Good Question: Why Does Hazeltine Get All The Big Tournaments?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- In a couple of months, Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska will be the site of the Ryder Cup. It's not the first time the course has held a major golf event.

U.S. Open and PGA Championship have also been played there as well. So why does Hazeltine get all the big tournaments? Good Question.

Like all golf courses in Minnesota, Hazeltine's history is built on challenging its golfers.

"Hole 16 is tough. If you hit it straight, you're fine," said one member.

Hole No. 16 will become hole No. 7 when the Ryder Cup arrives in late September. Hazeltine is going from national to international as the top European players will take on the top U.S. players.

"Despite all those major championships, this is certainly the crown jewel," said Patrick Hunt.

Hunt is a Hazeltine member and the general chair of this year's Ryder Cup. It will be the course's 10th major tournament. So why Hazeltine?

"It has to do with our relationships with the PGA, USGA, NCAA and the entities that host these championships," said Hunt.

Hunt said before the course and club were built, Minikahda and Interlachen both hosted major tournaments in the Twin Cities. But back in the day, Minikahda was threatened by freeway development.

So Tot Heffelfinger, a former USGA president, made plans to build a championship course in Minnesota. Robert Trent Jones designed it and Hazeltine opened in 1962.

"It's long, it's a very subtle course. If you don't hit a good, safe shot you will have some trouble to deal with," said Hunt.

Challenging the pros is one reason the course attracts big events.

"Tiger Woods to this day says he hit the best golf shot of his life on our golf course back in 2002 in the PGA Championship," said Hunt.

But the course is also on par with logistics. Club leaders bought acres of farmland so parking is not an issue and there's plenty of room for food courts, merchandise sales and even a 40,000 square foot sports bar.

A $35,000 initiation fee for members helps them keep the course in championship shape. Hazeltine currently has about 300 members at its club. In addition to an initiation fee, members also pay monthly dues.