features elegant buffets, personalized plated service, and culinary stations.
• Saz's CateringminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Long-standing catering partnership began in 1993 for banquet and event services. Note: Zilli Hospitality Group is now the exclusive catering partner as of 2026.
• ForeUp SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationTee time booking platform integration (foreupsoftware.com) allowing online reservation system for public tee times. Customers book through dedicated booking interface.
• Golf GeniuscoreTechnology or IntegrationMember portal and tournament management platform for member signups, league registrations, junior golf program management, and member communications.
• WSGA (Wisconsin State Golf Association)coreOthersWorld Handicap System provider for member handicap tracking and management. Included with membership or available as standalone $40 annual subscription.
• Next 18minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization dedicated to improving mental wellness of Veterans and First Responders through golf. Western Lakes hosts their annual community golf outing as a fundraising event.
• FiberbuiltminorOthersDriving range mat supplier. Full set of 12 Fiberbuilt Driving Range Mats available at practice facility for various conditions and demand.
• Tee Sponsors (Various Local Businesses)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious local businesses sponsor golf holes including: Black Earth Pavement, Response Realtors, Forklift Trader, Total Mech, Thielmann Son, Metro Cigars, Lake Country Cigars, GFL, Franz Plumbing and Piping, Generator Supercenter of Lake Country, Tabease Dispensary, Rockstar Landscaping, and 264bell. Each receives signage, website listing, and marketing benefits.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Naga-Waukee Golf Course: Public 18-hole championship golf course in Waukesha County, WI, similar geography and customer base. Operates as a public facility with events, tournaments, and leagues, directly competing for Pewaukee-area golfers.
• Bittersweet Golf Club: Public 18-hole course in Southeastern Wisconsin offering similar tee time, league, outing, and event venue services. Directly comparable public golf, league, and banquet hall mix serving the Milwaukee metro.
• Merrill Hills Country Club: Wisconsin club with 18-hole championship course, event venue, and membership structure. Comparable mix of golf, leagues, outings, and wedding/event hosting in the Waukesha/Milwaukee area.
• Ives Grove Golf Links: Public 18-hole golf course in southeastern Wisconsin with outing and event services. Directly comparable public-play, league, and golf outing model for the regional customer base.
• Brown Deer Park Golf Course: Milwaukee County public 18-hole championship course with tournament facilities. Comparable public-play, tournament, and outing business across the same metropolitan market.
• The Bog Golf Club: Public 18-hole course in southeastern Wisconsin offering golf, leagues, outings, and event hosting. Closely comparable in service mix, customer base, and pricing structure.
• Trappers Turn Golf Club: Public 18-hole Wisconsin golf facility with event and outing capabilities. Comparable championship public-play, outing, and event venue offering in the Wisconsin Dells/metro region.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Geneva Resort: Large Wisconsin resort featuring golf courses plus full lodging, spa, and event facilities. Garrett Mack previously worked here. Broader hospitality portfolio with overlapping golf/outings/wedding offerings.
• KemperSports: National golf course owner/operator managing a portfolio of public and private clubs. Direct comparable model: portfolio operator of public-access golf courses with event and membership revenues.
• Troon Golf: Global golf club management company operating hundreds of courses with event, membership, and F&B services. Comparable corporate operator model for premium public courses with event venue businesses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wlgolfclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-lakes-golf-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western Lakes Golf Club