The showdown on Sunday afternoon at the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla was one of the highest-rated golf tournaments all year. Rory McIlroy battling Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk and darkness on the back nine grabbed viewer’s attention and kept them glued to their big screens.
Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin will be the site of the 2015 PGA Championship and it is already gearing up for the major championship.
Whistling Straits is no stranger to the major championship competition. Vijay Singh won the 2004 PGA Championship on the Straits Course and Martin Kaymer won a playoff with Bubba Watson in 2010.
The USGA held the 2007 U.S. Senior Open on the Straits Course. Whistling Straits is one of just a handful of golf courses around the country that have hosted both USGA and PGA major championships.
Dustin Johnson gained notoriety in 2010, when he was forced to take a two-shot penalty on the 72nd hole after unknowingly grounding his club in one of the 1,100 bunkers that litter the difficult course. He subsequently missed the playoff and a chance to win his first major title.
Jason Mengel of the PGA of America has been tasked with making the necessary preparations for the tournament. He talked with The Back 9 Report and gave us a glimpse into what fans can expect next year for the season’s final major next year.
Whistling Straits designer Pete Dye works very closely with the American Club, who owns and operates the facility and no major changes to the golf course are expected.
Changes are being made to improve spectator viewing areas and the corporate hospitality suites. Plans to favorably affect fan experience as soon as they enter the grounds at Whistling Staits have also been enacted. Additional improvements will be considered over the next 11 months with an eye towards making the tournament fan friendly.
Kerry Haigh, the Chief Championship Officer for the PGA of America will be tasked with setting up the Straits Course for the 2015 PGA Championship. No plans are currently being considered to substantially change the course from the way it was set up for the 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships.
One of the more difficult challenges for any major championship is finding the 3,500 volunteers that are needed to make the tournament run smoothly. Volunteers are only required to work 3-4 shifts the entire week of the tournament and can spend the rest of the week watching the action at the PGA Championship.
An added bonus for the volunteers at the 2015 PGA Championship will be priority placement for volunteering for the 2020 Ryder Cup to be held at Whistling Straits.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the 2015 PGA Championship is encouraged to log on to: http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/news/2015-pga-championship-volunteer-registration-now-open and fill out a registration.
The entire region of southeastern Wisconsin has gotten involved and the city of Milwaukee has scheduled events throughout the year leading up to the tournament.
With limited rooms available in Kohler and the surrounding area, Milwaukee will be a hub for hotel space during tournament week.
The PGA Championship is the last major championship contested each year and Whistling Straits will provide a challenging venue to decide the next winner of the Wanamaker Trophy.