There’s a feeling that hits you when you get to certain golf destinations where the second you pull into the gate, you know that you are about to walk into something special. The course almost sneaks up on you as you are driving through Erin, Wisconsin and you come up on an unassuming sign along the road and a small guard gate letting you know that you’ve arrived. As you wind your way through the golden fescue fields into the property, all the sudden the course and clubhouse emerge, and you know you’ve arrived at one of the game’s treasures.
Erin Hills took the national stage by storm when Brooks Koepka captured the 2017 U.S. Open Championship here and it was the first time most of the golfing public was able to feast their eyes on this Wisconsin treasure, and this event was the epicenter of a longstanding relationship with the governing body of golf here in the states as the facility hosted the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, the 2011 U.S. Amateur Championship, the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, and is scheduled to host the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
This puts Erin Hills in a special classification of publicly accessible courses that includes the likes of Pinehurst No. 2 and Pebble Beach Golf Links that have been asked to host multiple events onsite, and that should give you just an inkling as to why you and your group need to visit this incredible destination.
Erin Hills
Erin Hills: The golf
Erin Hills is a walking only golf course which further adds to the purity of the golf experience here. To maximize that experience for you, Erin Hills employs professional caddies that have arguably the coolest Caddie Barn you’ll ever see. Every time we have been on property, their knowledge and professionalism have been flawless and serve as the cherry on top of a great round golf.
We often find that with the best courses, you don’t have to find yourself waiting for the “signature hole” to feel like you are getting your money’s worth. That is certainly the case at Erin Hills as designers Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten have created an incredible flow to your round that will test your game while giving you just enough of a break here and there to not overdo it.
A perfect example of this is the opening three holes to your round. Your adventure starts with a par-5 that punishes a severely offline tee shot with water left and thick rough to the right. The fairway is ample, however, and even a shot in the thick rough still allows you to hit a safe lay-up and a short approach into a sizable green. Easy right? Not so fast my friends!
The par-4 2nd hole is one of our favorite holes on the course. It’s a short hole at 358 yards from the back tees, and a carry across a wetland brings you to a massive fairway that gives ample space on the right before you get to the fairway bunkers at the top of the hill, but a more aggressive tee shot up the left opens up your view of a tiny green with a nasty little pot bunker off the middle right of the green that catches an errant push. Even a well-positioned tee shot can have a better player licking their chops at a flip wedge into this green … and then a slight pull can miss this table-top green and you can find yourself praying you walk away with nothing worse than bogey. It’s nothing short of a masterful design, and now you are on your heels and more aware of what you have in store this day.
As you walk up to the 3rd tee of the long par-4 3rd hole at 476 yards from the Black tees, you are able to catch an incredible view of the property from this spectacular vantage point. It’s a long, daunting hole, yet it still plays fair with a large fairway and hazard up the left side. Even a good drive is left with an intimidating approach uphill to the elevated green. By this point you are aware you are at a U.S. Open venue, and it’s all systems go for the remainder of your round.
I could literally go hole-by-hole here as every hole is extremely well designed and special. Instead, I’ll pick a few personal favorites that really stuck out to me:
- 9th hole: This tasty little par-3 maxes out at 165 yards with no water or out of bounds in play. Easy right? Absolutely not! The elevated tee shot gives you a great vantage point of this tiny green, and many who find themselves in the bunker are shocked at how quick an easy 3 can turn into a 5 in the blink of an eye as the bunker is extremely narrow and you often find yourselves with a near impossible angle to get out. Even if you can escape the bunker, you can find yourself going back and forth over the green, so play it to the middle of the green here no matter where the hole is.
- 14th hole: This risk-reward par-5 rewards a well-placed tee shot. Your tee of choice changes this hole completely as it plays at 613 yards from the Black tees, or over 100 yards closer from the Blue or Green tees at 507 yards. If you can avoid the fairway bunkers off the tee, especially the long skinny bunker that runs through the middle, you can find yourself with the ability to reach this par-5 in two. That is no simple task though as the uphill green has a false front that runs way, way down making an up and down nearly impossible for any shot long and right. Even if you decide to lay up, it’s still no easy walk in the park as the angle of your approach still brings that false front heavily into play making even a short wedge shot require all of your skills.
- 15th hole: This par-4 may be our favorite hole on the course. It’s extremely straightforward off the tee and at 370 yards from the black tees. A long iron is all you need off the tee to make sure you don’t find one of the two fairway pot bunkers, but there is ample fairway to be found especially without driver. The second shot is where this hole peaks. The uphill approach shot is guarded by thick fescue on the left, and any shot that comes up short, right or long most likely finds one of the four gaping bunkers that are guaranteed to leave an awkward lie that may draw a few choice words out of your mouth. Just like the par-3 9th hole, accuracy with a short iron is rewarded and the middle of the green will never hurt you here.
- 18th hole: This monster of a par 5 got a lot of notoriety during the 2017 U.S. Open as Justin Thomas famously hit the green from 299 yards out to 5 feet during the third round. You know it’s a special shot when he didn’t even win the tournament, and yet that spot has a plaque dedicated to it! You can’t sleep on any of your shots here as it requires a long drive, a long lay-up, and then an accurate approach to a small green.
Erin Hills is exceptional. Almost every time we speak with somebody after a round they mention they can’t wait to get a second, third, or fourth chance at it as you learn something new each time. Course knowledge goes a long way here.
Erin Hills: The Kettle Loop
Yet another reason to love this destination, Erin Hills created a 5-hole routing called the Kettle Loop out of the existing holes for overnight guests who want to play a few extra holes on arrival or after their round. Utilizing two new tees, and some rarely used tees, it gives golfers a different perspective on some of their favorite holes on the original routing. Another fun feature is that there is one par-3, two par-3 1/2s, and two par-4 1/2s. At $40 that includes your caddie fee and gratuity for a double bag caddie service, you cannot go wrong with this fun little routing.
Erin Hills: The Drumlin Putting Course
The Drumling Putting Course serves as the epicenter of the after-round activities onsite, and you’ll find golfers making their way around here throughout the day. The 63,000-square foot putting green is illuminated after dark — the perfect way to cap your day with your buddies and settle any outstanding bets from the days’ festivities. It’s included with a stay or green fee so make sure to grab a drink or two and let the trash talking begin around this fun little course.
Accommodations
Erin Hills provides golfers with a warm, rustic ambience that will remind you of being across the pond at an Irish Inn in the form of The Lodge. In a true Irish spirit, the best parts of The Lodge are the gathering areas where you can recap the adventures of the day with your friends and start talking trash for your round the next morning. We love the Irish Pub & Terrace that is centrally located in The Lodge that features a fantastic collection of Bourbons (among other beverage options), as well as the Terrace patio that features fire pits and a spectacular view of the property.
The resort also features 5 private 4-bedroom cottages that are perfect for a golf outing with your friends. These facilities give your group a sense of privacy. If you are looking for something a bit higher end, these cottages will be perfect during your stay.
Be sure to check out their website for the latest offerings and pricing.
Recommendation
Erin Hills is the type of facility that gets better each time you visit. If you and your group are considering a trip here in 2023, we suggest you start planning now as lodging onsite is limited and staying on property certainly enhances the overall experience.
As one of the best golf experiences you will find in the United States (let alone the world), we highly recommend a visit here. Also, be sure to visit the pro shop and load up on gear as the Erin Hills logo is one of the best in the biz.