HARTFORD, Wis.—Mention the state of Wisconsin to most sports fans and images of hyperactive Green Bay Packers fans sporting cheese-heads is the most enduring image. Yet, the Badger State has made an impressive move saying “cheese” in becoming the primary destination for a number of the most prestigious global golf events.
The 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills, 35 miles northwest of the state’s largest city Milwaukee will be the first held in Wisconsin and at the host site. The fanfare began building since June 2010 when the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced its flagship championship would be coming to Erin Hills. The dates of the championship are June 15 to 18.
In 2004, Wisconsin welcomed the PGA of America to stage its premier event, the PGA Championship, to Whistling Straits, the mega-golf complex just north of Sheboygan. Since that event two additional PGA Championships have been played, the last in 2015; in three years the 2020 Ryder Cup will also be played there.
In years past it has been the domain of other midwestern states such as Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota to reap the benefits, but Wisconsin now has clearly pushed itself to the front of the line.
Erin Hills, located on over 600 acres, was created for the primary purpose of staging top tier events. Two other USGA Championships have been played since the course opened in 2006: the Women’s Public Links in 2008 and the U.S. Amateur in 2011.
Erin Hills is the design of three men: Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, who at one time were partners, and Ron Whitten, architecture editor for Golf Digest. The course can stretch to over 8,000 yards, but likely will play in the neighborhood of 7,500 to 7,700 yards to a par-72.
