Five Reasons to Visit the USA for the 2016 Ryder Cup
One
The Ryder Cup is the most spirited golf event in the world. Fans of the European Union and the United States come out in droves and war paint to cheer on their respective squads in the games most heated and viscerally emotional competition. Anything can happen at the Ryder Cup—and it usually does with superstars such as Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Justine Rose in the field. Final team rosters won’t be set for a while, but for whoever lands a spot on either team, you can expect a serious fireworks show on and off the course. By the way, the European team has won seven of the last ten Ryder Cups. All eyes are on Rory to bring the Cup back to the EU. No pressure, though…
Two
Two Great Captains. Two of golf’s most respected Major championship winning golfers, Davis Love III and Darren Clarke, are the captains of the 2016 Ryder Cup teams. The low-key Love, who has Ryder Cup Captain experience (2012 at Medinah C.C.) and a surprise win on the PGA Tour in 2015, brings a calm demeanor and thorough understanding of team golf to the 2016 Ryder Cup Matches. The affable Clarke is the first Northern Irishman to lead Europe against the U.S. He was also vice-captain in the European wins in 2010 and 2012. Both captains are known for their great sportsmanship, competitiveness and admiration for the Ryder Cup.
Three
Hazeltine National Golf Club. Located in Chaska, Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis), this Robert Trent Jones design (which includes a few tweaks made by his son, Rees Jones), opened for play in 1962 and is consistently heralded among America’s greatest courses. No stranger to marquee events, Hazeltine has hosted the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Opens, the 2002 PGA Championship and most recently the 2009 PGA Championship where Y.E. Yang upset Tiger Woods. The golf course oozes a traditionally American, parkland-style layout: tree-lined undulating fairways, steep bunkers that closely guard the greens and water hazards strewn throughout the course. Many people comment about Hazeltine’s extreme length (7,642 yards from the Tournament Tees), but it’s the sometimes short and challenging par fours that will be key holes in the Ryder Cup matches. On the back nine, the 352-yard Number 14 hole and 402-yard Number 16 holes promise to be exhilarating places to watch great golf and drink a cold pint.
Four
Minneapolis/St. Paul Area. Travelers from outside the United States often overlook Minnesota’s beautiful scenery and warm friendly people, assuming it’s more of a snow-laden climate with limited sights to see. The reality is, quite the contrary! The Twin Cities offer a wide selection of museums, nightlife, professional sports, restaurants, family-oriented attractions and more outdoor recreational opportunities than you can shake a stick at during the summer and fall. In case you need to get your shopping fix between matches, the area is also home to the Mall of America, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the U.S. The complex has more than 500 stores, 50 restaurants, and aquarium and an amusement park! Lastly, and this might surprise you, golf is hugely popular in Minnesota. The state has more golfers per capita than any other state and there is a whopping 65 courses within a 20-mile radius of downtown Minneapolis. Nearby courses to enjoy include Chaska Town Course, Bluff Creek, Dahlgreen and Stonebrooke.
Five
The Juicy Lucy. Would you really consider visiting the USA without eating one of the area’s best culinary offerings? Arguably, the best hamburgers in the world come from within the United States and in Minneapolis, the best burger around is the Juicy Lucy. The burgers claim to fame is the generous amount of cheese grilled and melted inside the meat, resulting in a heaven-sent, ooey-gooey mess of a meal. As far as where to get one, it depends on who and where you ask. Several local eateries make their own versions of the Juicy Lucy, with Matts Bar and the 5-8 Club both claiming to have invented it. Sounds like enough of a reason to try both, don’t you think? The best bet is to ask a local and get the insider tip on which one is their favorite.
About Premier Golf
Premier Golf LLC is a division of Travel Incorporated headquartered in Duluth, Georgia. The company has been licensed by the PGA of America since 1988 and manages several of the PGA’s travel requirements.
Since 1991, the company has been the only licensed source by the PGA for official Ryder Cup travel packages. Premier Golf is also one of America’s largest and most respected golf tour operators. With offices in Ireland and Scotland, Premier Golf provides golf travel services to the classic destinations all over the world. For more information: www.premiergolf.com, +800.354.61233.
