I was back in San Diego for Thanksgiving. I met up with my parents, a brother, a sister, a niece and some nephews. I also got a chance to play with one of my Dad's golf buddies, Clitz Busch, a young man with a sweet swing and quite a competitive bite. I had to birdie the last three holes to limit my losses to $5.
Busch, 90, plays five days a week, carries a 15-handicap and has 43 aces at his home course, Skyline Ranch C.C. Skyline has nine holes with two sets of tees so members have an option to go 18. It's a par 58, 2,818-yards with 14 par 3s and four par 4s. As a guest, I pay $2 to play nine, $4 to play 18, but it's in good shape and there's no doubt, it's golf.
Busch's eyesight is fading and he'll tell you that once the ball leaves the club face, he can't see where it's going. If he can't see the flag on his approach shots, my Dad helps him get lined up using clock-coordinates: "The pin's at 4 o'clock, Clitz," my Dad will say. Clitz usually hits it to within the half hour, thus qualifying him as a true feel player.
During and after the round I had the chance to pick Busch's brain about golf, the swing and marriage.
You'll be 91 in March, how's your health? I've had two surgeries on cancer of my bladder, I have high blood pressure, I can't see and I can't hear, other than that I'm in good shape.
How long have you been married to your wife, Jolene? We've been married for almost 60 years.
What's the key to a successful relationship? We love each other.
Do you own a cell phone? No. And my wife got rid of our computer because we were getting too many e-mails.
Any tips to somebody looking to improve their game? I'd say 75 percent of all golfers need lessons. It's funny how so many people stay with making the same mistakes. You can get resolve with lessons from a pro without too much trouble. My contribution to the game was that I marshaled for 20 years when
the pros came to San Diego. That's where I learned about the swing--watching
their grips up close--that's when I started getting good.
When did you get your first set of clubs? I was in the Navy in 1943 and I won some money in a poker game. I went ashore and bought my first match set. I can remember there weren't that many in the pro shop. I got a driver, a spoon, a mid-iron, a mashie and a niblick, which was like a pitching wedge.
What's your favorite course? I have to say Pebble Beach. I played it once, in probably 1947. I paid $8. I was even par through six holes before the wind and the rain came. I didn't break 90.
Wait, you paid $8 to play Pebble? Yes. I got ripped off. [Laughs.] I still have a receipt from a day I played Waialae Country Club in Hawaii in 1944. They charged us $1.50 back then.
What aspect of your game are you working on? I read the recent article by Tom Watson in Golf Digest. I follow all of his points except one--drop the right foot back--I'm going to try that.
I have to ask, what's the story behind your name? My name is Clarence, but my brother gave me the nickname "Clitz" when I was a little kid.
Here's a short video of Busch navigating his game:
Quite an inspiration, right? Especially for young guys like my Dad, who just turned 76.
Here's hoping we can all play five days a week when we're 90. As for playing Pebble for $8, that'll never happen.
I was in Colusa, Calif. earlier this week. My Uncle Tony, who taught me the game of golf, is also the guy taught me how to hunt. I don’t love to kill things, but I do like hanging out at the duck club and when I’m around the “Tone Dog,” I never have a bad meal. Not only do I not have a bad meal, I have six meals per day. Unfortunately I saw more sides of beef than I did ducks on this trip, but my stay served its purpose--connecting with the Dog. (At his age, eating and smoking like he does, I cherish our time together.)
On Wednesday morning I conducted an interview from the duck blind (sunrise from the blind is pictured above) with Herb Kohler, owner of American Club and the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews (not to mention a porcelain empire and the Dukes golf course in Scotland). Kohler, an avid hunter, appreciated the fact that I was phoning in mid-hunt.
“Matt, you’re making me envious,” said Kohler.
“Mr. Kohler,” I said, “if I’m making you envious, I must be doing something right.”
“You’re darn right you are,” he said. And then he critiqued duck calls and wanted to know why we didn't have more mallards in the boat. (We only had one.)
I asked Kohler about a few things you’ll read about in Golf World and Golf Digest in the next few weeks and months, but I also asked him about any other business ventures he has in the works.
He told me about the recent bid he put in on Hamilton Hall (pictured below), the building next to the R&A, behind the 18th green of the Old Course in St. Andrews.
