USGA expands its presence at Whistling Straits with three major events, including U.S. Amateur

Since opening in July of 1998, Whistling Straits has dazzled players and fans with its innovative architecture and sweeping Great Lakes views.

The course has hosted three PGA Championships — 2004 won by Vijay Singh, 2010 won by Martin Kaymer and 2015 won by Jason Day — and the 2021 Ryder Cup.

Not to be outdone by the PGA of America, the USGA has had a presence at the stunning Pete Dye-designed Straits track that sits perched on Lake Michigan as well, hosting the 2007 U.S. Senior Open. That year, Brad Bryant edged Ben Crenshaw to take the title.

The USGA announced on Tuesday that it intends to get a stronger foothold at the links course, with three more championships at the site through 2037.

The prestigious U.S. Amateur will find its way to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 2028, followed by the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2033 and the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2037.

“The USGA is excited to reignite our commitment with Kohler, and look forward to a long and fulfilling relationship,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “Whistling Straits is renowned for its performance on an international stage, and we know it will challenge and thoroughly impress the world’s best amateur players.”

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Team USA player Tony Finau putts on the eighth green during day two four-ball rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

On Golfweek’s Best list of the best 100 courses you can play , the Straits course sits in a tie for fourth in 2024 with Bandon Dunes’ Old Macdonald. The other courses in the top five are Pebble Beach, Pacific Dunes, and Pinehurst No. 2, marking very exclusive company.

And while the Senior Open was the only major USGA event on Whistling Straits’ resume, its sister course Blackwolf Run hosted the 1998 and 2012 U.S. Women’s Opens.

“We are pleased to partner with the USGA to bring these prestigious golf championships to Whistling Straits, building on our legacy of hosting memorable and record-breaking events,” said Dirk Willis, vice president – Golf, Landscape & Retail. “Amateur golf is the heart of the game, while junior golf helps fuel the next generation of passionate players, and it’s a great honor to host these elite men and women over the next 10 years. We look forward to showcasing their incredible talent in front of our proud Wisconsin golf fans and providing a world-class golf experiences for all involved.”

The addition of the major events follows in the vision of Herb Kohler Jr., who longed to make the course a national showpiece.

“That was our ambition right from the outset,” Kohler told Golfweek in a 2019 interview. He died in 2022. “We wanted tournaments, and we didn’t want the weekly tournaments, so the only possible thing was majors.”

As he had with the creation of Blackwolf Run, Kohler turned to architect  Dye, whose quirkiness initially drew Kohler’s attention.

“This one particular chap, he was an odd duck, but he had two courses in particular that were of interest,” Kohler said. “One that had just been open to the public, it was the TPC at Sawgrass, the home course for the PGA Tour. And at least 20 different pros who had a chance to play it were extraordinarily upset, and they were making their feelings known to the local press. … It sort of fascinated me. What I liked about it was, he had this desire to get into the psyche of a pro and really befuddle him.”