Erin Hills Golf Course

Those of us a certain age will remember the movie “The Princess Bride” in which Pro Wrestler Andre the Giant takes to the screen as the gentle giant Fezzig. His size reminds you that he’s not to be taken lightly. Erin HIlls is a lot like that, subtly showing you a gentle side or sight line, with some serious bite waiting kinda quietly off to the side. If you stay on the good side, the course can be a pretty pleasant place to be.

As host of a US Open, the course has the chops of any private course in the country, and looks ready for tournament play. We played in late May, right after some of the Covid-19 shutdowns were easing. Weather was pretty great, windy, with no rain and warm enough temps for shirt-sleeves. Normally a walking-only place, they had recently implemented forecaddies and pushcarts to accommodate health concerns. I think it was a great idea.

We met up with some other GolfAdvisor.com Local Advisors and we all came away with top-notch impressions. I especially liked how the course has a slow-play reveal to it, like they’re tempting you to crane your neck straining to catch a glimpse. From the road, you appear to be simply driving over gentle farmland terrain, and even the entrance and parking lot offer very little glimpse of what’s in store. Inconceivable!

But after check-in, as you roll around the barn, there’s the range and your first look at the giant called Erin Hills. As range’s go, it’s massive, with a big curved tee box feeding into a giant bowl of greens. And of course, you can now feel some wind; get used to it.

They’ve got several tee boxes, so choose your normal distance. We played the Green/White combo and that felt about right; I could have just as well played the Greens, they weren’t too much longer. In general terms, the tee boxes were all immaculate, level, fully grassed. The fairways all densely packed (they’re switching from fescue to bentgrass by overseeding right about now). And the greens were almost artificially dense with perfect grass, not out-of-control fast, and not too undulating to handle with some caution. Sand was optional to play from, but in great shape, if a little fluffy and prone to fried egg lies. The Giant though, he does have some bite out there....

The course moves back and forth over the gentle ridges, not riding between them very often. We talked after about the course being approachable off the tee, but much meaner on your approaches to the green. Often elevated, often guarded by bunkers and longer fescue, you need to get the ball in the right places to avoid the big numbers. There are some areas to run-up, so the short hitter can get lucky. But with the wind blowing, you better be ready for a Fezzig headlock if you’re headed uphill. And even meaner is the longer fescue (which in May, wasn’t at it’s mid-season length). You can get lucky in there or just absolutely screwed. Aim accordingly.

The property is indeed gigantic; the course has a vista view in almost any direction and offers you some truly memorable shots. The website touts the opening three holes a primer: a nice handshake par5, followed by a shorter par4 with some blind shots and a tough green, then a brute par4 third hole. They’re not wrong! Holes three and four have similarities, but I loved them both anyway. Beautiful raised tee box, bunker-framed fairway, and elevated greens with The Giant’s mean streak lurking for wayward shots. The infinity green par3 sixth hole looks like the flag is perched at the end of the earth, and the green is huge. The eighth hole is a wonderful par4 with a up-and-over blind tee shot, leaving you with a varied look at a guarded green. The downhill par3 ninth hole is gracing the magazine cover of a national publication this month; it’s gorgeous too.

The back nine is just as pretty, and pairs very well with the front. The Tenth is a tough into-the-wind par4, then followed by a seemingly tame eleventh par4, it could be driveable (Hello, my name is Erin; I’ve come to eat your Titleist). I said “could be”. Twelve is one of the harder holes on the course, with fairway nestled between 2 ridges and a green that only offers rewards to good approaches. I parred it once and doubled it after trying to tame the fescue. Fifteen gets the beauty queen pin-up title as it’s really gorgeous: another shorter hole with trouble lurking. Think shorter not longer.

We didn’t get the full tour, with some of the property shut-down still, but the pro shop staff were great, the pub staff too. We spent an hour chasing daylight off playing the putting course, which is the best-and-only way to visit a great course (in my humble opinion, think Pinehurst, et al). As you wish!

It’s a truly great facility and if you’re coming to a great golf state like Wisconsin, it’s in your top 5 or you’re doing it wrong.

