Dana Fry, Erin Hills Architect 10-Under-Par Could Win
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US Open Preview US Open Preview A panoramic view of the US Open venue Erin Hills in Wisconsin showing BIG‘LONGER HITTERS WILL HAVE A the 9th green in the background ADVANTAGE’ “IF IT’S SOFT AND THERE IS LITTLE WIND —DANA FRY, ERIN HILLS ARCHITECT 10-UNDER-PAR COULD WIN. IF ITS DRY, IT WILL PLAY TOUGH AND EVEN PAR COULD WIN.” 80 golf digest india | june 2017 june 2017 | golf digest india 81 Dana fry.indd 80-81 5/19/2017 6:44:25 PM US Open Preview US Open Preview BY AMAN MISRA the highlight of our business careers. by its sheer beauty, dramatic landforms The USGA would never do that but combine [email protected] and endless potential. With the belief of all those tees, the multiple different angles GDI: What is the process for a golf David Fay (executive director of the USGA they can play from, and the variety and Exclusive GDI: How was the experience of working course to get selected for the US Open between 1989-2010) and Mike Davis behind changes they can make from day to day are in a team of three along with Ron Whitten Championship? it, eventually we had all of the USGA’s almost limitless. It has a Par 3 that is a pitch- and Dr Michael Hurdzan on the design DF: In the case of Erin Hills a few years support. ing wedge and Par 5s that stretch over 680 and construction at Erin Hills? before construction started, Ron Whitten yards. The scale of Erin Hills is enormous DF: I went to work with Dr. Hurdzan on wrote an e-mail to Mike Davis (then tourna- GDI: Once a course is selected, what are and in all probability larger than any course April 1, 1988 and became his partner in ment director of the USGA) describing this the stages in the preparation process? to ever host a Major championship. une is United States Open Championship month. Every 1996. We worked on over 100 projects great site that we hoped to build a course DF: At Erin Hills many improvements year, future US Open sites are announced by the United together over a 24 year period and produced on and the enormous potential it had. It were made to the course in advance of the GDI: Six public courses including Erin States Golf Association (USGA) with much fanfare. many great courses during that timeframe. peaked Mike’s interest and later that year US Amateur and US Open. Some were to Hills have been chosen to host the US Ron Whitten was a good friend of ours for he made his first trip to Erin Hills. Like create a better golfing experience, some Open. In this context, how important is it In 2010, it was announced that Erin Hills would play many years and got involved in the Erin everyone who toured it, even though no to create better agronomic conditions and that public courses hold a tournament of host to the 117th US Open slated from June 15-18. USGA Hills project when we were interviewing for golf holes had even been built he saw it’s others were to challenge the best players such magnitude? estimates a $130 million economic impact for Southern the project. potential. From that day forward the USGA in the world. Many people were involved DF: Back in 2002 - Bethpage Black GC a The three of us were all very involved in had an interest in Erin Hills. in this process including the owner (Andy municipal golf course on Long Island, New Wisconsin - including direct, indirect and induced the project from its beginning. All of us are Finally in 2004, construction started Ziegler of Artisan Partners LLC), his team, York hosted the US Open. The USGA felt spending leading to and during the championship. very different personalities with different and even before it was finished, the the architects and the USGA. Potential it was important to grow the game, and Golf Digest India spoke exclusively to Dana Fry, one strengths and weaknesses. Obviously we USGA offered Erin Hills the chance to improvements were discussed among all for that purpose - the US Open at times be didn’t agree on everything but we all had a host the 2008 US Women’s Public Links parties and the improvements were agreed played on public courses that anyone could of the three architects who were entrusted with the great amount of respect for each other and Championship which it accepted. The upon by all involved and then implemented. play. Before that the only public venues design and layout. Fry speaks on a variety of subjects through discussions we always arrived at a course opened for play in 2006 and in 2008, We worked very closely with the USGA to host the US Open were Pebble Beach & related to golf architecture, including how the Erin consensus. But we all had one common goal Erin Hills was awarded the 2011 US Amateur in fine tuning the course to create a fair Pinehurst #2. The USGA felt they needed to which was to build the best course possible and finally in June 2010, the 2017 US Open. but challenging course for the best players add more. So now we have the three men- Hills was built, and later selected to host the second on this great piece of land. I would say that The course sits on 652 acres of land and in the world. Some additional tees were tioned above, Torrey Pines, Chamber’s Bay Major of the year. Excerpts from the interview... the process of building Erin Hills became people who toured the site were mesmerised added, bunkers were brought more into play and Erin Hills. I completely agree with what or additional bunkers added. Greens were the USGA has done and hope the trend will softened, and in a couple of cases relocated. continue to host future US Open’s at public We also increased the size of the practice access venues. putting green, and created a state of the art practice facility. GDI: Speaking to the press at Augusta, Mike Davis said scoring will be lower at GDI: Minimal earth was said to be moved Erin Hills as compared to other US Open while building Erin Hills. In your opinion sites. What do you think will be a good should this “naturalness” be the case score at this Open? with all golf course design? DF: The winning score will be completely DF: Erin Hills by modern course standards dependent on weather conditions. If it’s soft involved moving minimal amounts of earth and there is little wind 10-under-par could but that doesn’t mean all courses could or win. If its dry conditions, playing fast and should be built that way. To create a truly firm and windy watch out because it will naturally course you need a site that allows play tough and even par could win. that type of course to be built. It will not work on sites in steep topography, on dead GDI: Do you have any pre-tournament flat sites or sites with very poor or rocky favourites? soils. So my answer to this question is to DF: Mid-June in Wisconsin typically will build a natural looking course you need the still have softer conditions and because of right type of site. this I think longer hitters such as Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day GDI: Describe the nature and setup of have a big advantage. The USGA expects to this golf course… play Erin Hills GC at Par of 72 around 7700 DF: I think the greatest asset Erin Hills yards. All this can be adjusted depending has is the amount of options that are avail- on weather conditions but I do believe fly- able for the USGA to set the course up. The ing the ball in the air for long distances and course is built on 652 acres and from the with wider than normal fairways, length back of every tee could play over 8200 yards. will be a huge advantage. “I THINK THE GREATEST ASSET ERIN HILLS HAS The 18th tee overlooks the IS THE AMOUNT OF OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE clubhouse and ‘Holy Hill’ National Shrine of Mary gutter credit tk gutter credit FOR THE USGA TO SET THE COURSE UP.” 82 golf digest india | june 2017 june 2017 | golf digest india 83 Dana fry.indd 82-83 5/19/2017 6:43:37 PM US Open Preview US Open Preview GDI: What is your opinion on building Bunkers behind the 10th green a course for the retail golfer versus the highlights the course’s defence professional? DF: Almost all courses being built today Erin Hills quick facts should be built for the average golfer to enjoy the game, have fun, and be a source of Location - 7169 County Road O relaxation and to enjoy the company of the Erin, Wisconsin 53027 people they are playing with. If you build www.erinhills.com a course that will only test the profession- Area covered - 652 acres als the average golfer will not enjoy it and Year opened - 2006 eventually quit coming to that course or Type - Public playing all together which ultimately hurts Total holes - 18 everyone in the golf business. Designers - Dr Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten GDI: Keeping in mind changes to the Greens - Bentgrass equipment and pace of play, how has golf Fairways - Fine fescue course architecture evolved from the Owner - Andy Ziegler 1800s to now? DF: Obviously much has changed to include Major Championships better equipment, better turf conditions, hosted better athletes, etc.