Good Sport — Wisconsin Golfing, Boating, and Corporate Entertainment Activities

Corporate outings don’t have to be organized around the same old run-of-the-mill activities that your crew is used to. Instead, you can shake things up this spring and organize an outing that’s interesting, entertaining, fun, and unique. This month we shine the spotlight on some of Wisconsin’s best places, events, and attractions to take your team.

Whatever Floats Your Boat

There’s more to a corporate cruise than just drifting along. These Wisconsin cruise lines specialize in giving your group the space they need to network, engage in teambuilding, and bond as a group, all in swanky surroundings and a relaxing atmosphere aboard some beautiful boats.

Dells Boat Tours:  Offering tours of both the Upper Dells and Lower Dells, as well as Sunset Dinner Cruises, guests climb aboard Dells Boat Tours’ 17 comfortable vessels to enjoy the beautiful scenery, fascinating history, shore landings, ports of call, and delicious food.

While you’re in the area: Wisconsin Dells, the Waterpark Capital of the World® invites guests to enjoy the largest concentration of outdoor and indoor waterparks on the planet. But that’s not all — drink in local breweries, wineries, and distilleries, relax at local spas, get in some golf, eat, drink, shop, and more.

Lake Geneva Cruise Line:  With eight different vessels to choose from, the Lake Geneva fleet offers both public tours and private charters on the sparkling blue waters of Lake Geneva. Comfortably transport from 12 to 225 passengers on boats ranging from the Lorelei, a 41’ cabin cruiser, to the Grand Belle of Geneva, designed after turn-of-the century steamers. Catering and beverage service available.  

While you’re in the area: Visit Lake Geneva for its abundance of luxury accommodations, elegant resorts such at The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa, golf, spas, restaurants, and shopping. And of course, the breathtaking views of Lake Geneva.

Milwaukee Boat Line:  Experience both public and private charter cruises on Milwaukee’s rivers, harbors, and Lake Michigan. Three boats make up the line’s fleet and include the yacht, Voyageur, for up to 125, the tour vessel, Vista King, for up to 150, and the tour boat, Iroquois. Passengers thrill to unforgettable views and a unique perspective of Milwaukee’s history and architecture. Catering is offered aboard charters.

La Crosse Queen Cruises:  The La Crosse Queen is a modern-day replica of the grand river boats of the early 1900s and is one of the few authentic Mississippi River paddle wheel boats still in operation in the US today. Sightseeing cruises, Sunday Brunch tours, Friday and Saturday Night Dinner Cruises, a variety of themed cruises, and private party charters are available.

Happy Hunting

Outdoors, the fresh air, healthy competition — all benefits gained from a team outing at a hunting, trap shooting, or fishing venue. Follow up the fun with a hearty, hot meal, and a place to lay your head, and you may just have hit on the perfect activity for your team outside the office.

Stout’s Island Lodge:  Arriving by ferry to the private island, your team will embark on an exciting adventure at this rustic chic resort. Island activities include fishing, hiking, kayaking, hydro bikes, tennis, bocce ball, badminton, canoeing, and croquet. Stout’s Island Lodge Restaurant features a wood-burning fireplace, expansive views of the lake, and a mouthwatering menu made up of indigenous and cultivated ingredients from the American and Canadian Midwest.

Milford Hills Hunt Club:  Encompassing over 500 acres of picturesque rolling hills in southern Wisconsin, Milford Hills is one of the Midwest’s premier hunt clubs and wing shooting destinations. Offering your group the opportunity to hunt pheasant, chukar, quail and more, as well as shoot rifles, pistols, sporting clays and five-stand. Comfortable accommodations can be found at The Lodge, while hearty food is served in either of the two dining areas.

A Matter of Course

There’s nothing like a day on the course with your crew. The sunshine, the verdant greens, the lovely landscape…and the intensity of a really good golf game. Bring your group together on a golf course and watch the healthy competition, instant camaraderie, and entertaining action take place.

SentryWorld Sport Center:  Wisconsin’s’ first destination golf course and recognized as one of the state’s premier parkland golf courses. Tennis, volleyball, and bean bag toss leagues are a great way to unwind off the greens.  Featuring meeting space for up to 600, state-of-the-art AV equipment, world class catering, and casual dining in the club’s restaurant, PJ’s.

