Wisconsin has become a golfing hot spot. Who would have thought that in a state where the weather is crummy 5 months out of the year, golfers could find enough world class courses to keep them busy for years. Wisconsin is 10th in the country with more than 500 course and 2nd in golfers per capita. Many of the world's best golfers are in tiny Haven Wisconsin in Sheboygan county to compete in the PGA Championship, the 4th “major” of the year in professional golf at Whistling Straits which begins today. Its the 3rd time the event has been played at that course and the latest high profile tournament to come to Wisconsin with more to follow including the Ryder Cup in 2020. The course is ranked 4th on Golf Digest's “100 Greatest Public Golf Courses in America and two of the PGA Tournaments that have been held there hold the top spots in ticket revenue. This transformation began with courses like University Ridge, Sentryworld in Stevens Point and Blackwolf Run near Kohler. Big name course designers like Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones Jr were brought in to carve championship course out of sometimes barren countryside. The Bog in Saukville and the Jack Nicklaus designed The Bull in Sheboygan Falls…Erin Hills opened in 2006 and will host the US Open in 2017. Herb Kohler is having Pete Dye build a fifth course in Sheboygan County that will be capable of hosting championship events. Mike Keiser is building a multicourse layout south of Wisconsin Rapids that is being spoken of with great anticipation. And it's big business. According to a report released by the golf industry there is 2.4 billion dollars in economic input from the golf industry in the state. Wisconsin's tourism folks are marketing the state's golf worldwide and its working. $400 million of the 2.4 billion I mentioned earlier is directly tied to tourism. So…if youre a golfer…just know that you are living in heady times here in the Badger State. You don't have to travel to experience championship caliber courses…they are in your own backyard.
The Green Bay Packers are favored by many pundits and bookmakers to make it to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers is picked by many to win the MVP award. They are a deep, experienced team with loads of talent at almost every position. Now they have to stay healthy and do it on the field. The fun starts tonight in New England…you can hear the game on WSAU…Packer Game Day begins at 5pm.
More Songs of the Day featuring artists that will be at the Bull Falls Bluesfest in Wausau this weekend.
