What's next for Whistling Straits? After Ryder Cup, course awaits its next major tournament.

Mike O’Reilly has been working in some capacity at Whistling Straits since the turn of the century, a decades long tenure that in some form or another has seen the course and surrounding properties preparing for some of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the country.

This summer, however, is the first time in his professional life at Whistling Straits and the Kohler Co. golf properties that it does not have a major tournament on its calendar – but it doesn’t mean he’s found himself looking for things to do.

“We’re really busy,” he said with a chuckle. “We kind of don’t have that championship ball in the air as well.

"Certainly, when you’re in the year of the event it’s a heavy lift for our team and myself and the maintenance team and everybody, so in coming off of what last year was it seems like we’re very, very busy and we have a lot of things going on but we don’t have that big one going on in addition to all the other stuff.

"It’s been a nice reprieve a little bit.

“It is unique. We’ve always had something on the books already. Not to say at this point we’re not evaluating options for something in the future as well, so I guess it wouldn’t quite feel like we’ve got nothing in the future, it’s just we’re looking at the options and what is the best next step for us. But yeah, it’s a little bit of a different feeling.”

The 2020 Ryder Cup — played last September after the global coronavirus pandemic postponed it a year — is now nine months in the rearview mirror. For staff that operates and maintains Whistling Straits, the 15-year run-up to the tournament, the challenges of the postponement, the different ways in which the course had to be prepped and manicured for the competition in late September, has left a lasting impression.

“Certainly myself, I’m still on a bit of a high from the Ryder Cup,” O’Reilly said. “It was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions I guess for a couple years, for all of us. Not just for the Ryder Cup, not just for the state of Wisconsin, not just for golf, but everybody, but we certainly felt that year. The initial postponement was a disappointment but the right thing to do, and even some uncertainty going into the 2021 golf season. All of that included with the anticipation of 15 years – there were some challenging moments.

“But all said and done, looking back on it, the week of was such a tremendous success. And the event as a whole, despite all of the challenges, went off very, very well.”

In terms of the public golfing this summer, O’Reilly said international bookings for Whistling Straits this year and next are up and there are very few tee times available for rest of the playing season. He did say the course has taken a longer time to recover from the tournament setup (i.e. the reconstruction of mounding) than a stroke-play championship, though play has not been affected by its comeback.

But in terms of being granted another men’s major championship, the wait to be looped back into the schedule will be extended.

The PGA of America has moved its championship, which Whistling Straits hosted in 2004, 2010 and 2015, from August to May – not exactly a month conducive to great weather in Wisconsin.

The United States Golf Association’s men’s U.S. Open, which has so far eluded Whistling Straits, does not have a free date until 2028 and has many other sites booked through 2051 with its new “anchor course” strategy of returning to a select few venues more often.

Then there’s the Ryder Cup, arguably the PGA of America’s crown jewel. The next available United States date is in 2037.

But, having nothing on the books also means nothing is on the books – which gives the course some flexibility as it looks for what’s next.

“We have had meetings, discussions, with the different governing bodies and I’d say at this moment the best I can say is that we’re evaluating the options that we have in front of us and continue to work with the appropriate governing bodies – whether it be USGA, PGA, PGA Tour,” O’Reilly said.

“We’re definitely interested in continuing and we are exploring options.”

While there are no majors or PGA Tour stops on the immediate horizon, the PGA of America said in a statement to the Journal Sentinel that “We have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with the Kohler team and have hosted some of the most memorable golfing championships and events in our history. We remain open to discussing future events with the Kohler team but understand if they are speaking with other organizations."

The PGA Tour added, "Herb Kohler has been a great friend of the PGA Tour, and certainly Whistling Straits has proved itself to be a world-class course and facility, having hosted incredibly successful PGA of America events over the years including the 2021 Ryder Cup. The PGA Tour is continuously looking for ways to grow our business and entertain our fans, so as a result we have many conversations with outside parties on ways to do so as it pertains to future schedules and new markets."

The USGA does not comment on potential future sites.

“I’m so proud to be part of the team that was able to accomplish what we have over the past 25 years, back to the (U.S.) Women’s Open in 1998 (at Blackwolf Run) and it’s been a great ride,” O’Reilly said. “I tend to see this as we’re a storied property, we have great golf course, but in the history of golf we’re still relatively young. But we’ve done a lot in a short period of time.

"I tend to see it like it’s the end of chapter one of Kohler golf – not the end of Kohler golf – but as a company and a golf course and resort, we’re always looking forward and saying OK, if this is the end of chapter one let’s make chapter two better. And what do we gotta do better and different to make it that way?

"I’d say during these months past the Ryder Cup and into the next few months and seeing what we need to do to keep going and to make the next chapter in Kohler golf even better than chapter one.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Whistling Straits awaits its next major tournament after Ryder Cup