Erin Hills golf course: 2017 U.S. Open venue is among America's most picturesque

ERIN, Wis. -- Erin Hills, site of the 2017 U.S. Open and the 2011 U.S. Amateur won by Kelly Kraft, is undoubtedly one of the America's most stunning golf courses.

And when the wind is up, it's also one of the country's most difficult, especially from the back tees at 7,812 yards (rated 77.9/145). Although the course is only seven years old, it's already undergone some tweaking. A few of the holes have been changed, including the removal of the old par-3 seventh, where players used to ring a bell when they were clear of the green. The bell remains as a symbol of the course.

Although Erin Hills, which was designed by Mike Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten, certainly looks like a links course, it's more of a hybrid, playing links-like off the tee, but more traditional into the difficult elevated greens, which are usually well guarded by bunkers and tall fescue. The course also features two of the toughest finishing holes on each nine. The par-3 ninth has no bailout. Players usually make par or a number higher than bogey, which is probably the rarest score on the hole. The 660-yard 18th, simply put, requires three well-struck shots to hit the green.