Erin Hills Honored with 2026 NGCOA Jemsek Public Course of the Year Award

Below are excerpts from an article that originally appeared on The Golf Wire.

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) has honored Erin Hills Golf Course as the 2026 NGCOA Jemsek Public Course of the Year. Erin Hills will receive this award on Monday, January 19, at the NGCOA Golf Business Conference 2026 in Orlando.

Although the NGCOA has been recognizing golf courses for the last 30 years, 2026 is the first year public golf courses have been given specific recognition. The NGCOA Jemsek Public Course of the Year award, named after the late Joe Jemsek (widely regarded as the “Patriarch of Public Golf”), recognizes a privately owned, daily fee golf facility that exemplifies excellence in operations, community impact, and contributions to the game of golf. 

“Erin Hills exemplifies everything the Jemsek Public Course of the Year award stands for,” said Rachel Carter, NGCOA Senior Director of Membership. “Their commitment to operational excellence, a thriving and engaged employee culture, and a genuine dedication to growing the game make them a model for our entire industry. Congratulations to co-managers Dr. Kristine Schoonover and Zach Reineking, and the entire operations team. We are proud to recognize their leadership and impact with this year’s award.” 

Erin Hills Golf Course opened in 2006 and since its inception, has been ranked 10th among America’s Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest, and is one of only 13 courses that has or will host the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur. The course has also been certified as an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf. The course hosts annual Drive, Chip, Putt sectional qualifiers as well as the Ally Girls “Golf with Us” Clinic with Lilia Vu which aims to advance the professional careers of 50 participating female athletes.

“On behalf of Erin Hills, owner Andy Ziegler, and our entire team, it is an honor to accept the Jemsek Public Course of the Year Award,” said Kris Schoonover at Erin Hills Golf Course. “We are grateful for the chance to serve the game by crafting a public-access experience that feels welcoming, memorable, and to preserve the unique spirit of Erin Hills. We also greatly appreciate the National Golf Course Owners Association for its steadfast advocacy on behalf of owners and operators in this ever-changing business of golf.

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