UPGRADES AND HOLES LIKE THE PAR 4 14TH ON THE RIVER COURSE, MAY MAKE THIS COURSE
THE HARDEST ONE OF THE FOUR KOHLER COURSES.

The Pete Dye designed Blackwolf Run courses, River and Meadow Valley
were never easy to begin with. Now they are even more challenging for
the guests of the American Club and the players who will compete in
the U.S. Womens Open July 2-8 of 2012.

Kohler company recently reopened the full Blackwolf Run (BWR) golf
facility, after going two years of having parts of both courses shut down
for upgrades.

First in 2009 the 18 original holes from BWR layout that will be used for
the 2012 U.S. Womens Open (the same holes used in 1998) were closed.

Then in 2010 the original 18 reopened and the other 18 holes on the far
end of River and Meadow Valley were shut down. This year all 36 holes
are reopened. Kohler company is well aware that some golfers do enjoy
playing the original layout that opened in 1988 and was named "Best New
Public Course by Golf Digest.

As a result Kohler Company is considering, having some times where
golfers might still be able to play the original layout in advance of the
womens open.

The renovation project that restored BWR, included regrassing on the
tees, greens, fairways and selected rough areas. The course yardage
was extended by over 400 yards on the River , and just over 100 yards
on Meadow Valley.

"The new black tees, as well as the length of the other five sets of tees
gives the River course a fresh feel for golfers who have played it in the
past," said Jim RIcherson, General Manager & Group Director of Kohler
Golf. "The improved playing surfaces will provide major championship
calibur conditions for our everyday amateurs, as well as a stiff challenge
for the best professionals at the 2012 U.S. Womens Open."


THE DEMANDING PAR 4 18TH HOLE AT THE MEADOW VALLEY COURSE, (MV) HAS SEEN
IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME ADDED LENGTH.

The Blackwolf Run course that the women will play in 2012 will be longer
that what they played in 1998. The 1998 yardage then the longest yardage
ever played in the womens open at just over 6,400 yards, will see that grow
to between 6,700 and 6,900 yards. The USGA has yet to set an exact yardage.

Dirk Willis the PGA Director of Golf at Blackwolf Run and at Whistling Straits,
broke down the changes to the courses at BWR.

"We did a few different things with all 36 holes at Blackwolf Run," Willis said.
"We lengthened the River course considerably, and brought back playing
characteristics to what they were when the course was built."

TO HEAR RORY'S INTERVIEW WITH DIRK WILLIS PLEASE CLICK HERE:

Download | Duration: 00:08:11

The over 400 yards and new tee boxes on the River course will give players
looks they have not seen before.

"There are several new tee opportunities for the day-to-day guests," Willis
said. "We have added a fifth set of tees like over at Whistling Straits (that
are green tees forming a middle length yardage like at the Straits course).
Day-to-day players now have a variety of options off the tee box with the
River course at over 7,400 yards. At that length it probably makes it the
toughest of the four courses here at Kohler."

Some of the renovation or restoration work done on the middle of River
course (holes 5-13) was to help repair flood damage and erosion that
happens on that part of the course.

"Part of our renovation project was to redo the drainage on all of our
bunkers," Willis said. " That was done on all 36 holes, the better
drainage should get players back on the course faster after rain delays.
The middle part of the course had some issues from flooding an erosion.
Fortunately we have the resources to place the trees that we lost. Some
of the ones we did lose were key strategic parts of certain holes. The
erosion on some tee boxes that had shrunk by as much as half their
original size have been fixed too."

The golf course was not the only area that was upgraded by Kohler
Company, as the practice area saw an expansion. New grass on the
primary teeing area, with more area in the chipping area and a higher
quality of grass to practice on as well.

A better variety of Creeping Bentgrass will keep the courses in better
shape for early spring and late fall play. The greens will putt better,
and have a better resistance to ball marks.

Dye did supervise the project, the maintenance part of it was carried
out by the Kohler Golf Maintenance Team, headed up by Richerson
and Michael Lee, Manager of Grounds Maintenance for Kohler Company.

Some observations about the renovations from on the River Course.

There is a new Black Tee set at 450 yards, Willis says that the USGA
Senior Director of Competition on the Womens Open Ben Kimball
as indicated the ladies in the US Open will see some of that tee box.

The par 3, 4th hole, has a new tee box back on the far side of the cart
path, at 223 yards. Other front nine tee boxes on holes 6-7 will add
some 25 yards to the hole. The par 5, 8th hole has a new front wall
and size restored because of erosion.

 The famed par 4, 9th hole Cathedral Spires has had some new trees
planted along the river guarding the right side approach shot. A key
willow tree was lost due to flooding.

621 yards is the lenght of the par 5 11th hole, with a new black marker
tee box. New tee boxes on the back nine include 12, 13,15,16, 17, 18.

Finally Yes, Kohler company might decide to flood the leftside waste
bunker on 18, like was done in past championships held at BWR or
on the River course.

FOR MORE INFORMATION..on the Kohler Golf Courses at BWR and
Whistling Straits, in addition to the American Club and Inn on Woodlake
please visit  AmericanClub.com or call 1-800-618-5535. Kohler is the
only midwest Five Diamond Resort.