Here’s a transcript of that portion of my conversation with Mr. Kohler:
They say capital is king in a down economy. Are you looking to expand your golf empire? We made a bid on Hamilton Hall in St. Andrews. It’s the most photographed building in golf, that and the R&A building. They stand right next to each other. The view is right down the 18th and the first fairways of the Old Course. It looks towards the Road Hole and the North Sea, so the views are phenomenal. The exterior is intact but the interior is rubble. About three months ago I got on the rooftop, but it was dicey. We should know by the end of the month if we got it.
If you get it, what’s the plan? We have to discuss that with residents of St. Andrews. We have some ideas but we have to figure out what’s best for everybody.
What would be your ideal scenario? I would say one scenario would be to turn it into apartments and sell them off. That’s the easiest solution. On the other hand, the building is an icon in the world of golf with a rich history and the roots are important to golf synergy with our Old Course Hotel and amenities of my restaurant, water spa and Dukes. We’ve proven we’re good at restoring old buildings, we have experience at it, and we believe we’re as qualified as anybody to restore it to the standards of historic Scotland. In 1895 it was the Grand Hotel built by a guy named Hamilton. Back then he had applied to the R&A and didn’t get in so he built a building four times the size of the R&A right next door. It’s a funny story and the building should have a long life.
Well, that’s exciting. It’s really exciting. To think about an upstart-American to have the privilege to restore two of the most significant buildings in golf blows my mind. I certainly never envisioned it.
(The second building Mr. Kohler was referring to is the Old Course Hotel.)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for and plenty of people in my life to keep me grounded, regardless of how much I’m on planes and in the air.
When I recently showed my eight-year old nephew a video of me Ambushing the women of Atlanta, little Marco looked at me and asked, “Uncle Matt--That’s your job?”
--Matty G.
PS--Tone Dog, smoking is bad for you. Today would be a good day to quit.
On Saturday I Ambushed at Bandon Dunes. Jake Ramirez (second from left) and his six friends and family from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco were on their sixth annual trek to the best golf resort in the country.
I’ve been to Bandon three times via Eugene. For the second time I came in by way of the North Bend Airport in Coos Bay, which is the better way. It’s only a 25-minute drive as opposed to two hours.
Although the forecast called for cool temperatures, heavy rain and high winds; the winners of the 19th Ambush weren’t disturbed by the potential of rough playing conditions. They gambled and won--again. Five out of six of their years coming to Bandon, the week before Thanksgiving, this group enjoyed good weather.
By coming in the winter, not only did they get a great deal ($580 per guy for three rounds of golf, three rounds of lodging, two breakfasts and unlimited practice), but they also had blue skies and temperatures crept into the 60s.
You’ll read more about Ramirez in the February issue of Golf Digest. What I can tell you now is that I passed out TaylorMade balls and hats with the Ambush logo, three bottles of good wine and Ramirez got a Callaway uPro rangefinder for sending in the entry. I also coordinated a tour of Old Macdonald, the fourth course at Bandon opening in June, and they all got Old Mac hats.
You’ll see why a little bad weather doesn’t shake this crew. Ramirez, their fearless leader, was caught on video in 2005 trying to pull a bull off of Pamplona legend, Julian Medina. Ramirez is the one in a black shirt who comes in at the 1:58 mark and grabs the bull's tail.
Not only would I not run with bulls, I certainly wouldn't pull on a bull's tail.
I’m on a West Coast swing and I started last week in San Diego. I played golf at Pala Mesa Resort (4-stars in GD Places To Play Guide), located off I-15, about 30 minutes from the airport. San Diego is loaded with good golf and there are some good deals (Coronado comes to mind), but Pala Mesa (pictured above) is on my list of best San Diego-based courses under $100. Right now they're running a "Fall Unlimited Golf Special," available through Dec. 30.
"This package includes deluxe accommodations and unlimited golf per night stay. Golf is available on the day of arrival after 11 am and all day each subsequent day. Midweek $198.00 for two golfers, weekend $258.00 for two golfers."
So it's easy to get to, they're running a decent deal, there's good food and a lodging option, but this Ted Robinson Sr. redesign (par 72, slope 131) also has beverage cart girls serving--salads?
Meet Chelsea MacLean, 22, from Fallbrook, Calif. This is some local knowledge from the beverage cart girl:
Golf? “I’ve swung a club, but you don’t want to see me play golf. My brother recently told me I could only drive the cart because I lost 13 of his balls in five holes.”
