So, everyone was buzzing about the Ryder Cup coming to Wisconsin, over at Whistling Straits in Kohler. Heard about it way back and thought, you know, this is one of those things you just gotta do if you get the chance. It’s not every day something this big lands practically in your backyard, relatively speaking.
Getting tickets, well, that was a whole adventure in itself. Seemed like half the country wanted to go. I remember putting my name in the lottery, didn’t really expect much. Felt like ages waiting. Then, surprise surprise, an email popped up saying I got selected for one of the practice days. Wasn’t the main competition weekend, but honestly, I was just thrilled to get inside the ropes at all. Better than nothing, right?
Heading Over There
The day finally came. Got up early, grabbed some coffee, and hit the road towards Kohler. Traffic wasn’t too bad heading in early, thankfully. You could feel the excitement building the closer you got. Saw more and more cars with flags, people decked out in golf gear. Felt like a pilgrimage, almost.
Parking was… well, it was event parking. Miles of fields, buses shuttling everyone in. But it was organized, gotta give them that. Smooth process getting from the car to the actual course entrance.
First Look and Walking Around
Walking through the gates and seeing Whistling Straits for the first time – man. Pictures just don’t capture it. It’s huge. Way bigger than it looks on TV. And right there on Lake Michigan. The wind was definitely noticeable, you could see why they say the course has teeth.
The place was already packed, even for a practice day. Just seas of people. Lots of red, white, and blue, but a good showing for the European fans too. The atmosphere was electric right from the start. You could just feel the importance of the event.
I spent most of the day just walking. Tried to see as much of the course as possible. It’s hilly, more than I expected. My feet were definitely feeling it by lunchtime. Followed a few groups here and there. Seeing those pros hit the ball in person is something else. The sound, the power… totally different than watching highlights.
- Saw guys like Rory, DJ, Rahm practicing.
- Watched them working on putts, hitting bunker shots.
- Just soaked in the vibe around the different holes.
The Crowd Noise! Even on a practice day, the chants started up. The “U-S-A!” ones were loud. It wasn’t overly rowdy where I was, mostly just people having a good time, excited to see the players.
A Cool Moment and Some Food
One thing that sticks out was watching Bryson DeChambeau on the range for a bit. Just bombing drives. The sound off his driver was like a cannon going off. The crowd around the range was buzzing. It’s moments like that, seeing that raw power up close, that make going worthwhile.
Grabbed some food mid-day. Standard event prices, of course. Nothing fancy, just needed fuel to keep walking. Found a spot near one of the greens and just watched groups come through while I ate. It was cool seeing the players interact a bit, joking around during the practice round. More relaxed than the actual competition days, I imagine.
Wrapping Up the Day
By late afternoon, my legs were pretty much done. Covered a lot of ground. Made my way towards the exit, stopping by the merchandise tent. Crazy busy in there, but managed to snag a hat as a souvenir. Gotta have proof you were there, right?
The bus ride back to the car park was quiet, lots of tired but happy people. The drive home felt longer, probably just because I was worn out. But reflecting on it? Absolutely worth it. Seeing that course, feeling that unique Ryder Cup energy in person… it’s just different. TV doesn’t capture the scale, the wind, the sheer number of people, or the feeling of being part of something that big. Glad I made the effort to go.
