The Great Lakes is getting ready to once again welcome one of the world’s greatest team sporting events. 

Minnesota will be home to the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska in the Minnesota River Valley from September 27th to October 2nd 2016.

Hazeltine was founded by former president of the United States Golf Association Totten Heffelfinger. 

His mission was to build and maintain a golf course suitable for the conduct of national championships and this remains Hazeltine’s mission to this day.

Whilst Minnesota offers hundreds of public golf courses characterized by beautiful, natural settings, excellent conditions and affordability, the Great Lakes region offers more than 3,000 top courses to choose from.

It is little wonder then that the Ryder Cup will return to the spectacular Great Lakes again in 2020, when the US and Europe will this time go head-to-head at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin which is home to two courses: the Straits and the Irish.

“Securing the bid is a great and exciting victory for Minnesota,” said Toby McCarrick, executive director of Great Lakes USA.

“We’re already working hard promoting all that Minnesota and the wider Great Lakes region offers for sports tourism.”

Sports-related tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry and on average 13 million international trips are made annually for the purpose of watching or taking part in a sporting event. 

Destinations can benefit from the economic impact sporting events generate, as visitors will still need accommodation, food and drink and are likely to experience other activities during their stay.