Erin Hills Update?

[Tim Book]

Does anyone know what state Erin Hills is in this month?  I saw that it will re-open today after changes made for the 2011 Amateur, however when they noted a discounted green fee I began to worry.  Add that to the closure of parts of the River course at Kohler and I think my visit next week will be less than stellar.

[Mark Smolens]

I'm pretty sure that Erin Hills is still in the state of Wisconsin 

[Dan Moore]

I'll let you know after my round Friday afternoon.  Are you playing Lawsonia? 

Here is what the 8th hole looked like a month ago.

Just a little draw over the heavy equipment.

[Richard Choi]

Where is Mike Wagner? He should have made it to there by now...

[Deucie Bies]

Has anyone made it out to Erin Hills in the past couple of weeks?  If so, how are the conditions?

[Dan Moore]

Check this for how it was 6 weeks ago.  Maybe someone who has played since July 3rd will chime in. 

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40451.0/

[Deucie Bies]

Thanks Dan.  How playable was the course six weeks ago?  I will be in Chicago in a few weeks and am looking to play something I haven't seen yet.

[Chip Gaskins]

I played it a couple of weeks ago.  Mama said....if you can't say something....

[jonathan_becker]

I played it on August 8.  It poured almost the entire round, but I had fun.

The rate for the rest of the season is $95 and is well worth the cost.  The tees were in great shape as well as the fairways and greens.  Actually, the greens were in perfect shape (very fast, very true....rolling 12+).  If you haven't played the course prior to the changes, you might not know what's going on around the course.  However, look at Dan Moore's thread link posted above that details some of the changes.  The current course conditions are far better than the shape it was in when the pictures were posted.

I didn't see any huge mounds of dirt around the place, but a lot of the rough between holes is dirt with new grass growing.  Unless you slice or hook the piss out of it, most of the construction areas aren't even in play.

Again, the greens were in perfect shape, I never lost a stroke due to course conditioning, and for $95 it was money well spent.

[Matt_Cohn]

Call them and ask?

[Mike Wagner]

Tim,

I'm out here every day and Jonathan's words are right on.  I describe it as being in the "post surgical" healing phase.  The playing areas are great - there's a few sod seams and bunkers that are rough.  Greens are immaculate...seriously perfect - even after 150 players...they don't blem.

The fescue that will grow in over the next couple months (and years) has just begun to pop, and the course will look MUCH different.  If you're a decent player and keep it somewhat in the wickets, it's great.  I also talk to folks who think it's in terrible shape because they hit it all over the yard - never fails to crack me up hearing them complain

Anyway, I'm extremely impressed that the owner cares enough to reflect the condition in with the lower green fees, and we have no problem being honest with the exact condition.  We tell people if they're looking for country club conditions, you should probably go play a country club.

Mike

[Mark_Fine]

Mike,
I would echo all your comments.  Most of the changes I liked.  It is a very serious test of golf.  While there are enough sets of tees to accomomate most golfers, the better the player, the more you will enjoy Erin Hills!
Mark

[Paul Richards]

Just played there yesterday.

This course is for real.

A little healing needs to take place first.

That being said, this is a top 25 Modern course.  By the 2011 US Amateur, people will have stood up and noticed.