Golfdom, April 2015

In preparation for the 2017 U S Open Erin Hills achieves stunning results while using minimalistic approaches to conserve natural resources T ake a site made up of unusual earth formations left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago add in a forward thinking minimalistic architecture team and a cutting edge superintendent and the result is a links style gem of a golf course in Americas heartland Located 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee Erin Hills Golf Course Erin Wis provided the architects an assortment of natural settings for golf holes More in fact than any other property they had ever visited I had an unexplainable feeling from the get go that the property was a game changer says Dana Fry architect From its natural topography and unique landforms to its overall vastness and ideal soil conditions it offered endless possibilities Fry and his former business partner Michael Hurdzan Ph D the global authority on environmental course architecture partnered with Ron Whitten the worlds foremost golf course critic to create the most natural golf course possible taking a minimalistic approach to design and construction The result of that collaboration is in the capable hands of superintendent Zach Reineking who looks at water conservation and reducing inputs as an art form The USGA clearly likes the results as the course has already hosted two of its championships the 2008 U S Womens Amateur Public Links Championship and the 2011 U S Amateur at a course that only opened in 2006 And next up the course will host the first U S Open to ever be played in Wisconsin in 2017 Continued on page 22 ADD A COUPLE HUNDRED EXPERTS TO YOUR ROSTER Get the support you need With more than 80 service centers and 33 retail locations real people with real answers are on your side to help you make all the right moves X 1 8 9 X X X X X X X X 10 11 12 13 X X X X X X 14 15 16 18 X 19 17 20 21 6 X X 3 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 4 2 5 X X 22 24 25 23 7 X X X X X X FPO Chris Hof Minnesota Learn more Contact your local WinField representative or visit www winfi eldpro com WinField is a registered trademark of Winfi eld Solutions LLC 2015 Winfi eld Solutions LLC April 2015 Golfdom 21 Golfdom com