what was erin hills before it was a golf course

Long before golf was played at Erin Hills, the 652 acres of pristine land was host to icy fingers and streams from the last glacier to cover south central Wisconsin. Rivers carved graceful features into the landscape, turning the Kettle Moraine

into the diverse region that it is today.

Full Answer

What makes Erin Hills golf course so unique?

Architects adopted a minimalist approach in designing Erin Hills, as nature had sculpted the land so well that the golf holes seemed to emerge from the property. With bentgrass greens and fairways, this walking course is quite literally a change of pace.

Why read the latest Erin Hills Journal?

Read the latest Erin Hills Journal. In this issue of Erin Hills Journal, you’ll find how the connections to the game’s Auld Grey genesis in Scotland have wound their way — in some grand facsimile — to Erin Hills. And how the modern game continues to advance with bright stars, burgeoning players and a new breed of stewards pushing its limits.

What is the history of the Clover at Erin Hills?

Erin Hills' Irish -themed clover was inspired by the old bell on the course imported from Europe. Each petal was inspired from the iron art on the bell. The logo was designed by Brenda Williams, a competitive golfer from Minnetrista, Minnesota. ^ a b "U.S. Amateur" (PDF).

What is a trip captain at Erin Hills?

At Erin Hills, we call these intrepid planners “trip captains” — those that research, plan, lead and book their group’s golf experience each year. Erin Hills offers a number Stay & Play specials, including our most popular package — a reduced (and sometimes complimentary) second round. Set on 652 gorgeous acres.

When was Erin Hills built?

Erin Hills is a golf course in the north central United States, located in Erin, Wisconsin, in Washington County, 35 miles (55 km) northwest of Milwaukee. The course officially opened in 2006. It hosted the 117th U.S. Open in 2017. The announcement was made in 2010....Erin Hills.Club informationCourse rating77.9Slope rating14517 more rows

Who founded Erin Hills?

Bob LangAt a roundabout at the main entrance to Erin Hills Golf Club in Wisconsin, the founder and original owner, Bob Lang, built a modest wooden sign of four planks stacked one on top of the other.

How much did Erin Hills cost to make?

Bob Lang says he spent $26 million to build Erin Hills, but has little left. DELAFIELD, Wis. —Fifteen miles south of Erin Hills, where the U.S. Open begins on Thursday, Bob Lang sits in an office surrounded by mementos from the golf course he built.

How much is Erin Hills Worth?

Lang eventually sold Erin Hills to billionaire Andy Ziegler for $10.5 million.

How many bunkers does Erin Hills have?

When architects Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten designed Erin Hills, they wanted the bunkers to look like they were formed by nature through wind and water erosion. There are 35 to 40 of these so-called “erosion bunkers” among the 138 on the course.

How many courses are in Erin Hills?

Set on 652 gorgeous acres. Naturally routed over 18 championship holes. Featuring a rolling, illuminated putting course. Designed for those seeking the golf experience of a lifetime.

How much do you tip a caddy at Erin Hills?

Recommended gratuity: $125 per player, based on level of service. Forecaddie Fee: $55 per group (can be split per player in golf shop). Recommended Gratuity: $35 and up, based upon level of service (per player). Please note: All Caddie Service Fees are paid for before your round in the Golf Shop.

How much do caddies make at Erin Hills?

2022 Green Fees & RatesCaddie FeesForecaddie (3 People Minimum)$55 for groupSuggested Gratuity Forecaddie$35 per playerSingle Bag Caddie Bag Fee$55Single Bag Caddie Gratuity$1253 more rows

Can you play Erin Hills without staying there?

Erin Hills is walking only. We highly recommend using one of our professional caddies or you may decide to carry your own clubs. Outside caddies and pull-carts are not allowed.

Is Erin Hills hard?

In addition to demanding accuracy, Erin Hills requires that you hit it fairly long (relative to the tees you're playing). There are several holes – some obvious, some less so – where you'll be faced with long, blind approaches if you don't smash your drive.

How difficult is Erin Hills?

Let's be clear about this, Erin Hills is certainly a difficult golf course and is no easy walk in the park. The course plays long with lots of obstacles and requires precision and touch. That said, the course will allow you to score if you hit the shots.

How much does it cost to play Whistling Straits?

Green fee at Whistling Straits is $410 with caddie fee of $65 and recommended tip of $50. Did you know it costs $550 to play at Pebble Beach if you are staying at the resort?

Plan Your Experience

Golf trip planning can be a year-round expedition. At Erin Hills, we call these intrepid planners “trip captains” — those that research, plan, lead and book their group’s golf experience each year.

Lodging at Erin Hills

A lush, abundant terrain peppered with homey cottages and friendly villages. A poet’s dream and a golfer’s paradise. A land of ancient lore, far, far away.

Introducing the Drumlin

A 63,000-square-foot putting course now open to those with an Erin Hills tee time.

