#42 - Erin Hills - The Quest Begins
Myers for par on the 18th
Ever since the first time I played Erin Hills for the first time in 2017, I have considered it my favorite course I have ever played. I loved the course so much that I insisted on returning to Erin Hills as part of our golf trip to Boyne, Michigan in 2019. That day, I shot an extremely disappointing 89. Since I loved the course so much, I assumed that it would not be my last time playing there, but I never imagined I would return so soon.
This summer, in honor of the 10th year of our annual golf trip, we were all set to go across the pond for an exhilarating week of golf in Scotland. With rounds of golf booked at Muirfield, North Berwick, St. Andrews, Gleneagles, Kingsbarn, and Carnoustie, we had been looking forward to the Scotland trip ever since the summer golf trip tradition began.
February and March brought rising concerns of COVID-19, and by early April, it was clear the trip would be postponed. We called a quick audible, debated the safety, and ultimately determined we could pull off a trip with adequate social distancing. A few phone calls later, and I had put together a whirlwind, one week tour of Wisconsin and Minnesota, hitting 8 of the top 100 public courses and 15 rounds total.
Taylor catching fire at The Quarry, calling his shot, and driving the green on the par 4, 13th hole.
For a golfer, the feeling of lining up a great round only to see thunderstorms looming in the forecast is akin driving the green on a par 4 and finding yourself standing over a 10 foot par putt moments later. There is a lot of excitement followed by nervous energy. So as Joe and I waited for Matt and Taylor to land in Milwaukee, we were anxiously watching the forecast closely. Things were looking 50/50.
Turning into the property, marked by a small sign and a guard house where you check in, Erin Hills looks like yet another nondescript field. As you round the bend, the magnificent clubhouse at the top of the hill comes into view. Pulling up to the caddy barn in front of the practice facility, the sheer size of Erin Hills becomes apparent.
Erin Hills is located in its namesake town of Erin, Wisconsin. Originally settled by Irish immigrants, Erin Hills has maintained its Irish roots, naming each of the cottages on the property after golf courses in Ireland, and maintaining an Irish flair to the cuisine.
We were joined for lunch by Erin Hills’ Competitions Director John Morrissett. John was instrumental in facilitating Erin Hills hosting the 2017 US Open. John spent much of his career on the rules committee of the USGA, and Matt being a basketball referee, our conversation naturally turned to rules, Predictably, no matter what sport, the popularity of the rules is directly correlated to how well an athlete is playing at the time.
This was also our first opportunity to try New Glarus Spotted Cow, a beer exclusively brewed and distributed only in Wisconsin. The BP a few miles down the road from the golf course is one of the largest distributors of the beer, as out of state golfers load up their cars with supplies to bring home.
After a brief shower during lunch, a quick trip to the range, and a couple of wins for Joe on the challenging Drumlin putting course, it was time to tee off.
A good drive is critical on the first hole, a sweeping par 5 dogleg left, because the second shot is full of risk/reward. Case in point, Joe hit a solid drive and was able to cut the entire hazard out and nearly reached the green in 2. I took a more traditional route, hitting 3 good shots and 2 putts for a par. Taylor hit it left into the hazard off the tee, unfortunately a sign of things to come all day.
Matt could not have placed his tee shot any better on hole 2, a blind tee shot that you have to take over the left of the bunkers in order to avoid a blind approach to a difficult raised green.
Matt took home the first “Greenie” in Quest history.
After teeing off on the long, par 5, 7th hole, the lightning alarm sounded and we trekked back to shelter. The radar looked promising, and after a short break (and a few Spotted Cows), we were looking all clear for the rest of the round. The 7th hole is the highest handicap hole on the course, a long par 5 with an elevated green. After coming up short and right in 2, I chipped my blind tee shot to tap in range for my first birdie!
The 8th hole is a sharp, blind dogleg left, demanding a tee shot over the hill. After hitting as best you can on the caddy’s line, you are left praying for the safe signal. Wyatt obliged on 3 of the 4 tee shots.
Easily the most popular hole among our group is the 9th hole, a short, downhill, par 3. Playing only 165 yards from the tips, it is often referred to as “the shortest par 5 in golf,” because of the undulations that feed into the surrounding bunkers. The small landing area means that even around and on the green, you are never safe from trickling down to a bunker or collection area until your ball is at the bottom of the cup. This hole is popular with The Quest because we love short par 3’s, hard but fair holes, elevated tees, and beautiful aesthetics. The 9th hole meets each of these criteria. Nobody got the “greenie” here, as I was just barely on the fringe. Matt and I both walked away with satisfying pars, Taylor made a bogey, while Joe became familiar with the “par 5” reputation.
At the turn:
Joe -40
Matt - 37
Adam - 41
Taylor - 47
With Matt tapping in for bogey on 18, he edged out Joe by 1 stroke. Final tally:
As we wrapped up the day, the sun hung low lighting the sky on fire, reaffirming all the reasons I consider Erin Hills my favorite. What better way to start off our epic Quest. 99 more to go!