Erin Hills has to be one of the most beautiful settings of a non coast course in the country. From the moment you get there you are in aww of how this place looks. They have done an amazing job building places to stay and adding more places to eat since I was here last 5 years ago. The staff friendliness is out of this world. Everyone is happy and smiling and enjoying being there, I even talked with the Head Pro for 5 mins about the Ryder cup and it was like I was talking with a buddy.

The driving range is top notch, when you're hitting taylormade tp5’s you feel like you're a real pro. THey also have a top tracer range that would be awesome to try out. The putting/chipping green is very nice and spacious and provides you with a good idea of what is headed your way.

The first tee is a scary tee shot bunkers and fescue up the right and water hazard down the left. If you get it in play the rest of the hole is not too difficult and provides for a nice par or even birdie chance to ease your way into the round. From there we go to #2 which was my favorite hole along with #18. 2. Is a short par 4 where you need to hit over a big mound to get a look at the flag or layup right in the fairway but have a blind shot to a tiny and mean tiny green that is perched up with runoffs all around it. Once on the green it is not too bad. #9 is a great hole as our caddie put it it's the shortest par 5 in the country at 120yds it is crazy hard if you miss the green. After that halfway house has hot dogs with pretzel buns, make sure you get one of those.

Back nine is a bit easier in my opinion if you can get through number 10. 11 and 12 are nice short par 4s to score on. 14 is a great par 5 up the hill and then a huge hill up to the 15th which is a great risk reward par 4. As you make your way to the finish you get to number 18 which is a brute of a par 5 with a super hard green with a false front and a runoff green on the back. Par is a great score. Make sure you stop by the right bunkers and check out the plaque for Justin Thomas’s amazing 300 yd 3wood onto the green in the US Open.

In conclusion Erin Hills is a great place that does it right. You will be happy when you get there and even happier when you leave no matter your score. PS. Don't forget to play the Drumlin. It is a super fun 12 hole putting course, I can only imagine the fun guys have at night with their solar lights putting on that thing to all hours of the night. Have fun Erin Hills is Great.

The Good: This Hurdzan/Fry design collaboration with Golf Digest's Ron Whitten about 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee is one of the most expansive golf canvases you will ever see. Incredible, rugged design is visually terrifying but very playable for mid and high handicappers. Excellent variety in Par 4's with good mixture of doglegs and blind tee shots. Par 5's, especially the closing hole, are very impressive. While its been three years since I first placed, there are still U.S. Open caliber conditioning and challenging, undulating greens that putt perfectly. The clubhouse and newer overnight lodging options are absolutely top-notch and as elegant as any private club. Great practice facilities. Super staff that treat you like royalty and will ensure you have an experience of a lifetime.

The Bad: Other than the huge price tag and the remote location, there is nothing much else to gripe about the Erin Hills experience. The Par 3 9th is excellent, but the other Par 3's are fairly unmemorable compared to the other holes on the course. Given that it's a 10-mile hike, pace of play is usually around 5-hours.

The Verdict: Erin Hills is one of the best inland public courses in the Midwest, if not the entire country. Hard to imagine spending $400+ at a non-ocean course, but you'll quickly forget the cost with this bucket list masterpiece at a scale that is unmatched.

Best Hole(s): Many like the short 15th best, but I'm partial to the downhill Par-4 12th. Once you crest the hill, a short iron must havigate a skinny, long green cut into a hillside. All of the Par 5's are excellent, but the closing brute is a wonderful capper to an unforgettable round.

As the host of the 2017 US Open, Erin Hills has gotten a lot of press, both good and bad. I suggest you ignore all of that and go play and form your own opinion.

Erin Hills nails the golf experience in every way! From the greeting at the gate house on your way in, to the starter, pro shop attendants and forecaddies/caddies, everyone treats you like a valued guest. This may seem like a small thing, but so many good courses get this part wrong.