Food suggestion if you’re at Pala Mesa? “The snack bar makes great food. You can order a Bloody Mary because they come with so many vegetables it’s like a salad bowl.”
What’s the key to a good Bloody Mary? “You have to make it with lots of love.”
What’s your biggest day of tips? “$175.”
Any marriage proposals on the course? “Kind of. But it wasn’t like, Will you marry me? A guy came up to me and said, ‘This guy wants to marry you if you can make sandwiches like that every day.’”
What do you want to be when you grow up? “I have my cosmetology license. I do hair on the side.”
How's my hair? "I can't tell, you're wearing a hat."
I think our conversation disturbed my buddy Wally while he was trying to make that putt. "Sorry Wally."
Status? “Single.”
Worst joke you’ve heard on the course? “Why does the little mermaid wear seashells? Because B-shells are too small and D-shells are too big,”
Last week I spoke to off-road race car driver, Joe Bacal (see interview
a few posts below). Bacal's not only a golfer, but he has an inspiring
story about surviving Hodgkin's lymphoma. Bacal raced in the Baja 1000
in Mexico last Friday. After the race was over, I received this e-mail
from his wife, Teresa:
"Hi Matt--Thank you for taking the time to interview Joe and sharing his story. It was fun to read. Sorry about the challenging phone connections. It's always interesting in Mexico when it comes to phones and computer connections. Joe finished the race in about 27.5 hours and took second in his class. He did indeed race the entire Baja 1000 solo! Thank you again and have a great week!"
Not even in the comforts of a tricked-out Lexus and enjoying the benefits of a "Texas catheter" does more than a day straight navigating Mexican dirt roads sound like any form of fun.
Joe and Teresa, thank you for yet another reminder not to take life for granted. Congratulations on a great race. Happy Thanksgiving.
From Stefano Saccani of New York, NY: I am a Golf Digest subscriber and you guys are my bible. I'm taking a three-day trip to Calif. for Martin Luther King weekend. I will land Friday evening in San Diego and I'll leave on Monday afternoon from Los Angeles. All my friends tell me I have to play Torrey Pines on Saturday, but I don't know where to play on Sunday (I don't want to play golf on Monday). My round on Sunday can be any course in San Diego, LA (or anywhere in between) and must cost me no more than $250. It would be awesome if you can advise me on this matter.
Dear Stefano, thank you for the note and totally rad use of the word, "awesome." We have a lot in common: We both live in New York, we're willing to travel to play golf and the vowel to consonant ratio in our last names is three to four--a couple of good Irish kids, my dad likes to say.
I did some checking around--here are a few courses to choose from (in no particular order):
-Strawberry Farms (above) in Irvine is 18 holes designed by Jim Lipe, developed by Doug DeCinces, former infielder for the California Angels and Baltimore Orioles. In his best year, 1982, DeCinces hit .301 with 30 HRs and drove in 97 RBI (being from New York my guess is you have an insatiable appetite for all things baseball). The golf course gets 3.5 stars in the Golf Digest Places To Play guide and the green fee is $160 on weekends. Here's a link to the website.
-Pelican Hill (above) in Newport Coast has 36 holes on the water, both
courses were built by Tom Fazio. The Ocean North Course gets 4.5 stars,
a half-star better than the Ocean South Course. The rate of $235 includes a forecaddie. Here's a link to the website.
-Monarch Beach Golf Links (above) in Dana Point is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that received 4.5 stars. On weekends they charge $195 from 9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.. The price goes down before and after that two-hour clip. Here's a link to the website.
-Some might recommend the Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles. Not me. I say it represents all that's wrong with golf--big price tag, small sense of satisfaction. The website says it cost Sir Head Of Hair $250 million--"the most expensive course ever built." I say: What a waste. Digest Places To Play gives it 3 stars and the green fee is $275--thankfully it's out of your price range. Why is it so bad? The first hole for starters, there are too many blind shots, narrow slanting fairways and a thoughtless routing. Even the ocean view is generic, if that's possible. I have a buddy who says the only good thing about TNGC is the driving range ($25 for unlimited balls). If you're still interested, here's a link to the website.
Let me know where you play and what you thought of the course. Safe travels.
