David Fay on Erin Hills "I'm really juiced"

[Dan Moore]

The current Golf Plus section of Sports Illustrated reports that David Fay visited Erin Hills during last weeks USGA Senior Open at Whistling Straits.  The article by Gary Van Sickle states EH is likely to be awarded a 2011 Men's or Women's US Amateur and that "the real buzz last week was that Erin Hills is considered a lock to land the big one--the US Open--probably in 2017.

David fay is quoted as having this to say;

"Wisconsin has gone from not even being on the radar screen to being so high on the radar, I'd never have guessed that you'd have multiple major championship sites within 60 miles of each other--in Wisconsin.  The only other place that could happen for us is in New York.  Talk about how quickly things can change."

This:

"While Whistling Straits is a creation of man, Erin Hills is nature dealing with land the way we deal with lint.  The ice sort of threw everything around."

And this:

"Erin Hills reminds me of Sand Hills in Nebraska.  The difference is that Sand Hills is remote, while Erin Hills only feels remote.  I'm really juiced about its future."  

[John Kavanaugh]

This is fantastic news and should be celebrated by every public golfer in the nation.  A modern public course getting a U.S. Open should prove once and for all that the USGA is interested in giving the game back to the masses.  

[TaylorA]

This is fantastic news and should be celebrated by every public golfer in the nation.  A modern public course getting a U.S. Open should prove once and for all that the USGA is interested in giving the game back to the masses.  

How does it prove the USGA is interested in giving the game back to the masses? It's not like Erin Hills is a $20 muni - it's a $150 to play, not exactly a price for the masses. It'll be a lot more expensive in 10 years. How would the USGA, in general, give the game back to the masses? Who took the game away from the masses - the USGA or somebody else?

[John Kavanaugh]

$150 is a price for the masses when discussing a worthy course that has hosted a US Open.  You won't see busses from Somalia but Explorers from Kenosha should fill the lot.

[TaylorA]

Shouldn't the US Open at Bethpage already have accomplished this?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I predict that the green fees will jump to the $250-$300 range immediately after the announcement.

[John Kavanaugh]

Shouldn't the US Open at Bethpage already have accomplished this?

Bethpage - East Coast...Torrey Pines - West Coast...Major market mirror mumbo jumbo.

[Tom Dunne]

Shouldn't the US Open at Bethpage already have accomplished this?

Major market mirror mumbo jumbo.

Issue two!

[TaylorA]

Dan, to comment on your post, I can't believe how much has changed in the Wisconsin golf landscape in the last 10-15 years. When I lived there for a few years in the late 90s, it was unimaginable that the USGA and the PGA would essentially be fighting over who is going to "claim" Wisconsin first as the golf major capitol of the mid-west.

Having lived in Wisconsin and now Georgia, it's not much of a competition - the public golf courses in Wisconsin are so far superior to Georgia as to be laughable. Wisconsin has a lot to be proud of with regards to golf.

I hope Erin does get the 2017 US Open.

[Mark Bourgeois]

I predict that the green fees will jump to the $250-$300 range immediately after the announcement.

Would that be in 2017 dollars?

[RJ_Daley]

By 2017, I have reason to believe Erin Hills might be among two of the greatest modern golf courses in the Milwaukee metro area...  If the other materializes, it has the land and the design cred to make a real horse race of it.

Wisconsin wasn't ever a wasteland of golf.  Going back to many great area courses in Milwaukee built by the likes of Raynor, Bendelow, and Allison.  Langford and Moreau had several design efforts there.  And Ross was right down the road in Kenosha.  Tillie in Madison, and RTJsr in Spring Green, just to name a few.  There was always decent golf in Dairyland.

[Mark Bourgeois]

By 2017, I have reason to believe Erin Hills might be among two of the greatest modern golf courses in the Milwaukee metro area...  If the other materializes, it has the land and the design cred to make a real horse race of it.

Sounds like you're counseling the USGA to hold off a decision until the other one is built, say 2014.  Maybe 2013, just to leave room for planning. Sounds like good advice.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Mark

Wouldn't the announcement come after the US Am in 2011? It may not be 2017 but sometime shortly thereafter.  Who knows what they will be by then but $300 or more is a good guess.

[TaylorA]

RJ, I didn't mean to imply that Wisconsin was a wasteland of golf prior to Whistling Straits and Erin Hills - if that's what you took from my post. I was talking with regards to tournament golf, in general, and major championship golf in particular. Which I think is what David Fay was also stating.

The public accessible golf of Wisconsin when I lived there in the late 90s was far superior to the state of public accessible golf in Georgia in 2007.

[RJ_Daley]

No Taylor, I'm not too upset, I guess I like to be sarcastic.  I guess the 1930 PGA at Blue Mounds, won by Gene Saracen was the previous major highlight of Wisconsin golf prior to Whistling 04 PGA.

Mark, I'm not counciling the USGA on anything.    I can't tell if you know about what I'm teasing by your response.  I haven't heard a damn thing about the other potential bombastic announcement, lately.  I have no idea if the other one is on track.  I suspect it isn't imminent.  But, I'm sworn to secrecy.  

[Mark Bourgeois]

Kidding. It's just -- 2017?! Here's hoping the course doesn't play too short by then, and we're around to see it.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am pleased to see a new venue get high marks from the USGA. I fully expect Chambers Bay to get the same buzz once the USGA guys make it to the great northwest.

[tlavin]

I haven't played it, but you have to give the USGA its props for being so enamored of a public course in Wisconsin.  It means that they're paying more than lip service to continuing the regional distribution of the Open.  You also have to applaud him for so directly discussing the architecture of the place.  There is a trickle down effect...

[Steve Lapper]

Good news no doubt.

I predicted this here over 1.5yrs ago (and took heaps of disbelief from some for it), but my only regret is that I suspect Davd Fay may not be around long enough to take credit for some of that decision. Especially if the place continues to suffer at the hand of the Walter Driver's of the USGA world.

[Phil McDade]

By 2017, I have reason to believe Erin Hills might be among two of the greatest modern golf courses in the Milwaukee metro area...  If the other materializes, it has the land and the design cred to make a real horse race of it.

Wisconsin wasn't ever a wasteland of golf.  Going back to many great area courses in Milwaukee built by the likes of Raynor, Bendelow, and Allison.  Langford and Moreau had several design efforts there.  And Ross was right down the road in Kenosha.  Tillie in Madison, and RTJsr in Spring Green, just to name a few.  There was always decent golf in Dairyland.

Dick:

I thought that "other" project had lost quite a bit of steam. Have you heard differently? All I know is that the two courses that have or are in the running for men's majors (WS and EH) were largely built through the prolonged efforts of one (in each case) individual. That other one is definitely not...thus I'm perhaps not as optimistic as you.