The golf course at Erin Hills is world class. The fairways are generous, but the surrounding fescue and strategic bunkering puts doubt in your mind. Luckily, on the day I played, balls were findable in the fescue. Once you're off the tee, the real challenge begins! Erin Hills is an approach shot golf course. You have to put your ball in the right spots on or around the greens, or face difficult to impossible shots on and around the putting surface.

The condition of the course is immaculate, as one would expect. Despite rain the day before I played, the fairways were firm and fast and the greens were fast and true. The rough was penal but fair. If I were to nitpick one thing it would be that the bunker sand was fluffier than I expected, and with no practice bunker in the warm-up area, I was left to discover this on the course.

Overall, Erin Hills is a 5 star experience, and while it is expensive for the Midwest, it's definitely worth playing at least once,. Be sure to check-out the Drumlin putting course after your round. It's the perfect way to wrap up a perfect day of golf!

My favorite hole is the relatively short par 4, 15th. After positioning your tee shot in the well-bunkered fairway, you're left with an upshill short iron or wedge uphill to a severe green, surrounded by trouble. It's both thrilling and terrifying!

Probably the most fun I have had on a golf course. Saw complaints about the course being a tough walk, but felt that it was not as bad as I thought. Our caddie Kevin, was top notch and knew every break on the greens. We were playing in 15-20 MPH winds and was even factoring that in on putts.I quit reading line by hole 3 and was just focusing on speed because Kevin had the line down. Would also recommend checking out the Drumlin putting course! We came the night before and it was below freezing, but there was groups of players out there drinking and cheering.

I come to Wisconsin once a year and wanted to play: Whistling Straits, Black Wolf and Sand Valley in the upcoming years... but I cant imagine not making repeat trips back to Erin Hills. Definitely a must for every golfer.

Wonderful facility; great layout, very friendly staff as soon as you arrive at the bag drop. However, at $435++, here’s where they miss the mark. The caddy didn’t know the putting green is also the chipping green. And there’s a sign describing such. There should be a caddy master to introduce you to the course. His role should be to review how the yardage is marked on the course, provide that days pin sheet, review tees recommended based on the players index. To me, simple stuff. He should also facilitate the conversation between caddy and player for what the players need from the caddy, yardage provided: front, center or to the flag. Caddies should also have a yardage gun. Don and our caddies missed the mark.
Great after play venue for drink and pro shop purchasing. I’ll be back!

Erin Hills is known as a fearsome walk and test of golf, despite how low the pros went during the 2017 U.S. Open.
The fairways are the widest in major championship golf, yet I still hit at least two tee shots into the dreaded fescue rough. I found my ball every time, but hacking out was difficult.
The front nine plays as the tougher loop. The back nine sports a little more character and some interesting holes. The short par-4 15th hole always seems to play a role in any tournament Erin Hills hosts.
Be sure to stay for food and drinks. The longer you stay at Erin Hills, the better.

This course is absolutely phenomenal. I’d place it ahead of Kiawah Ocean as the best course I’ve ever played. There is absolutely nothing missing from this course; it has it all. From incredibly intriguing green complexes, a perfect routing that creates interesting crosswinds to top-notch course conditions this course has it all. The practice facility was easily the best I’ve ever seen.

For a course that is of the minimalist ilk Erin Hills got every single detail correct. There isn’t a tee shot or approach shot that doesn’t immediately grab your interest as it is a textbook example of a course that must be managed correctly to score.

The biggest advice I have is to select a tee box that suits your driving distance. I played one or two tee boxes too far up and I found myself with some incredibly awkward angles (which weren’t by design) if I hit driver as the holes began to narrow. I also missed out on some speed slots built into fairways because I was simply carrying the ball over them. Don’t be afraid to tee it back here as you’ll be immediately presented with some difficult, yet rewarding, tee shot criteria you must meet.

I’ve seen others say the par 3s out here are some blah compared to the rest of the course and I couldn’t disagree more. There was a great mix of distances and required shot shapes as each par 3 was loaded with unpinnable surfaces that created unique folds in the greens that had to be navigated.

Whether off the tee or around the greens this course never took a club out of your hand it featured zero forces carries. Absolutely textbook architecture all the way around here.