Joe Bacal, 40, is an off-road racer, a husband, a father, a golfer and a cancer survivor. Coming off a win of the Baja 500 in June, this Friday (Nov. 20) Bacal will try to win the Baja 1000. Earlier this week I had a chance to speak to Bacal about his upcoming race, his golf game and his victory over Hodgkin’s lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin’s disease.
How were you introduced to golf? My wife plays and she’s real good. Golf is one of the things that I’m passionate about. It relaxes me. My score isn’t a big deal to me, but I enjoy the challenge of getting the ball in the hole. I have an eight-year old little boy and he has been playing golf since he was four. He has clubs that I could use as chopsticks. Golf’s a good family sport. My wife and son and I will go out and play or we’ll just go out and hit balls. It’s fun.
I hear your wife Teresa (pictured) is better than you at golf? Oh yeah. She’s better than everyone I’ve ever met. She can break 80. When I out drive her by just a few yards I get real excited because I did something better than her on the golf course. There are three things I can’t do better than her: she’s a black belt in karate, she played basketball at Minnesota and she beats me on the golf course all the time. When we play a lot of these corporate outings and these guys we play with, who all play golf all day long, my wife makes them look silly--let’s just say it doesn’t go over too well.
Thankfully she’s not a better off-road driver than you. She might be, but I haven’t let her behind the wheel.
Where do you live? I live in Anthem, Arizona at a country club with two golf courses--Persimmon and Ironwood.
Do you root for Tiger or Phil? Being from Arizona, I have to go with Phil. I’ve always enjoyed watching Phil, and Tiger’s amazing, but Phil’s more my style when it comes to golf.
Do you have a favorite golf course? I like Gray Hawk (pictured below) and Troon North.
You won the Baja 500 in June. You’re back in Mexico for the Baja 1000 on Friday? The Baja 500 was 432 miles; I was in the truck for 16 and a half hours. The Baja 1000 is 672 miles and I’ll be in the truck for 20-plus hours. I’ll get out for a few seconds at some of the pits, I’ll move my legs around, and then I’ll jump right back in.
Dumb question: If you’re in the car for 20 hours, receiving water, food and supplements, where do you go to the bathroom? Everyone asks that question. We call it a Texas catheter. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I have a hose running down my driving suit to where my shoe is and I go the bathroom in the car. There’s really no other option. Sometimes this race comes down to 30 seconds, so you have to pick and choose when you’re going to spend time out of the truck.
If it’s the Baja 1000, why isn’t it 1000 miles? It depends on how they can get the course mapped out. They have to get permission and clearance from property owners to route the course through their yards. This is the 42nd running of the Baja 1000 and it changes every year.
You’re racing through people’s backyards? Sometimes. You’re going through towns at 100 miles per hour in the middle of the night, sliding sideways, and there’s people right there. They just can’t close 1,000 miles. They can’t even shut down 500 miles to make it a closed course. You get ranchers going the wrong way, you get cattle, you get kids, you get dogs--that’s why chaos comes to mind. It’s so crazy out there. You come over a rise and you don’t know what you’re going to find. That’s way the attrition rate is so low because people can’t get to the finish. This race would never happen in the U.S.
How many racers will be at the starting line? I believe there will be about 300 or so. I’m not sure.
What percentage of those racers will finish? I’d guess less than half will finish.
Your story, in part, is that you’re a cancer survivor; can you talk about your life since you were diagnosed in 2006? You go through life and you don’t realize how easily it can be taken from you until you’re faced with the news that you have cancer. Most people, who are a little ignorant when it comes to cancer, who don’t have it or you don’t know much about it, when you hear cancer you just think death. When I heard the news, I knew it wasn’t good. I thought: How long do I have to live? That’s the first thing that comes to mind. So when you beat the odds, you want to tell everyone, you want to help everyone you can. You really want to be a part of people’s lives who are dealing with cancer, going through treatment. I use off-road racing to do that. When I’m sitting in the seat of my truck, and it says Cancer Treatment Centers of America on the door, which is where I was treated, that says it all right there.
Tell me more about Hodgkin’s lymphoma? It attacks the lymphatic system. I had a golf ball sized tumor in my throat and I had another one pushing against my lung in my chest. It spreads fast because it’s your lymphatic system.
You have a clean bill of health now? Yeah. It’s my understanding that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the only cancers that is curable. I had stage-two Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I went through four or five months of chemotherapy, several months of radiation. It has been over two years now—I feel great. I guess I’m fortunate and hopefully that’s the way it continues to go.
