On Tuesday, the USGA continued its strategy of identifying courses it wants to host its championships and locking them in for multiple visits. The governing body’s latest target: Wisconsin’s Erin Hill.
Already set hold next year’s U.S. Women’s Open, the daily-fee course located 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee was named site for five future USGA amateur championships. The specific events include:
2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
2030 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
2033 U.S. Women’s Amateur
2035 U.S. Amateur
2039 U.S. Junior Amateur
“The natural beauty and challenging layout of Erin Hills make it the perfect stage for golfers to showcase their talent and determination,” said Mark Hill, managing director, Championships for the USGA, in a press release.
Designed by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten and opened in 2006, Erin Hills has previously hosted four USGA events (2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, 2011 U.S. Amateur, 2017 U.S. Open and the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur). The additional scheduled championships means that by 2039 Erin Hills will have hosted nine different USGA events, matching a USGA record in the process.
Paul Hundley false Public Erin Hills Golf Course Hartford, WI, United States 4.7 334 Panelists
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Despite the rumor, Erin Hills wasn’t designed specifically to host a U.S. Open. Its original concept was to be a simple, affordable, lay-of-the-land layout, to prove Mother Nature is indeed the best golf architect. The concept changed—some greens moved, one blind par 3 eliminated—as the quest for a U.S. Open grew. That dream came true: after trial runs hosting the 2008 U.S. Women’s Public Links and the 2011 U.S. Amateur, Erin Hills hosted the U.S. Open in 2017, the first time the event had ever been in Wisconsin. Brooks Koepka won with a 72-hole score of 16-under, leading some to conclude Erin Hills was too wide and defenseless. In truth, what it lacked that week was the usual gusty winds that would have effectively narrowed the slanted, canted fairways. Had the par been adjusted to 70 instead of 72 as is usual for most Opens, the score would likely have been closer to 8-under. View Course
Currently, Bandon Dunes holds the mark for most different USGA events held at one venue with eight. In 2029 it will add a ninth when it hosts the Walker Cup, That number, however, accounts for four different courses at the Oregon resort that have hosted events. At Erin Hills, all nine of the different events would be played on the same course.
When it holds the 2045 U.S. Women’s Open, The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., will also jump to having held eight different USGA championships.
Additionally, Erin Hills will join a prestigious list of 12 clubs that have hosted both U.S. Opens and U.S. Amateurs, but easily will be the youngest course to have accomplished held the four.
- Atlanta Athletic Club
- Baltimore Country Club
- Baltusrol Golf Club
- Chicago Golf Club
- Merion Golf Club
- Oakland Hills Country Club
- Oakmont Country Club
- Pebble Beach Golf Links
- Pinehurst Resort and Country Club
- Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
- The Country Club (Brookline, Mass.)
- The Olympic Club
Erin Hills joins Pinehurst No. 2, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Merion, Oakland Hills, Bandon Dunes and The Country Club as facilities that the USGA has signed on to host multiple USGA championship over multiple decades moving forward.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com