Played on a beautiful, warm summer day. Course was firm and fast. Really enjoyed the elevated tee shots. Only downside was the walk up the hills to the teeing areas and we were carrying our own bag.

Our group took our yearly golf trip to Wisconsin this year. The main event was at Whistling Straits, but we HAD to hit up Erin Hills while we were in the area.
It did not disappoint!

The facilities are first class. Great driving range, great clubhouse, super friendly staff... everything you could ask for. There are a small handful of cabins that would allow you to stay on property, that I'm sure are insane.

It's hard to convey just how pristine the conditions were at the course. The fairways were lush and the greens were pure and quick. Even compared to other top courses I've played I was impressed.

The course is walking only, with no push carts. You either have to take a caddie or carry your own bag. I carried. The walk is not easy, but it's also not terrible. It was about 7 miles all in. The terrain is hilly, but it's rolling hills and not a ton of sudden steep climbs. If you are reasonably fit, don't let the walking part turn you away.

The layout of the course is excellent. Despite being relatively open (as seen on TV)... it's deceiving, especially for an average golfer. Almost every hole features a set of fairway bunkers that require you to pick your poison. You try to layup short of one set, but there's likely another set to contend with on the layup. So strategy is important. There are also quite a few holes with misleading sight lines. In particular, on #14 you would swear you should aim left and you'd end up in a good spot... but you'd be very wrong. Same was true on 18. It was very helpful that we had a couple caddies in our group to show us the way.

I really like holes 1, 8, 9, and 15. 1 is a nice gentle introduction that let's you get a feel for what's coming. 8 is a shorter par 4 where you can be aggressive if you're confident and leave yourself a short shot in, but if you're offline you can get punished easily. 9 is a really nice little par 3. 15 is another short par 4 where you really have to commit to your shot off the tee. The green complex is pretty tough, so you'll want to leave yourself a distance you like!

I've heard a lot of criticism of the closing par 5 18th. I can see why it's not everyone's favorite. The second shot is very difficult for us mortals and the drive is no picnic either. I'd agree it's one of the weaker holes on the course, but nothing too bad.

Overall, the course is very challenging... although I suspect a few laps around would be very beneficial. Yes, it is expensive to play, but I think it's worth it. The experience is everything you can hope for in a round of golf and it's always cool to play a course that hosted a US Open. Don't skip Erin Hills if you're in the area.

Not much hasn't been said about EH so, will keep this short. The course is mostly great. There are a few holes that are closer to 'just ok' but don't take away from the overall stoutness of the course.

The biggest difficulty any player will face other than length (CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEE BOXES PEOPLE!), is wind. The day I played there was a constant 15-25 mph wind. More than they had for any day of the U.S. Open. The course was designed with the wind in mind, so, the fairways are relatively generous, and the rough is very penal.

If you choose to play too much yardage, you will be in for an extremely long and frustrating day. Regardless, it's always pretty cool to play a major tournament course you've only seen on TV. Taking a caddie is also recommended just because the terrain is hillier than you might expect.

Played EH on June 9th and the fairways were in POOR condition along with greens that were slower than our local Municipal.

Great Clubhouse, staff etc... But when I come to a course of this stature I don't expect poor fairways mid-June and slow greens with tons of patches all over.

Sand and rough were in good shape.

Erin Hills is a massive golf course that flows seamlessly from start to finish.

The course had only been open a little less than two weeks, so there were some bare spots in several fairways. The greens, albeit slower than normal, were very good. One advantage to playing before late June or July is that the fescue has not grown up to provide double-bogey producing lies. The disadvantage is that the golden stuff is not there to frame the holes and give the course the beautiful look that it deserves.

All this being said, my caddiementioned the course is playing as fair as possible in the current conditions. I found Erin to be extremely playable, even from the rough. The bunkers are penal, especially the fairway bunkers. I think most fairway bunkers cost at least half a stroke.

The closely mown areas around greens are rimmed by thick rough. I liked having the option of putting or chipping from these areas.

