5 things to know about the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in 2020

The U.S. vs. Europe golf competition Ryder Cup is coming to Wisconsin in 2020. 

The 2020 Ryder Cup will take place Sept. 25 to 27 at Whistling Straits in Haven. Thousands of people will come out to watch the golf and take part in the party that surrounds the course. 

"It's such an epic event," said 2020 Ryder Cup General Chair David Kohler. 

The international event is another way Wisconsin is going to get media attention next year — Milwaukee will host the Democratic National Convention just two months earlier. 

"We are readying for the world to visit," said Kohler who is also president and CEO of Kohler Co., which owns Whistling Straits. 

What is the Ryder Cup? 

The Ryder Cup pits U.S. golfers against European ones in a team-style tournament that takes place every other year. The competition lasts three days, and golfers play in foursomes and in singles. It's a little quirky, which is why the Ryder Cup will be watched by around 500 million households around the world and around 1,000 credentialed media will cover the tournament. 

It is the most lucrative tournament in golf. The economic impact of the 2020 Ryder Cup on the region is estimated at $135 million, Kohler said.

"It's once in a lifetime for the state of Wisconsin," Kohler said.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS:The 2020 Ryder Cup at Wisconsin's Whistling Straits is still a year away, but it's already setting records

Who comes to this thing? 

Around 50,000 people a day will come to Whistling Straits during the Ryder Cup, organizers estimate. It's largely an international audience. At the last Ryder Cup, in France, around 70% of spectators were from outside the country. People from all 50 states and 120 countries have registered to the ticket lottery (more on that in a second). For all those international travelers, the airport in Sheboygan is opening a customs office before the Ryder Cup. 

That means hotels will be booked. From Sheboygan to Milwaukee to Green Bay, the Ryder Cup is ready to book around 30,000 room nights. You can also rent out your house through the Ryder Cup on rentlikeachampion.com, a short-term lodging site focused on sports. Tiger Woods won't show up at your house though — the players will stay at the American Club.

How can I get tickets or volunteer?  

Good luck getting on the course. The event has international popularity. It's so popular that you can't just go online and buy tickets. You must register to be randomly selected to buy tickets. The 2020 Ryder Cup has already set a record for registrations at a domestic competition. Registration for the random selection process is open through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 13 on RyderCup.com. 

You could get there as a volunteer, too. But the window to enter a random drawing has closed. It was also pretty competitive. More than 30,000 people volunteered to fill just 4,000 spots. 

What happens besides golf? 

This is also about business (and fun). 

Out on the course will be six chalet villages for corporate hospitality. Holes 1, 9, 17 and 18 will all have villages of corporate tents. Four of the chalet villages are already sold out. There will be food. And beverages. And all the merchandise you could want will be for sale. 

While the tournament will start on Sept. 25, the course opens up for the Ryder Cup earlier. Sept. 22 and 23 are practice. Sept. 24 is the celebrity golf game. Celebrities to be in attendance are TBD. That day is also the opening ceremony (party). 

What's happening before the competition? 

Whistling Straits is no stranger to hosting large events like this Ryder Cup. So, in a way, it has been getting ready for years. It last hosted a PGA Championship in 2015. 

Kohler has been sprucing up all its attractions. Its Inn on Woodlake and Kohler Waters Spa were expanded. A new cabin lodging experience opened this year. 

Starting in late May or early June next year, the heavy lifting for the Ryder Cup will begin. Around 1 million square feet of temporary structures will be constructed at Whistling Straits. Around 1,300 temporary workers will be hired to help pull it all off. The course will close about two weeks before the Ryder Cup so the final preparations can happen. The widening of walkways has already started to make room for the large crowds. 

Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.com or on Instagram @HauerSarah and Twitter @SarahHauer. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Be MKE at jsonline.com/bemke.