Golf Courses of Lawsonia:  Award-winning classic golf on two different 18-hole courses, The Links and The Woodland. Three home properties available for on-site lodging. Breakfast and lunch served in Langford’s Pub or on the scenic wraparound patio with views of The Links course.  

While you’re in the area:  Visit Green Lake, the site of the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin. Fishing, waterskiing, sailing, paddle boarding, canoeing — if you can do it in, on, or near water, you can do it here. But there’s more. Relaxing spas, fine dining, biking, and hiking, arts and entertainment - they’ve got it all in Green Lake.

Wild Rock Golf Club at The Wilderness: Tee up at Wild Rock Golf Club, a rugged 18-hole championship course chiseled around and through a former quarry, one of only a few like it in the country. The Wilderness Resort offers luxury accommodations, along with on-site spa and more than a dozen dining options, from casual to fine. Four indoor and four outdoor waterparks means there’s something for everyone.  

St. Croix National Golf & Event Center:  Ranked #1 in Wisconsin by Wisconsin Classic Golf Tour golfers and one of the Top 25 Toughest Courses by MN Business Journal, this 18-hole course with a rustic, Northwoods atmosphere is just minutes from Stillwater in Somerset, Wisconsin. The Event Center accommodates up to 250 seated guests inside with several exceptional local catering options.

While you’re in the area:  Somerset, located in charming St Croix County, has a rich history well worth exploring. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities such as tubing on the river, attending festivals, watching ice hockey, exploring national and state parks, skiing, shopping, dining and more.

Troy Burne Golf Club:  Featuring over 120 bunkers protecting generous bent grass fairways and stadium greens, Troy Burne has made the list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The sophisticated club features seating for up to 300 people with panoramic views of the renowned, Tom Lehmen-designed course. In-house catering options are available.

While you’re in the area:  Discover Hudson will happily guide your group to some of the area’s best hotels, restaurants, arts and entertainment, festivals, and fairs in the area. Year-round activities, events, and attractions include snow shoeing, hot air ballooning, outdoor concerts, theater, boating, fishing and more, all within view of the lovely St. Croix River.

Vitense Golfland:  Host a company tournament at the #1 miniature golf course in Wisconsin. The club also features a year-round golf range for winter time practice along with batting cages, climbing wall, water wars, jump shot court, arcade, remote control boats, and volleyball for variety and entertainment.

That’s Entertainment

In Wisconsin, it’s easy to find an activity or event that’s pure entertainment. Planning ideas for your team are abundant in America’s Dairyland—have them catch a ballgame, go along for the ride on a roller coaster, or send them off to the races — the possibilities are endless.

Miller Park / Milwaukee Brewers:  Watching the Brewers play ball in the sunshine or under the stars at the outdoor Miller Park Stadium is some of the most fun your group can have this summer. Before the game, take a ballpark tour that includes the dugout, luxury suite level, clubhouse, press box, Blob Uecker’s broadcast booth and other behind-the-scenes attractions.

While you’re in the area:  Visit Milwaukee, the city located on Lake Michigan, and enjoy a meal at over 150 restaurants, take in the Summerfest music festival, tour the 17 museums in downtown, get tickets to a performance at any of the 25 theaters, hike in over 150 state and county parks, or bike over 130 miles of bike trails. And that’s just for starters.

Badger Farms:  The real working farm covers 500 acres and features two meeting spaces, The Barn and The Shop. Both are beautifully rustic venues tucked away in the serene Wisconsin countryside just outside of Madison. Both offer state-of-the-art AV equipment for presentations. Large kitchens onsite, local catering available.

While you’re in the area:  Visit Madison and discover year-round activities and events in this pretty college town. The city boasts the largest producer-only famers’ market in the US, while free concerts on the square, the Memorial Union Terrace, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and Bolz Conservatory are also popular.

Lake Geneva Canopy Tours:  Get your groups adventure on with exciting eco-challenges that include 8 different zip lines, 5 sky bridges, 3 spiral stairways and a one-of-a-kind floating double helix stairway on the world class canopy tours. Nine miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and a 1200-foot long racing zip line pose plenty of challenges for your people.

Road America:  There’s so much to do here, your team may have trouble deciding what to do first. On track racing, disc golf, off-road driving experiences, runs, walks and cycling, plus group adventures that include go-karting, geocaching, racing adventures, and much more.