Erin is walking only. The first round I walked with a caddie to get a feel for the course and the sightlines. I carried my own bag without a caddie the next day, thinking I would be able to navigate it reasonably well. My advice would be to take a caddie unless you are intricately familiar with the course. Here’s why: precious reviews were spot on in that it is a 9-10 mile walk. Hoofing it sans bag in the lower 90-degree heat that we had is tough enough as it is. Adding a bag to the equation was daunting. It was very taxing on me and I am in reasonably good shape. Secondly, the greens are difficult to read. Subtle breaks are hard to detect. However, if you do go at it alone, there are two yardage guides sold in the pro shop. The more expensive option is a pro-style guide with in-depth numbers and greens-reading graphics. That will be a wise investment.

Staying on the property was a real treat. The Lodge offers small but excellent accomodations. Spitting out by the fire pits and watching the sunset post round was a great way to unwind. The staff greet you by name (how do they do that?) and the place is first class in every way imaginable.

I would love to come back in late summer when the course is at full tooth with the fescue in play. Still, it is a championship golf course, that is playable enough for even average players to have a good time, no matter their score.

The Good: This Hurdzan/Fry design about 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee is one of the most expansive golf canvases you will ever see. Incredible, rugged design is visually terrifying but very playable for mid and high handicappers. Excellent variety in Par 4's with good mixture of doglegs and blind tee shots. Par 5's, especially the closing hole, are very impressive. US Open caliber conditioning and challenging, undulating greens that putt perfectly. The clubhouse and newer overnight lodging options are absolutely top-notch and as elegant as any private club. Great practice facilities and super staff that will ensure you have an experience of a lifetime. Top-notch caddies that work their tail off walking 10+ miles so you can enjoy the round.

The Bad: Other than the huge price tag and the remote location, there is nothing else to gripe about the Erin Hills experience. The Par 3 9th is excellent, but the other Par 3's are fairly unmemorable compared to the other holes on the course.

The Verdict: Erin Hills is one of the best inland public courses in the Midwest, if not the entire country. Hard to imagine spending $400+ at a non-ocean course, but you'll quickly forget the cost with this bucket list masterpiece. Everything is first class.

Best Hole: All of the Par 5's are excellent, but the closing brute is a wonderful cap to an unforgettable round.

Golf fans may have been bummed out by the relatively low scores Erin Hills yielded in the 2017 U.S. Open. But don't be fooled; Erin Hills is one of the toughest courses you'll play, especially if you're unable to keep the ball in its generous-but-by-no-means-huge fairways. The rippling Kettle Moraine terrain and mostly elevated, undulating greens cause golfers - pro and amateur alike - plenty of problems throughout the round. Caddies are especially valuable here, as they can point you toward the safe spots that do exist, mostly in the form of gathering slopes on and around the greens.

I was a little nervous when reading the reviews about how much walking we would need to do for this round. But it really wasn't that bad. And the reason there's a bit of walking is because they put 7 tee boxes per hole to allow the USGA a number of choices when they have the US Open. This course can be played anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 yards. You'll read review after review about picking the right tee boxes and I can't stress that enough. I'm a 13 handicap and when the caddies suggested we play white I was a little hesitant but it was the best decision we made all weekend. It made the round more enjoyable. I was playing 6 irons instead of 4 irons, and I had the best round of the weekend. It's really a spectacular setting for a golf course. The caddies meet you on the range, ask you if you can empty your bag of all non essentials, and you're off. You have to be pretty spot on with your drives as well as your approach shots. if not, you're in the long tall grass off the tee box and in the tough sand traps around the green. I'm from Los Angeles so the setting is spectacular. I loved the feel of the course which seems like it goes on forever when it actuality it's 650 acres (which is a lot of space for a golf course). The people there were very accommodating and friendly. Our caddies were terrific and even gave me a couple tips which really helped me play better. Originally we were just going to play the Blackwolf Run courses and Whistling traits but we're so glad we came to Erin Hills. It was a truly great experience and I would highly recommend it.

