Well, it’s the most controversial Hazeltine National Golf Club, Minnesota, that hosted the US Open in 1970 as well as in 1991. We call it controversial because several players blamed the course for not being suitable to conduct America’s most prestigious golf tournament.
The History of Hazeltine National Golf Club
The club was built in 1962 by Robert Trent Jones Sr, a skillful architect who designed nearly 500 golf courses in his time. Even when built with the expertise of this scale, the Hazeltine Club was strongly criticized for its appeal. “80 acres of corn and a few cows to be a good farm”, commented Dave Hill after the 1970 US Open Golf Tournament. Hill, who lost the title to Tony Jacklin, was not really satisfied with the way the course turned out to be in such a crucial game. Bob Rosburg, and Jack Nicklaus were among the others who commented on how pathetic the golf course was.
16 years later, in 1978, Rees Jones was hired to rebuild the course in order to gain back the lost reputation. The newer version that Jones built received great appreciation, yet the course was still considered the most difficult to play because of Minnesota’s climate and playing conditions. In fact, during the 1991 US Open Golf Championship, there were roaring thunderstorms that interrupted the game. Around six people on the course were struck by lightning and one person died.
1. Where Was the 1970 US Open (Golf) Conducted?
- A. Georgia
- B. Colorado
- C. Illinois
- D. Minnesota
Championships Hosted
However, the Hazeltine Golf Club went on to conduct the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association of America) Championships in 2000 and 2003 and the Ryder Cup in 2016. Dave Hill, who had severely criticized the course earlier, recently commented that it’s grown into a lovely course along with being fun and demanding. Today, the 18-hole course is a brilliant place for both beginners and professional golfers from around the globe. Though the cost for membership is a big sum, it is worth it and every golfer’s dream to play here.