And now racing cars for 20 hours feels like nothing compared to beating cancer? I used to be afraid to do big presentations in front of corporate executives in Japan. Now I’ll do pretty much anything. Cancer made me look at life more seriously.
On a much less serious note, if I offered you an all-expenses paid trip to Bandon, Pebble or Pinehurst, where would you go? Pebble Beach is one of my favorites, but maybe that’s because they have that big car show there every year. I also like Kapalua on Maui. We spend a lot of time there and it’s amazing. It would pick Pebble Beach or Kapalua.
If you had a three-foot putt for your life, would you take that putt or would you have your wife putt it for you? She’s good, but I’m also good under pressure. I think I’d take the putt myself. It’s my life and I like doing things myself. I don’t even like anyone else driving my car.
In golf we’d ask if you’ve played this course before. Have you ever driven the course you’ll race on Friday for the Baja 1000? This course is similar to the 500, but they’ve added a lot more miles. Back in 2007, four months after my final radiation treatment, I wasn’t feeling 100 percent at all, but someone asked me if I wanted to drive 250 miles in the Baja 1000 that year. And I did it. I jumped in the truck. I’d say it was 150 miles before the truck caught on fire, but before that it was going good. The great thing about it, I was in the desert in the middle of the night and that’s when it hit me, that I beat cancer. I was alive.
I'm planning Ambush No. 19. I'm reading through entries looking for anniversaries, remote locations, good deals, festive traditions or the best-of-buddies knocking off top courses on their bucket lists. I've met up with 18 groups in two years and I've never been to the same place twice. I've Ambushed in 14 states and featured hundreds of real golfers playing with fantasy handicaps stealing significant sums of money from their unsuspecting friends. And then they eat, laugh, drink, laugh louder, and then they start planning for next year.
This month a few entries have made their way to the final phase of judging. Among others being considered, I'm looking at "The Inaugural Sandbagger Open," which is "descending upon the historic Sandhills of North Carolina," says Eric Dyer of Shelton, CT. Dyer will have 15 friends playing 36-a-day and their itinerary consists of: Tobacco Road, Foxfire East and West, Talamore and Mid South Club. Dyer says, "Our motley crew claims to be between 14-20 handicaps, and yet, by some amazing string of luck, they turn in scores in the high-70s and low-80s. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm."
John Rice of San Diego will be attending his annual Harvard class of '83 roommate golf trip. Rice says, "Some members have never missed in over 25 years!" They come from all over the country--this year the host city is Charlotte, NC. "One of us is a member at Oakmont and others on this trip wouldn't be welcome at the most bedraggled muny."
Yep, sounds like the makings of a buddies trip. But what Harvard grad can't get in a round at a muny? Damn, this really is a recession.
Jake Ramirez of Los Angeles is leading his group of eight dudes to Bandon Dunes (aka-- heaven on earth). This is their sixth getaway to the coast of Oregon; the only time they skipped was in 2005. "It has become the ultimate trip as we're all in a place in our life where we respect the game, respect each other and appreciate the time away from our wives/girlfriends," says Ramirez. "We make the annual pilgrimage to Bandon for the reasons that Mike Keiser developed the resort--a destination for golf and golf only. No spas, no tennis, no carts, no strip clubs. We play a three day tourney on the three courses at Bandon over three days (hoping to play Old Macdonald if we can be so persuasive)."
What happens on an Ambush? I roll up on you and your group at some point in your itinerary. I've usually conspired with the resort or the course and they're in on the Ambush (so quit asking the pro if they've heard from me). I bring gifts and buy you things, such as drinks and food. And then I shadow the group for at least a day, or until I have enough information for a short story in the magazine.
Here's a short spot I did on the Golf Channel highlighting the first few Ambushes:
Do you take a trip you'd like to share with our readers? Do you know of one that should be shared?
In two years of a life on the road, I've had plenty of delays, a couple canceled flights and my fair share of middle seats, but I've only lost one set of clubs (American Airlines). No breaks (knock wood) but I've recently started using the ClubGlove Stiff Arm, which helps that cause.
I was just sent this music video (thank you, Roger) about United Airlines breaking a guitar. It's corny, but it's catchy. For the golfer who has had their clubs come back in 28 pieces; or never come back at all--we can relate.