This place is something else. Take a min in the middle of the round and just listen, you will hear nothing other then a golfer here there. This is place is so big and off the beaten path that its just you and the golf course its awesome. The course itself is wonderful generous fairways but if you miss get ready for the knee high stuff. Greens are top notch very receptive to spin but lightening fast. The 9th hole is awesome so hard luckily the wind wasnt to bad. 14 is a great par 5 up the hill to a crazy slopping green, then you go to 15 which is a great risk reward par 4. Then that finish on 18 is amazing bunkers placed perfectly in landing zones its a brute of a finisher. We were fortunate to play with Rick Tock and a golf digest course we reviewer needless to say we heard some good stories. Clubhouse is top notch, service is terrific. Definitely recommend this to people that want to play a great challenging golf course. Well done Erin Hills!!!

Four of us just came down from playing Whistling Straits (Straits, Irish, Meadows, Blackwolf Run) to play Erin Hills to get a view of the site for next year's U.S. Open. We all carry indexes of 10 or less so we were excited to play what the pros would play. It is a beautiful layout but there are few things you should understand before you go.

When we booked our tee time, our very friendly agent emphasized that it is a walking-only facility. This was fine with us. Although we're all 60+, we are in good shape and walk and carry at our home courses. That said, when we made our reservation, we explained that 1 person would carry and the other 3 would need caddies. When we arrived, an error had been made so two of us ended up carrying and we got a caddie who double bagged the other two. We've all played in Ireland and Scotland and are familiar with most of the well-know venues where you also must walk Moreover, we had just finished walking the Straits so we felt like we were adequately prepared. Not!

Erin Hills is NOT a walking facility but rather a HIKING facility. True to its name it was extremely hilly and all must walk. There are no carts. None. Didn't see a one the entire day. Th'at was to be understood but the long-long treks were not.

Our hiking began at the parking lot where you walk a quarter of mile, if not more, up a long hill to the pro shop. But the real fun began 2-3 holes into the round. Going from a green to the next tee was a chore. You would walk down one hill--often a severe slope for our caddie who was double bagging and two of our party who were carrying--only to walk back up another hill before you reached the next tee. And the distances from greens to tees were ridiculous. Really! It reminded me of a resort course where you must have to have a cart to motor through the development to get from one tee box to another. But there were no carts at Erin Hills. Just long, long walks up and down and up and down. from one hill to another. They did provide water on about every 4th hole. The water was free. But we didn't know that when we bought some the beverage cart.

The course is beautiful and lush with heather that is knee to waste high. Gorgeous to look at but a great hiding place for golf balls. If you hit your ball in the heather, there was a 98% chance that it was lost. The fairways are generous enough that we didn't find the heather often--just one person every hole! They did have several fore caddies located at strategic locations to help you find an errant shot but they couldn't find several of our balls.

Of course, they did have U.S. open rough but that was to be expected. We wanted to see what it was like and we did!

Between the hills and the heather, we played 5 1/2 - 6 hour round. Play was terribly slow and we never saw a ranger.

As a testimonial to hiking, we had our iPhone app on which counted steps, miles and flights (of stairs). We walked close to 9 miles, over 20,000 steps and the equivalent of 30 flights of stairs. Our caddie was Joe and he did a nice job but you could tell he was gassed from double bagging up the hills.

Erin Hills is a beautiful and challenging course and I would recommend it for low handicap player and certainly not the casual golfer. However, the recommendation would come with a caveat. You should be forewarned that walking it is as much a challenge as the golf. I would definitely avoid it playing in the heat of the day.

Erin Hills is an absolutely remarkable golf course and destination. The views throughout the entire course are breathtaking. The course itself is a stern test of golf, first time players would do well to tee it one forward as the HIKE (and i emphasize HIKE) will kick your butt, regardless if you are a regular walker. The variety of holes and shot options make it a very memorable experience. Some highlights are the par 4 blind tee shots on 2nd 8th and 12th. The par 3s very fair and reward shots that hold the green. There is an aura to this place like you are going to church to worship. If you have a chance to play it DO IT, youll thoroughly regret it if you dont.