Whistling Straits has received high acclaim since it was opened in 1998 and another high profile event comes to Kohler, Wis., July 5-9, when Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Certified Golf Course Superintendent Michael Lee, manager of golf course maintenance at Destination Kohler, hosts the 2007 U.S. Senior Open.
A 22-year GCSAA member, Lee is in his 14th year at Kohler, overseeing golf course management programs at Destination Kohler’s Whistling Straits (Straits course and Irish course), Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys course and River course) and The American Club. One of his staff members that has played an integral role in preparations for this event is David Swift, GCSAA Class A superintendent at the Straits course.
Designed by Pete Dye, Whistling Straits emulates the great old seaside links courses of Ireland, invoking an image of the game founded more than 400 years ago. A more mature course than one would expect, golfers encounter huge sandy areas, deep pot bunkers, grass topped dunes, big and undulating greens, and majestic views of Lake Michigan from each of its 18 holes. No. 17--the course's unofficial signature hole--features a green precariously perched over water and sand.
Whistling Straits features two miles of uninterrupted shoreline on Lake Michigan with eight holes hugging the lake. Features include bluffs and massive sand dune areas, natural fescue fairways, and a flock of Scottish Blackface sheep that call the course home.
A wireless irrigation system that includes 2,500 sprinkler heads is used on Whistling Straits' 36 holes. It is controlled by a handheld computer and can effectively water precise locations on an as-needed basis, saving resources. Recycled materials were used in the roads and bridges at Whistling Straits and its fescue grass requires very little fertilizer or water. The golf courses at Destination Kohler have been named a Gold Medal Resort by Golf Magazine for the past 15 years. Lee's staff includes participants in an internship program that provides both domestic and international students with invaluable experience in golf course management.
Behind the scenes course preparations for the hosting championship began shortly after the Straits course opened. A network of rustic, gravel-based roads were created in 2000 and 2001 for spectators in anticipation of hosting the 2004 PGA Championship and the 2005 Palmer Cup. These measures have allowed the paths to mature along with the course over the years and blend in seamlessly with its unique layout. The PGA Championship is scheduled to return to Whistling Straits in 2010 and again in 2015, before the PGA of America holds the 2020 Ryder Cup there as well. The U.S. Women's Open, which was hosted at Blackwolf Run in 1998, is slated to return in 2012.
Herbert V. Kohler Jr., chairman, c.e.o. and president of Kohler Co., serves on The Environmental Institute for Golf's board of trustees. The Institute is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA. Kohler recently contributed $100,000 to The Institute for environmental stewardship programs.