Here's the story: "In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and the lead singer David Carroll's Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. He discovered later that
the $3,500 guitar was severely damaged. United didn't deny the experience
occurred, but for nine months the various people he communicated with put
the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than
themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate him for his loss. So he promised the last person to finally say no to
compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that he would write and produce three songs
about his experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be
viewed online by anyone in the world."
I'm told that during his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, Carroll stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for YouTube exposing their lack of cooperation. The Manager responded: “Good luck with that one, pal”.
I'd say Carroll had good luck with that--he's had over six million hits to his video on YouTube.
United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video. Naturally his response was: “Good luck with that one, pal”.
The fact that the USGA was at Erin Hills on Nov. 9 does not guarantee the Wisconsin course, 25 miles from downtown Milwaukee, will get the 2017 U.S. Open. But it’s a positive sign that Mike Davis, senior director of rules and competitions, and Jim Hyler, vice president and chairman of the championship committee, were impressed with new owner Andy Ziegler and the quick progress he’s making.
The USGA fell in love with Erin Hills in 2004, back when it was just a dairy land of bumps. The course, which opened in 2006, has already hosted a U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in 2008. It’s scheduled to host the U.S. Amateur in 2011, and indications are it’s still a frontrunner to get the 2017 U.S. Open. The USGA championship committee will recommend one of eight Midwestern venues to the executive committee in February. The final announcement will be made in June at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
“This visit was scheduled six months ago,” said Davis, who compares Erin Hills to Shinnecock and cautioned the meeting should be kept in perspective. “There was no way we could go any further without seeing the changes and also getting a grasp of where [Erin Hills] is in terms of new ownership and finances. They’ve made huge strides. We feel incredibly comfortable with where the course is now.”
When I was there over two months ago, before Ziegler bought Erin Hills, the course was in bad shape. In several spots the landing areas were a mess. The rough--burned down and reseeded--wasn’t growing back. I’ve played a lot of U.S. Open venues; Erin Hills, even if it was in perfect shape, didn’t strike me as a course of that caliber. But more important former owner, Bob Lang (pictured above), told me that day that he had run out of money. Which is why I wasn’t surprised to find out he sold the course a month later. “It’s not easy for me,” says Lang, “but there’s a sense of relief because I don’t have to keep finding money.”
On Oct. 24, for a reported $10.5 million, Lang put the future of Erin Hills into the hands, and deep pockets, of Ziegler. Lang had taken Erin Hills and his dream of an Open as far as he could take it.
[Bob Lang (left) and Andy Ziegler (center) with Ziegler's attorney, Chris Noyes (right), at the Town of Erin Planning Commission in late October. Photograph by Kelly Smith/livinglakecountry.com]
Ziegler, 52, is a Wisconsin native who runs an investment firm that reportedly has multi-billions of dollars in assets. He carries a 6-handicap, and his favorite courses are San Francisco Golf Club, Cypress Point and Augusta National.
Despite the upbeat meet-and-greet with USGA brass, Ziegler won’t discuss the possibility of hosting an Open. He will only talk about two specific goals: “I want to get the course in terrific condition, and I want to make sure it’s ready for the Amateur in 2011.”
Ziegler’s doing so by increasing the maintenance budget, building a state-of-the-art maintenance shed, purchasing the proper equipment and increasing the size of the crew. The 10th hole is being converted from a par 5 to a par 4, which will reduce total par from 73 to 72. He’s addressing a drainage issue on the 17th, and architects Mike Hurdzan and Dana Fry have begun doing away with some of the 103 bunkers that were added in the last 10 months.
The new owner says he didn’t invest in Erin Hills to make a profit. “I realize it has enormous potential,” says Ziegler, “but I didn’t buy into it to make money. I wouldn’t have advised anyone to buy into the golf industry right now. But it’s the intersection of my enjoyment for the game, and it’s good for the area. In a small way, it’s my way of giving back to golf.”
Erin Hills is closed for the winter. And it might remain that way until late summer. Ziegler says the target date for reopening is Aug. 1. “But if it’s not ready, we won’t open,” he says. And he’s willing to keep it closed all year if necessary. He wants the course ready for the Amateur.
When the course does open, Ziegler says the fee will be $160; it will be walking only, he’ll decrease the number of tee times from five per hour to four per hour to ease stress on the grass and speed up play. “We will be ready,” says Ziegler, “but there’s a lot of work to be done.”
What aspect of your game are you working on?
