Championship Golf Returns to Minnesota

The golf course at Hazeltine opened for play in 1962 and was designed by Robert Trent Jones. His son, Rees Jones, who has come to be known as the “Open Doctor” for his work modifying championship courses, has made several changes to Hazeltine over the years. The two Joneses changes have included making the doglegs less severe and eliminating blind shots.

The professionals that play it have not universally loved Hazeltine. The course has never been able to distance itself from the comments of golfer Dave Hill, who finished second in the 1970 U.S. Open, which was held at Hazeltine. Asked what he thought the course lacked he said, “Some 80 acres of corn and a few cows.” Hill was later fined $150 by the P.G.A. for his comments.

This year’s P.G.A. Championship at Hazeltine represents the second of three consecutive years the championship will be contested in the Midwest. Last year’s championship was played at Oakland Hills outside Detroit and next year’s championship will be played at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Hazeltine will also host the Ryder Cup Matches in 2016.

The Minneapolis area has a rich history in championship golf. In 1930, when Bobby Jones won the “Grand Slam”, the U.S. Open was played at Interlachen Country Club in Minneapolis. Interlachen was the third of four major tournaments Jones won in 1930, the only player to have ever accomplished this feat in a single year.

The conditions at this year’s P.G.A are expected to be better than they have been at previous championships played in Minnesota. The 1930 U.S. Open was played in 100 degree heat and high humidity. The 1970 and 1991 U.S. Opens played at Hazeltine were plagued by high winds. Tiger Woods will be playing in the championship and is vying for his third tour win in as many weeks.

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