Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
Ryder Cup Championship
Ryder Cup Championship is held in Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, WI . Learn About This PGA Championship, Course, History, & Why You Need to Visit
Ryder Cup Championship History
The Ryder Cup is an international golf competition between U.S and Europe, the first one was played in 1927. From 1979 it has been a biennial event and since 2000 it takes place once every two years .
It is a match play competition with a difference – instead of increasing your score to give you an advantage on the other player if you win the hole, there are points allocated for each match which contribute toward winning the cup itself.
The cup itself is made from silver which was donated by Harry Colt .
Ryder Cup Championship Course
Whistling Straits located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin , USA consists of two courses designed by Pete Dye & Bob Cupp
Straits Course –opened in 1998 – hosting PGA Championships in 2004 & 2010 and is a regular PGA Tournament location.
Irish Course – opened in 2000 hosted Ryder Cup 2002, PGA Championships in 2008 & 2015 and 2016 Ryder Cup .
Ryder Cup Championship History
The only time the United States has been beaten was in 1976 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club , England.
The last time they beat Europe was in 1993 at The Belfry, England on U.S soil only two years before which gave them an 8-point lead going into the event which led to a 16½ – 11½ victory for U.S (two wins each +2 points).
As the score stands, the US leads with 9 wins to Europe’s 7 with one stalemate (1989) in 1991.
Ryder Cup Championship Course
Whistling Straits is a large course with water coming into play on 12 holes . The fairways are very wide which can make them difficult to hit especially in windy conditions , the rough is thick & penalizing and the greens are true .
If you haven’t seen it before, watch out for the bunkers , they look like small sand dunes so be careful or you could find yourself 5-10 feet further back than expected.
It’s an excellent course to visit if you’ve not played it before so take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity!
Ryder Cup Championship Facts & Information
Since the first Ryder Cup there have been a few milestones , these include:
The first player to score a point was Sam Snead who won all 3 of his matches at The Belfry, England – 1993 – Ben Crenshaw & Tom Kite also achieved this feat.
Another notable year was 1985 when Seve Ballesteros won 5 & halved 2 of his 7 matches which is a record for most match wins by a single player.
In 2011, Europe gave away just 4 points thanks to the efforts of Ian Poulter . On 10 occasions, teams have won with 8½ points or more.
If you’re looking to visit Whistling Straits, take advantage before it changes location in 2022!
Length of a Ryder Cup Championship Round
Ryder Cup Championship Ticket Prices & Details
The PGA of America operates a lottery system for anyone wishing to attend – this applies to all 3 days – the application process opens 1 year before and closes 90 days prior.
This is because there can be as many as 600,000 applications!! The ticket prices vary depending on the day but are generally around $100-350 each , you must provide your address and credit card details when applying which will only be used if you win.
If you’re lucky enough, you could have a great weekend filled with golf at one of the best courses in Wisconsin!
Ryder Cup & Course Layout
The course itself holds two other major championships – The 2008 PGA Championship was won by Martin Kaymer who held off Americans Jason Dufner & Phil Mickelson alongside Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland who all finished with -14 under par.
Martin Kaymer also won the 2015 Players Championship which became his third win of that year after he also went onto become World Number 1 within a few months.
Things to do around the Ryder Cup Championship Golf Course
Sheboygan, Wisconsin is a beautiful place and has a lot to offer if you’re not golfing at Whistling Straits! Here are some things for visitors;
1) If shopping is your thing, visit the Sheboygan Marsh – it’s an excellent spot to pick up local gifts like buffalo check blankets, rustic pieces of furniture & pottery.
2) After spending time out in nature , head indoors to Kohler Design Center . It’s filled with fine art from around the world and also offers wine tasting on Fridays which starts at 11am!
3) The area itself has many photo opportunities so take lots of pictures with all the extra space you have ! There are plenty of hiking trails that will guide you to stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Sheboygan River .
The Ryder Cup Championship is a fantastic opportunity for a golfer , a fan of Golf or even if you’re just looking for something new to do!
Why You Need to Visit the Ryder Cup Championship
1) It’s a historic event and you’ll be there to witness it
2) You’re not likely to get the chance again anytime soon !
3) If you’re a fan of golf, Whistling Straits is one of the most viewed courses in the world with professional tour players and amateurs alike.
4) The Ryder Cup Championship has previously been won by: Jack Nicklaus , Arnold Palmer , Gary Player & Lee Trevino . All this from just 23 matches so far!
5) It could be your chance for some photo ops on one of America’s best courses , add some more likes on Facebook or impress your friends!
