Erin Hills GC
Hartford, WI (40 miles NW of Milwaukee)
Ranked #27, 2008 Top 100 You Can Play, Golf Magazine
Per T&L Golf, July/August 08
Erin Hills Golf Course
(4.5 stars)
Since opening two years ago, this expansive and rough-hewn links in farm country forty miles northwest of Milwaukee has been one of the most talked-about new courses in the nation. The land—rumpled with the eskers, depressions and grassland dunes of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine—was so ideally suited for golf that the architects wisely approached it with a light hand, moving earth on only four of the holes. There’s a wonderful mix of long and short par fours, and the putting surfaces vary from three thousand to twelve thousand square feet. The greens are perched on knobs, banked into hillsides, set among mounds and, at the par-three seventh—an homage to the Dell hole at Lahinch—nestled in a hollow. “A lot of holes remind me of Shinnecock,” says PGA Tour pro Steve Stricker, a lifelong Wisconsinite. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen in our state.” If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the course is very difficult for the average golfer and therefore prone to slow play.
7169 County Highway O, Hartford. Architects: Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan and Ron Whitten, 2006. Yardage: 7,824. Par: 72. Slope: 141. Green Fee: $160. Contact: 262-670-8600, www.erinhills.com.
Where to Stay: For a complete experience, stay over in one of seven new guest rooms in the clubhouse. Singles and doubles are $195 per night, and suites begin at $495, and all have private baths, antique furnishings and flat-screen TVs.
Erin Hills Clubhouse
Delafield Hotel- If you choose not to stay at Erin Hills, this two-year-old boutique hotel, a meticulously converted brick warehouse a half-hour south of the course, is an excellent option. The only Wisconsin lodging certified by the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, it’s owned by Erin Hills developer Bob Lang. No two rooms are alike in dimensions or furnishings, many of which come from Lang’s own antiques collection. 415 Genesee Street, Delafield. Rooms: $225–$450. Contact: 262-646-1600, www.thedelafieldhotel.com.
Where To Grub Nearby: Andrew’s Bar & Restaurant (Contemporary American) This white-linen restaurant in the Delafield Hotel has acquired a following for its outstanding upscale American fare, attentive service and extensive wine cellar. Diners can choose between floor-to-ceiling private booths, parlor seating and, in warm weather, a veranda. 415 Genesee Street, Delafield; 262-646-1620, www.thedelafieldhotel.com. $$$
Where To Grub, Milwaukee: Mo’s: A Place for Steaks (Steak house) Not quite a decade after Mo’s opened in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, it’s consistently voted the best steak house in the city. The thick-cut pork and veal chops are the choice on the menu, although that takes nothing away from the bone-in rib eye and the filet mignon. There’s also a long list of single malts, cognacs and vintage ports on offer, perfect for sipping in the cigar lounge. 720 North Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee; 414-272-0720, www.mosaplaceforsteaks.com. $$$$
Leon’s Frozen Custard A Milwaukee institution, this neon-lit drive-in custard stand on the south side is straight out of the 1950s. (In fact, it was the inspiration for Arnold’s Drive-In in Happy Days.) Be prepared to stand in line for ten or fifteen minutes on warm summer nights, but one taste of the cold, rich custard—made fresh each day—and you will be glad you did. 3131 South 27th Street, Milwaukee; 414-383-1784. $
Further Reading: Here's an interesting February 2010 Golf Digest article about the guy who built Erin Hills, Bob Lang, who became so obsessed with bringing the U.S. Open to his course that he took a handfull of suggested course changes from the USGA, multiplied them by about 100, and essentially went broke trying to finance a multitude of changes to what had already been declared a great course. Eventually Lang had to sell the course to a local businessman, who continues to work with the USGA as a finalist for the 2017 U.S. Open. Check out the full story at: ww.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2010-01/golf_erin_hills_ginella_0125