A hidden gem along the I-94 corridor, & why I would go out of my way to play there!
I have had the pleasure of playing golf all over the Midwest since I moved here in 2019. The second course I ever played was Tanglewood Greens in Menomonie, WI. Unfortunately for everyone, Tanglewood shut down during COVID and slipped into fields of tall grass. Then it was given a second chance by an owner and a team that is driven to make this course a place of wonder.
A short 50-minute drive down I-94 from the Twin Cities, and you are in a place of peace and solitude. Wisconsin is greatly known for its big-name courses, the Sand Valley, Kohler, and Sentryworlds. But Tanglewood is making its mark as the place to stop on your way to them. Because of its tight fairways and sloping greens, Tanglewood is a great warm-up to your journey. The course will force you to get your approach shots tight and your drives in tip-top shape!
The Course
| The Little Things Matter The team at Tanglewood is refining their crafts and taking the time to learn and perfect things, and the smallest details matter to them! |
| Nature and Nurture While the course is a playground for golfers, it is also home to an array of Wisconsin wildlife! |
“Hidden gem. Great course, wooded and beautiful. Wonderful staff and amazing food and bar. My family spends a lot of time here. ”
— Brian Gowling, Google Review
Tanglewood Reborn
Every piece of land tells a story. Tanglewood is about the precision of the shot. True to its name, Tanglewood runs through hills and valleys with the fairways lined by trees. Originally a 9-hole course, it has had many changes and facelifts over time.
Life of the course:
- 1976: Tanglewood opens as a 9-hole course
- 1980-1990’s: Rebranded as Rainbow Ridge
- 1995: Rebranded as Chippewa Valley Golf Club and updated from 9 holes to 18 holes.
- 2019: New ownership and restored to Tanglewood Greens
- 2020: Course closed during the pandemic
- 2023-2026: Course purchased and reopened
While we all enjoy the wide open fairways of the links courses or the slightly less open municipal parkland, Tanglewood offers a new challenge. From tee to green, every hole will make you think about how best to play the hole. With very few “grip it and rip it” holes, this course will ask you to think about it while enjoying it! Tanglewood is the type of course that many scratch golfers will enjoy for the challenge, and the everyday golfer will enjoy for the variety and fun! While the course has tight fairways, it also has reachable par 4’s and 5’s that can provide scoring opportunities.
Community and Care
At Tanglewood, the drive isn’t just to succeed, it’s to create a 2nd home for the community and its golfers. I believe the biggest part of the success of Tanglewood comes down to the staff that cares about making your visit the best it can be. From the start to the finish, they want to make you feel welcome and enjoy your time. Tanglewood knows that the course can be a community hub for all ages. From the Jr golfers playing the Toptracer games, the Stout College team practicing, to the morning Senior league, each is welcomed and acknowledged as a part of the community.
While the staff in the clubhouse and on the course are the visible part of the team, the hidden team is what has turned this course from just a community course into a must-play. The maintenance team at the course is rapidly becoming a top-tier team. They have put so much time and effort into bringing the course back to life, and it shows in everything they do. The greens are pure and well-maintained, and the fairways are kept to a polite and reasonable cut with clean lines. The rough is kept thick and lush to make sure you know, that’s not where you want to be! I can honestly say that since courses started opening in 2026, Tanglewood has stood out as in the best shape of all the courses I have played. While no course is perfect, the team here is definitely trying to disprove this! If anything is brought to their attention, they are working hard to fix it. And yet somehow, while maintaining this high level of care, they are also expanding the course. As you read this, the Par 5 4th hole is being expanded by 80 yards. Plans are in place to add new tee boxes elsewhere and to push the course out!
Why Tanglewood?
This is the question that started this. Why would I make the drive or go out of my way? The answer is simply, everything about Tanglewood is designed to please. The rolling fairways, the true running greens, the amazing staff. While many communities have their own little courses, few if any reach the level of care and conditioning that Tanglewood offers. Tee times in the cities are gone in minutes; Tanglewood offers you a challenge you cannot find there, and all it asks is a short drive and a few hours of your time!
Written By: Jeromy Prosser
Email: Jeromy@Prossergolf.com
Website: www.Prossergolf.com
