To & From the Sea
Built on the land, golf often touches the sea—both literally and emotionally. Any well-sited and welldesigned course can yield the overwhelming feeling of boundless freedom, whether the crashing waves are seen or imagined. Land ho...
With the sea or with visions of it, these courses inspire a vast array of dreams
It seems odd to describe a course that opened in 2006 and that is somewhere near 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean as having a traditional links feel to it, but Erin Hills is exceptional in many ways. In an era of hurried buggies and hurried lives, architects Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten created a course to be walked and savored. And what a course. The site of the 2017 U.S. Open is majestic, a 652-acre property encircled by natural wetlands and the Ashippun River, all of it breathtaking. At a maximum of 7,800, the yardage on the card seems never-ending, but the fairways are seeded with fine fescue to give a well struck ball bounce and fast run-on so no golfer should find it marathon-esque, particularly in late summer. Erin Hills is a magnificent course to play, but for a complete escape stay for a night or two; the lodging, big sky, epic golf and genuine hospitality combine to make staying here a true lifetimememory experience. Visit erinhills.com for more