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Erin Hills on schedule for U.S. Open

Golf championship one month away
Posted at 10:31 PM, May 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-12 23:31:32-04

Friday marks one month from the start of the U.S. Open golf championship and things are right on schedule at Erin Hills.

The event is expected to bring in $120 million to the local economy.

"We're all excited about that. We're gearing up for it," said Tanya Papenthien of the Mine Shaft Bar & Restaurant.

The focus at Erin Hills is construction and the course itself.

"It's kind of neat to be a part of the whole anticipation of this grand event," said Andy Jensen of Barbecue Company Grill & Catering.

Next month, more than 35,000 spectators will be at the course every day for a week. Plus, there will be another 5,000 volunteers, not including the workers and golfers. This adds up to a lot of people in a small town.

"Are you ever prepared for it? No, so always we're getting ready every day," said Jake Busalacchi of Tally Ho Pub & Grill.

Golf is already on every TV at Erin's Tally Ho Pub and Grill. The bar manager says they've seen a boost in customers over the last month with hundreds of contracted workers in town. He expects next month at the Irish pub to look more like St. Patrick's Day.

"You plan for the worst and hope for the best. I don't even know what to expect," Busalacchi said.

The owner of the Barbecue Company, probably the closest restaurant to the course, plans to expand his businesses outside during the week of the Open, which means bringing in extra equipment.

"We're gonna be cooking around the clock. I've got another refrigerator trailer, a food trailer that's going to be our auxiliary food outlet at the end of the building here that we'll set up," Jepsen said.

About 6 miles from the course in downtown Hartford, businesses are planning ahead. The Mine Shaft is expecting to fill their 550 seats.

"We brought on a little more staff for that," said Papenthien.

This community is getting ready for their chance to show off the places they're proud to be from.

"From our little businesses to our big businesses they're just all gearing up for it and excited," said Papenthien.

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