ERIN - As the first assistant golf professional at Erin Hills, Nick Krattiger knows what it's like to gear up for one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, this week's U.S. Open.
Krattiger, a 2005 Monroe High School graduate, has worked at Erin Hills for seven years. He was on the golf team at MHS and at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. It's not until after he pursued a professional golf career in Arizona, that he turned to a profession of golf management.
This is the first U.S. Open that will be played in Wisconsin. There were practice rounds played Monday. The first round tees off Thursday.
"The fact that the U.S. Open is here is crazy and surreal," Krattiger said. "It's crunch time. It's fun seeing everything come together."
Krattiger started working at Erin Hills in 2010 in the bag room. Krattiger has served as the assistant golf professional since he was promoted in 2011.
"I couldn't get off the playing train," Krattiger said of trying to become a professional golfer. "I couldn't stand the summers in Arizona, and I was looking for a golf management job in southern Wisconsin. I had heard that they were opening a new golf course (Erin Hills). I knew it was a long shot because a lot of golf courses do their hiring in the offseason in the winter."
Krattiger was going to work at Erin Hills one season and then move back to Arizona. He used some of his golfing contacts and the rest is history. He has been a fixture at Erin Hills since 2010.
As an assistant golf pro, Krattiger's duties include spearheading golf tournaments Erin Hills hosts, managing the golf shop, managing seasonal employees, and coordinating transportation and private aviation. Leading up to this week's U.S. Open, Krattiger was charged with being the liaison in conjunction with the U.S. Golf Association for the tournament. He has had to hire 20 additional staff, hire food and beverage vendors and staff and bring in 120 different golf maintenance veterans to work on the course. The USGA brings in 8,000 volunteers to run the U.S. Open.
"When the USGA comes in you just hand them the keys," Krattiger said. "We want the spectators to come out and enjoy the tournament as much as they can."
Krattiger said he spent some time in 2011 with Jordan Spieth at Erin Hills during the U.S. Amateur Championships.
The cost for one 18-hole round at Erin Hills is $280. The course has been closed since last October to prepare for the U.S. Open. Erin Hills will open for public play again July 1.
Krattiger said most of the golfers at the course come from out of state.
"A lot of our play is a one-time thing for the summer," he said. "It's a lot of buddy-buddy destination golf trips."
Erin Hills doesn't allow golf carts. The course can be set up for 8,150 yards, Krattiger said.
However, Krattiger said for the U.S. Open, Erin Hills likely will be set up for 7,650 yards and remain a par 72.
"It's a full par 72, and the USGA for one of the first times is not moving any holes around," Krattiger said. "It's not the longest course ever. There is a long way between the green and the next tee box.I think being able to walk the course and playing four rounds will be tough. Walking one round on the course is about six to seven miles. It's pretty rigorous."
Krattiger expects to work 15 to 16 hours every day this week.
"I hope to get out there in the afternoon or morning and see some golf," he said. "I definitely want to be here for the experience and soak up as much as I can. It's some long hours, but it will be a blast."
Krattiger and his wife, Jessica, just had a baby girl, Evelyn, on April 5.
"It would be nice to go home a few nights during the week," Krattiger said. "I may have to sleep on the couch in the caddie barn if it gets too late and I have to be back at 3 or 4 in the morning. She (Jessica) gets the golf industry. She knows how much effort is put into it."
Krattiger, a 2005 Monroe High School graduate, has worked at Erin Hills for seven years. He was on the golf team at MHS and at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. It's not until after he pursued a professional golf career in Arizona, that he turned to a profession of golf management.
This is the first U.S. Open that will be played in Wisconsin. There were practice rounds played Monday. The first round tees off Thursday.
"The fact that the U.S. Open is here is crazy and surreal," Krattiger said. "It's crunch time. It's fun seeing everything come together."
Krattiger started working at Erin Hills in 2010 in the bag room. Krattiger has served as the assistant golf professional since he was promoted in 2011.
"I couldn't get off the playing train," Krattiger said of trying to become a professional golfer. "I couldn't stand the summers in Arizona, and I was looking for a golf management job in southern Wisconsin. I had heard that they were opening a new golf course (Erin Hills). I knew it was a long shot because a lot of golf courses do their hiring in the offseason in the winter."
Krattiger was going to work at Erin Hills one season and then move back to Arizona. He used some of his golfing contacts and the rest is history. He has been a fixture at Erin Hills since 2010.
As an assistant golf pro, Krattiger's duties include spearheading golf tournaments Erin Hills hosts, managing the golf shop, managing seasonal employees, and coordinating transportation and private aviation. Leading up to this week's U.S. Open, Krattiger was charged with being the liaison in conjunction with the U.S. Golf Association for the tournament. He has had to hire 20 additional staff, hire food and beverage vendors and staff and bring in 120 different golf maintenance veterans to work on the course. The USGA brings in 8,000 volunteers to run the U.S. Open.
"When the USGA comes in you just hand them the keys," Krattiger said. "We want the spectators to come out and enjoy the tournament as much as they can."
Krattiger said he spent some time in 2011 with Jordan Spieth at Erin Hills during the U.S. Amateur Championships.
The cost for one 18-hole round at Erin Hills is $280. The course has been closed since last October to prepare for the U.S. Open. Erin Hills will open for public play again July 1.
Krattiger said most of the golfers at the course come from out of state.
"A lot of our play is a one-time thing for the summer," he said. "It's a lot of buddy-buddy destination golf trips."
Erin Hills doesn't allow golf carts. The course can be set up for 8,150 yards, Krattiger said.
However, Krattiger said for the U.S. Open, Erin Hills likely will be set up for 7,650 yards and remain a par 72.
"It's a full par 72, and the USGA for one of the first times is not moving any holes around," Krattiger said. "It's not the longest course ever. There is a long way between the green and the next tee box.I think being able to walk the course and playing four rounds will be tough. Walking one round on the course is about six to seven miles. It's pretty rigorous."
Krattiger expects to work 15 to 16 hours every day this week.
"I hope to get out there in the afternoon or morning and see some golf," he said. "I definitely want to be here for the experience and soak up as much as I can. It's some long hours, but it will be a blast."
Krattiger and his wife, Jessica, just had a baby girl, Evelyn, on April 5.
"It would be nice to go home a few nights during the week," Krattiger said. "I may have to sleep on the couch in the caddie barn if it gets too late and I have to be back at 3 or 4 in the morning. She (Jessica) gets the golf industry. She knows how much effort is put into it."
