Sheboygan native Cindy Mannchen went to visit Whistling Straits and the Ryder Cup pro shop before practice rounds started this week. She’s never been so impressed, she said.
“It was just so beautiful, and the lake was behind it,” she said. “It was a beautiful day, sun shining, and I thought, ‘What a great place to have this.’”
As Sheboygan County is broadcast around the world this weekend, she hopes viewers will be struck by her hometown, too. She’s noticed more traffic around town this week as Ryder Cup festivities get underway.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
“There’s just a lot of things that different places are offering between food and fun and fellowship,” she said.
The biennial golf tournament begins Friday, but practice rounds started Tuesday. On Wednesday, the European team donned cheeseheads on the first tee. But most fans said they were excited to see the American squad in action. It includes nine of the top 11 players in the world.
“Bryson (DeChambeau) was hitting the ball a mile,” said Doug Simpson, who followed the Americans on the back nine during Wednesday’s practice round.
Simpson made the seven-hour drive from Detroit with several friends. They went to the Green Bay Packers game on Monday before attending the practice days at Whistling Straits.
“It’s just kind of fun to see those guys up close and personal,” he said.
Simpson and his friends have been enjoying lots of local beer and cheese curds during their trip, they said. Like many other golf fans, they visited 3 Sheeps Brewing Company on Wednesday. Scott Abell, from La Crosse, was there too, after his first shift as a Ryder Cup volunteer. It was beautiful — though a little windy — over at Whistling Straits, he said.
“We’ve got great golf courses here, and it is nice to have the world be able to see that Wisconsin is a golfing destination,” he said.
The event is expected bring more than $100 million to the region and attract more than 40,000 fans per day.
“People are coming from all over the world, and they really love craft beers, so we really wanted to showcase everything that we can do here and what beer in the U.S. is about these days,” said 3 Sheeps founder and brewmaster Grant Pauly.
The brewery spent months getting ready for this week, he said. It created several special beers, with names like Three Putt and Scramble, and it’s partnering with Golf.com to host a multi-day Ryder Cup event. Golfers can try out a True Spec simulator, and on Friday, there’ll be a longest drive competition. In true Sheboygan fashion, Miesfeld Meat Market will be frying up brats this weekend.
Pauly’s not sure how many people will visit the taproom this week, he said, but there was a solid crowd on Wednesday afternoon. In terms of staffing, it’s all-hands-on-deck, he said.
“You might be served by one of our taproom staff, a brewer, someone from the packaging line, the sales team,” he said. “We’re all just filling in and doing what we can to make sure everyone has a great experience here.”
On Wednesday, Sheboygan Town & Country Golf Course was putting the finishing touches on a large tent that will serve as a hospitality venue throughout the weekend. It’s been a little tricky to find staff, especially with a lot of college students back at school, said co-owner Guy Miller. But everyone is pumped up for Sheboygan to be on the world stage, he said.
The course saw an influx of golfers during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was one of the few sports that people could play, he said. And this week, it’s almost impossible to stop anywhere in Sheboygan without seeing fans of the sport decked out in red, white and blue.
Monica Wind is manager at the Johnsonville Marketplace, which is about to celebrate its one-year anniversary. The Johnsonville outlet store has more than 15 varieties of bratwurst that are difficult to find at the average grocery store, she said.
“It’s great to see the fans coming in from all over the world, literally,” she said. “They’re coming in for brats and sausage and great apparel, too.”
A Johnsonville employee suggested selling merchandise that says: “You can’t spell sausage without USA.” The shirts and hats have been a big hit, Wind said.
Fans will be able to watch a livestream of the Ryder Cup at Destination Kohler’s golf party. This weekend’s tournament is equivalent to the Super Bowl of golf, said director of marketing Betsy Froelich.
The outdoor event will feature food trucks and culinary demonstrations, drinks and even educational experiences at the Shops at Woodlake. It’s free to attend.
“The energy and excitement around Destination Kohler and the village (of Kohler) and the entire Sheboygan area, it’s palpable,” she said.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
