An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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KEY GOLF Nation’s oldest golf tourney at Erin Hills & Blue Mound By JERRY SLASKE KEY Milwaukee Golf Editor THE MILWAUKEE AREA is playing host to yet another major golf tournament. The U.S. Amateur Championship, the nation’s oldest golf tourney, will be coming to Erin Hills and Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, August 22-28. Since 1895, the world’s best amateurs have competed in this stroke- and match-play competition. Past cham- pions include Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. And for the first time since 1997, the event’s admis- sion and parking will be free. Erin Hills (262-670-8600, www.erinhills.com), which also is hosting the 2017 U.S. Open, is located about 40 miles northwest of downtown Milwaukee. Inspired by classic Scottish and Irish courses, the young course was designed by Mike Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten. The traditional, park-like Blue Mound (414-258-4656) hosted Wisconsin’s first major golf tournament, the 1933 PGA Championship won by Gene Sarazen. It’s located about seven miles west of downtown Milwaukee in the suburb of Wauwatosa, along the eastern edge of the region’s popular retail center, Mayfair Mall. 46 Stroke-play qualifying for the 312 players will take place August 22-23 at both courses. The low 64 players will advance to the match-play finals August 24-28 at Erin Hills. “The 2011 U.S. Amateur provides an opportunity to walk the fairways of a U.S. Open course at no charge,” says John Morrissett, Erin Hills’ competi- tions director. In recent years, Wisconsin has hosted such major golf tournaments as the PGA Championship (Blue Mound and Whistling Straits), U.S. Senior Men’s Open (Whistling Straits), the U.S. Women’s Open (Blackwolf Run), and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship (Erin Hills). In addi- tion to the U.S. Open in 2017, Wisconsin will host its second U.S. Women’s Open in 2012 (Blackwolf Run), its fourth PGA Championship in 2015 (Whistling Straits), and the Ryder Cup in 2020 (Whistling Straits). After or before you enjoy watching golf’s future stars, you might want to take a swing at several courses near both U.S. Amateur venues. They include several Milwaukee County courses (www.milwaukeecountygolfcourses.com) – Currie CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 2 0 1 1 U .. S A m a t e u r s w ig n s i n t o M i l w a u k e e