I played the course yesterday, and it was the most challenging course I've ever played. The greens run fast (but true), and you never quite get a flat lie. The holes require a lot of target shots--you can never just stripe it down the fairway on every hole--and there are lots of blind shots.

My caddy said that the 2017 US Open is all but confirmed, and the USGA is having the course close down a month early this year to 1) lengthen a couple holes, even though this course is deadly long from the tips; 2) add about 30-40 bunkers; and 3) burn down the fescue in the rough to replace it with the tall, whispy style of fescue found on British Open courses; and 4) eliminate a blind shot or two so the pros can be more aggressive. The course website says that these additions are made in preparation for the Amateur, but it's plenty tough for that tournament already--the changes are really in preparation for the US Open, but the course can't quite advertise that until it's been announced.

On the one hand, I was glad that they're doing what the USGA asked in order to get the US Open. But I was also a little disappointed that the new changes will require some earth moving. One of the best things about Erin Hills is how natural it is--they moved dirt on only 4 holes to create the course, and moved a significant amount of dirt on only one hole (the first). When they make the changes, there will undoubtedly be a little bit more earth moving involved, and the course won't be quite as natural. I guess being able to say you're going to host a US Open 12 years after opening is a pretty good consolation.

The only fault I found with the course was the Dell hole--the blind par 3 7th. You can't see the green at all (let a along the pin) and must just aim for a rock as the center of the green and trust your yardage. Even with a caddy, it's pretty difficult to give yourself a birdie opportunity with much more than luck.