HARTFORD — Erin Hills announced the opening of its new putting course in Washington County, Thursday, but much of the talk was about events still years away. The host site of the 2017 U.S. Open Championship, will again be in the global spotlight bringing big events to Southeast Wisconsin.
Officials at the Championship golf course in Washington County hosted a preview day for The Drumlin. The putting only course is now open to guests at Erin Hills. People who play the course and/or spend the night can putt all they like on the 12-hole setup.
“This whole project has been kind of an adventure for us,” said Zach Reineking, whose grounds crew is responsible for mowing the massive, 63,000 square foot putting surface.
Here are a few other staggering numbers for you. Designers used 2,500 feet of drainage pipe, 3,500 tons of sand and 175 pounds of grass seed to create the course. Tee-off areas will change daily, with the holes switched out every three days. The flagsticks, flags, and tee markers were all produced by Wisconsin companies.
Earlier this year, Erin Hills announced it will host the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
The Mid-Am is for some of the world’s best golfers, who don’t make a living playing golf. Wisconsin has twice hosted the U.S. Women’s Open, but never at Erin Hills. The previous Majors were at Blackwolf Run in Sheboygan County. The top female golfers in the world will be in Southeast Wisconsin for about a week, as they arrive early for practice rounds, and four days of competition.
John Morrissett, Erin Hills Competitions Director, credits Wisconsin golf fans for helping Erin Hills bring more big time events to the State. “The USGA was just bowled over by the support at every level in the State,” Morrissett said of the 2017 event at Erin Hills. “When volunteer registration opened it had to go to wait list after three weeks, and that had only happened once before in U.S. Open history.”
For more information on Erin Hills, the new putting course, or on the events coming to Southeast Wisconsin, click here.
