The 43rd Ryder Cup is finally here, and the stage has been set at Kohler Co.’s Whistling Straits in Sheboygan County.
The biennial men’s pro golf competition officially kicks off Friday, with practice rounds starting today. On-site planning and preparation has now been underway for more than two years. The event was originally scheduled for Sept. 22 to 27, 2020, but the PGA was forced to push it back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ryder Cup pits the 12 best golfers from the U.S. against the 12 best from Europe in three days of match play competition, featuring foursomes, fourball and singles matches. As one of the biggest spectacles in sports, the Ryder Cup is known for lively crowds that are far more enthusiastic than typical golf tournaments.
Despite the lingering threat of the COVID-19 delta variant, organizers are expecting full attendance, or 45,000 people at the course each day. That’s not to mention nearly 350 members of the U.S. and European media on site, with an additional 300 media covering the event remotely. The event will have an estimated economic impact of $135 million on the region and 27 hours of television coverage reaching 160 countries.
Over the past few weeks, Whistling Straits has been transformed into somewhat of a miniature city, with more than 1 million square feet of hospitality tents, corporate chalets and spectator platforms constructed throughout the 560-acre property.
Activity at the course has been building gradually leading up to the event. The U.S. team, led by Wisconsin’s own Steve Stricker arrived at Whistling Straits on Sept. 13 and the European team arrived yesterday. The 60,0000-square-foot Ryder Cup Shops opened its doors last Friday and were open to the public through Monday.
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- Upon arrival, media registered and received their press badges.
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- The media center is home base for the 338 journalists covering the event on site, including 234 U.S. media and 104 European media.
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- More spectator stands near the clubhouse.
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- Seating structures near the 9th hole.
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- The challenging 18th hole.
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- 10th tee hospitality village.
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- Grand stand seating near the 18th hole.
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- Grand stand seating on the 17th hole offers a front-and-center view of Lake Michigan.
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- Kohler’s Co.’s hospitality chalet adjacent to the 10th tee.
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- A video board facing the 18th hole.
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- Grand stand seating near the 9th and 18th holes.
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- The 1927 Club, a private hospitality chalet on the 18th fairway.
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- Grounds crew workers mow the 10th fairway.
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- A grounds crew member mows near the 10th tee green.
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- A grounds crew member mows near the 10th tee green.
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- A worker from Sheboygan-based Larry’s Distributing Co. Inc. unloads cased of New Glarus Brewing Co.’s Spotted Cow.
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- Concession stand selling lemonade, ice ream and hot soft pretzels.
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- Operations and grounds crews on Monday zipped around Whistling Straits making final preparations for the Ryder Cup.
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- U.S. Team member Collin Morikawa practices putting on Monday.
