I just finished Ron's article. He writes that "of course I'm biased and highly emotional on the subject. My DNA is in that design," and I don't fault him for that at all. It was his baby, even more so than he writes, from what I've heard about its construction.
Ron says that Bob Lang never asked them about hosting a U.S. Open on the course, and that it was Ron's idea to approach him about it. That may be so, but it's weird, since Bob Lang asked me point-blank what I thought of the idea of building an 8,000-yard course that would host the U.S. Open, before he hired Hurdzan, Fry & Whitten.
And though Ron was nice to mention by name nearly everyone involved in the construction, he omits one key person: the GOLF DIGEST panelist from Minnesota who had Bob Lang's ear, and convinced him to hire the newly-created team over other designers, because Ron Whitten's involvement would help get the golf course publicity. Like all such design contests, it wasn't entirely on the level, and I don't think that part should have been omitted from Ron's story.
I thought Ron's involvement put a thumb on the scale for Hurdzan and Fry that he could have done for any other designer instead, and guaranteed free publicity to a course that other designers couldn't match. Ron promised me at the time that a "conflict of interest clause" in the contract would prevent Erin Hills from ever being ranked by GOLF DIGEST, and I didn't buy it. He somehow frames this in his story that he was "kicked off the team" later so that they could pursue a ranking, as if that wasn't entirely predictable. I just think he wants to have it both ways, and he has, with Jerry Tarde's help. In fact, today, the course is rated much higher by GOLF DIGEST than anywhere else.
I was mentioned a couple of times in Ron's story, quoted once [most likely from an old GCA post] as bashing Dr. Hurdzan, and mentioned later that the guy who killed his wife had lobbied for me as the designer. So, I don't think Ron tried too hard to present me in my best light. If he really thinks about it, I was biased and highly emotional on the subject, too, and he should totally understand.