Erin Hills facts for kids
| Club information | |
|---|---|
 Location in the United States
Location in Wisconsin
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| Coordinates | 43°14′42″N 88°23′42″W / 43.245°N 88.395°W |
| Location | Erin, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Established | 2006, 19 years ago |
| Type | Public |
| Owned by | Andrew Ziegler |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Tournaments hosted | U.S. Open (2017), U.S. Amateur (2011) |
| Greens | Bentgrass |
| Fairways | Fine fescue |
| Website | erinhills.com |
| Designed by | Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,731 yards (7,069 m) |
| Course rating | 77.9 |
| Slope rating | 145 |
Erin Hills is a famous golf course located in Erin, Wisconsin, in the United States. It's about 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Milwaukee. The course officially opened in 2006. It quickly became a top spot for major golf tournaments.
Erin Hills hosted the 117th U.S. Open in 2017. This was a very special event because it was the first time the USGA held a major men's tournament at a course owned by an individual. Before that, in 2011, Erin Hills also hosted the U.S. Amateur. This tournament was won by Kelly Kraft.
The Story of Erin Hills
Erin Hills was built by a developer from Wisconsin named Bob Lang. He used his own money to create this amazing golf course. The main designers were Dr. Michael John Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten.
Bob Lang really wanted Erin Hills to host the U.S. Open. Officials from the USGA suggested some changes to the course. So, Lang made many adjustments to the layout, changing several holes quite a bit. Even though he worked hard to bring the U.S. Open there, he faced some financial challenges. Because of this, he had to sell the course.
Andrew Ziegler bought Erin Hills in 2009. He wanted to make the course even better. Starting in 2010, he decided that golfers would only be allowed to walk the course. This means no golf carts are used on the main playing areas. Unlike many modern courses, Erin Hills was not built with paved paths for carts. The course is quite high up, about 1,000 feet (305 m) above sea level. This is about 400 feet (122 m) higher than Lake Michigan to the east.
What You'll Find at Erin Hills
The golf course grounds include several cool buildings. There's a special manor home that works as a hotel. It also has a pub where people can relax. A refurbished barn is available for private events like parties or gatherings. For those who want to stay overnight, there are also cozy cottages on the property.
About 4 miles (6.4 km) to the east, you can see the famous Holy Hill shrine. It's a landmark that is visible from the golf course.
The logo for Erin Hills is an Irish-themed clover. This design was inspired by an old bell on the course that came from Europe. Each part of the clover was inspired by the iron artwork on that bell. A competitive golfer named Brenda Williams designed the logo.
Major Golf Tournaments Hosted
Erin Hills has been chosen to host several important golf tournaments. Here are some of the major events that have taken place there:
| Year | Tournament | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links | Tiffany Joh |
| 2011 | U.S. Amateur | Kelly Kraft |
| 2017 | U.S. Open | Brooks Koepka |
| 2022 | U.S. Mid-Amateur | Matthew McClean |
| 2025 | U.S. Women's Open | TBD |
