ERIN HILLS THE SITE OF THIS YEARS US AMATEUR AND THE 2017 US OPEN
IS QUICKLY EVOLVING AS MAJOR GOLF DESTINATION, CAN THE GOLFERS
KEEP UP.

The Gog Blog went to Erin Hills in September of 2010, and found
across the board improvements since it's previous visit in 2006.

Things had changed on and off the golf course, in the background
of a new looking golf course there were beams coming out of holes
in the ground. Those holes weren't the cups on a green either, they
were foundations being built for years to come. Erin Hills was
starting to evolve in a way that said big time golf is coming, and it's
coming soon. It also spelled out a new way of doing business, one
that said first class all the way.

The man in charge had changed, COO/GM Rich Tock wasn't new
to Erin Hills. But he was new to anyone who hadn't been to the
property in the last year, his presence signed a new direction too.
It's a direction that will be tested by the USGA when the US
Amateur comes in August. It will also be tested by the people
who already see Erin Hills as a golf destination,

Erin Hills is more than just a golf course, it's already part of a
trivia question. Can you name the six public access courses in
America that have hosted or will host a mens US Open. If you
guessed Pinehurst, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines,
Chambers Bay and Yes the newly named #6 is Erin Hills. Erin
Hills will host the mens open in 2017, Erin Hills is also not on
the east coast and it's not on the west coast, it is the only one
of the six US Open destinations in the midwest.

It's the reason the US Open is returning to the midwest after
a 14 year absence, the last one was right here at Olympia
Fields in 2003.

A few years back enter Andy Ziegler, a Milwaukee based
financial professional who loves golf. Someone who studies
potential in many areas for a living, what Ziegler saw in Erin
Hills was potential if he made the investment, so he did. Erin
Hills as a result is now starting to live up to the potential it
was supposed to have from day one.


THE ENTRANCE TO PORTRUSH COTTAGE, GM RICH TOCK LITES THE FIRE
PLACE AND WARMS UP THE NEWLY ADDED BIG SCREEN TV. ERIN HILLS
CURRENTLY HAS THREE COTTAGES, WITH MORE LIKELY TO BE ADDED
THIS FALL.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE A VIRTUAL AUDIO TOUR, OF THE NEW ERIN
HILLS FACILITIES WITH RICH TOCK:

Download | Duration: 00:23:00

The new Erin Hills clubhouse is open as of earlier this month. While the clubhouse
has opened, the work inside has not yet stopped. Tock says it will be ready and
look great for US Amateur week August 22-28, and with the way things change
so quickly at Erin Hills who can doubt him.


 THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE NEW CLUBHOUSE. CHECK IN (L) PATIO (R)

The clubhouse complete with proshop, offices, locker room that
can accommodate the entire US-Amateur field of 312 players, new
state of the art kitchen, and board rooms that can hold any meeting
prior to tee-times or after the 19th hole. The clubhouse basement
is a massive storage facility that also houses a wine cellar that
guests will enjoy.

A patio on the backside of the clubhouse leaves one with great views
of the golf course. The patio can hold over 60 people, who can enjoy
beverages or food coming up from the new state of the art kitchen
facility. The massive locker room with a large open center can also
be used for dining. The entrance to the clubhouse which is at the
heart of the area called "The Village", is decorated with nice furniture
and rugs of oriental design.

"When we purchased Erin Hills about a year and half back the place
was real fixer upper, "says Tock. " Our golf course superintendent
really had his hands full, with making the fairways more playable.
The greens have always been perfect, the tees were also good. But
the fairways had lots of bare sports, the 165 acres of native areas
of fescue have been overseeded, burned, sprayed and some areas
we knew had to be thinned out. The whole pro cess takes four year
and we are moving through it."

 
TOCK AND OUTDOOR SERVICES ASSISTANT AUSTIN ROESCH ADD ANOTHER
BIG SCREEN TO THE CLUBHOUSE MEETING ROOMS, WHILE WORKERS
FINISH THE INDOOR DINING/ LOCKER ROOM FACILITIES.