Issue 7: Winter 2022

There’s no better way to enhance your on-course experience at Erin Hills than to take a caddie. And there’s no better way to increase your chances of play well than to heed their advice. In this, the 7th edition of our Erin Hills Journal, the caddies themselves reveal the secrets to playing (and enjoying) our course to its fullest.

Issue 6: Summer 2021

Of course, can we go with: No other game can boast a home field that dates back some 10,000 years. Now that, you could say, is old school. Read the latest Erin Hills Journal.

Issue 5: Winter 2021

In this issue of Erin Hills Journal, you’ll find how the connections to the game’s Auld Grey genesis in Scotland have wound their way — in some grand facsimile — to Erin Hills. And how the modern game continues to advance with bright stars, burgeoning players and a new breed of stewards pushing its limits.

Issue 4: Summer 2020

The health, economic and social challenges of recent months have affected all of us in a variety of ways, but our ancient game that can’t be confined indoors has provided a much needed haven and release. As courses opened and grass began to green, bunker rakes disappeared and unusual objects appeared in holes.

Who is the golfer who wrote Erin Hills?

D’Amato has covered golf for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel since 1992. He wrote a coffee table book, “Erin Hills,” which was published by Classics of Golf and was released in April. View Comments.

Who designed Erin Hills?

Part 3: 'Best piece of golfing property I'd ever seen.'. Bob Lang passes on Jack Nicklaus and other big-name course architects to design Erin Hills. Instead, based solely on a gut feel, he hires the relatively unknown trio of Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. Part 4: 'It was just craziness, is what I remember.'.

Where is Erin Hills in Wisconsin?

Exit Full Screen. The story of how an intoxicating patch of farmland 50 minutes northwest of Milwaukee became Erin Hills, the host of Wisconsin's first-ever U.S. Open, is one filled with drama and conflict, triumph and tragedy. Read Gary D'Amato's seven-part series, "The Making of Erin Hills," by following the links below.

What is Erin Hills Golf Course?

The Erin Hills Golf Course is a hybrid set on rolling hills with a flavour somewhere between links and farmland. There are no trees to separate holes in this very natural layout set on a rugged landscape, and the views throughout the entire course are breathtaking. The fairways and greens are firmly protected by fescue grasses and/or a series of bunkers. The greens are huge and highly undulating. When you are on some of elevated teeing grounds or greens, you can see 360-degree views of the surrounding course. Erin Hill is a large-scale, wild, and windswept course. Although the course appears quite orthodox, each hole is very long and quite challenging, and the course offers each player a stern test of golf. This course hosted the Nationwide Amateur Open in 2012, and was selected for the 2017 US Open.

What is Erin Hills?

Erin Hills is the second public golf course in Wisconsin to host a major championship. The 2011 US Amateur was, for most people, the club's introduction on the world stage. The announcement of the 2017 US Open further cemented its place in American golf history.

Where was the 117th US Open?

In having been on-hand and covering the 117th US Open Championship at Erin Hills I had the opportunity to observe the play of the world's best golfers. I had previously played the course in late '15 when the PGA Championship was hosted nearby at Whistling Straits.

Is Erin Hills overrated?

Erin Hills is one of those courses I find to be terribly overrated. It’s just long for the sake of being long without any of the redeeming features you would normally find in a championship course. Save your money and go to Kohler instead.#N#September 23, 2019

Can an Amenity Be a Rarity?

Amenities can take a golf trip from ho-hum to oh-wow. To get to that oh-wow moment, however, takes imagination, and that’s something Erin Hills has proven to have in surplus. In fact, it’s fair to say there are amenities here that are rarities in the world of golf, starting with a new putting course set to open this summer.

Putting Purely for Fun

While the two practice putting greens at Erin Hills are for perfecting strokes and getting a feel for the speed of the greens before the round, Drumlin Putting Course that opened August 1, 2019, is a different animal entirely, purely for fun with an after-dusk element to it.

Getting Serious About Practice

Golfers looking for serious practice can head to the Short Game Area where they’ll find two full-size greens separated by 130 yards of fairway with bunkers at varying distances. Each green has three differently colored flags, allowing the winner of each challenge to pick the next shot to be played.

Kettle Loop

There’s also the Kettle Loop, offering a different take on five holes on the course thanks to two new and three seldom-used tees. Guests arriving late often head out to the Kettle Loop to whet their appetite for the day ahead.

Crash the Caddie Barn

Finally, there’s one amenity that’s experienced not on the course but rather in a generations-old historic structure on the property. It’s the Caddie Barn, which serves as bag drop by day and a place for overnight guests to “crash” by night.

Après-Golf Recreation

While Erin Hills has been the site of many storied championships, including the 2017 U.S. Open, the tradition, as a public walking-only course, is to be welcoming to all who love the game.