As nice as the clubhouse is, Tock is very proud of the three new
cottages that surround the clubhouse to help make up the village
area. The Cottages have spacious living rooms, gas fire places,
all with master size bedrooms and king size beds and bedrooms.
The cottages meeting room areas also have a wet bar and library
area complete with books, and many of them are about golf
Tock says with a smile. Room service is always available for
those in need of the right food or beverages.

The cottages have a comfortable feeling in them, one that any
golfer should enjoy after a day on the course. Or making the
journey to Erin Hills. The cottage area sits on a ridge above
the golf course, leaving views that anyone can enjoy. The ridge
was not made by man but as Tock explains were natural pieces
of property created by the glaciers years ago. As a result there
wasn't much earth needed to be moved on or off the golf course.


THE NEW 350 YARD (FOR NOW) DRIVING RANGE, AND MAIN KITCHEN
IN THE CLUBHOUSE AT ERIN HILLS.

Tock says for those who expect to taste the finest of Wisconsin made
products, while visiting Erin Hills they will find them. Tock and his
staff have spent days with top of the states top cheese makers and
beer companies making sure guests receive the best in products that
the "Dairyland State" is known for. 

Preparations for golfers headed off to play 18 holes are improving
too. The putting green has been enlarged by over double the size, and
the driving range is now longer and wider. The tees and practice areas
will be varied to offer practice for different challenges, the player will
face on the golf course.

"The driving range was seeded twice last year, because of large rain
storms that wiped away a lot of hard work," Tock said. "As a result
if didn't open last year, but now it's ready to go. We have 20 acres
of short game facility, five tees, two bent grass tees, three fescue
tees and a championship tee that is only used every five years. The
range has a 360 effect so you can hit away from or into the wind
at any time."


THE CLUBHOUSE AND COTTAGES SIT ON THE RIDGE, THE VIEW OFF THE
PORCH OF THE BALLYBUNION COTTAGE, INCLUDES THE PUTTING
GREEN, GOLF COURSE, AND GRILL ROOM/OVERNITE BUILDING.

The grill room building which includes meeting rooms and
overnite rooms, has added several new big flatscreen TV's.
Anyone who came to Erin Hills in it's early days, might remember
walking out of the backside of the building having to take a big
step down onto the grass. Now the back door off the grill room
settles nicely into a patio area complete with sunken fireplaces
and a view of multiple golf holes.

 
TOCK SHOWS OFF THE COMFORTS OF THE GRILL ROOMS BACK PORCH,
WHILE THE US AMATEUR TROPHY SITS INSIDE.

The golf course has had it's share of changes too for the early
days. There have been two renovations that lead to a couple
of short golf seasons at Erin Hills over previous years. This
year Erin Hills was open before May 1st, so the golfers
started arriving before most of summer was complete.

On the course greens have moved, a hole has been eliminated
tee boxes changed. Bunkers redone, greens enlarged and
anything needed to do a championship course the right way.
If you love tradition you will love the walking only policy that
the course added in 2010, the cart path and cart path bounces
that golfers hate are gone. Enjoy a good walk at your pace.


        THE PAR 4 15TH HOLE (L)                        THE PAR 4 11TH HOLE (R)

The is plenty of time to enjoy that pace, and many yards to cover. If
you think you hit it long or want to play the types of distances the pros
play, Erin Hills has nice long holes for you. The course plays over 8,100
yards if you want to stretch it out, always a fun thing to do when the
blows and adds that challenge to your game.

When you visit Erin Hills you will fins many of the great game of golfs
traditions in tact, Tock isn't done yet and is always adding a few more.

"I don't think we are ever going to stop building this piece of property,"
Tock said. "We will add some holes maybe a  putting course or more,
we have plenty of space do more. We will continue to look at our
options."


A GOLFERS JOURNEY AT ERIN HILLS DOESN'T END AT THE 18TH
GREEN, WITH A SALUTE OF THE FLAG STICK THAT IS NOW
COMPLETE WITH THE OLD TRADITION OF LOGOS AND HOLE
NUMBERS ON THE FLAG.

Erin Hills will host the US-Amateur this August 22-28. Admission is free.
Please call (262)-670-8600 or visit www.erinhills.com for more information.
Located at 7169 County Road "O" in Erin Wisconsin.