Chaska, Minn. schools start early in anticipation of Ryder Cup

CHASKA, Minn. (KMSP) - The Ryder Cup, golf’s biggest event in the world, is coming to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. at the end of September.

Given the craziness of the weeklong tournament, with attendance expected to eclipse a quarter of a million people, the Chaska and Chanhassen school district decided to start class a week early this year. In exchange, students get the week of the Ryder Cup off.

“There’s just going to be so much activity,” Ryder Cup director Jeff Hintz says. “A lot of people from out of town, traffic.”

There are four schools within a nine-iron of Hazeltine, so crowds and local road closures will make things tricky in the immediate area during the Ryder Cup. But because of the district’s cooperation, the tournament organizers will transform the Chaska High School Parking Lot into the main bus terminal for golf fans entering the event.
In anticipation of the week off, student groups are already signing up to volunteer and fundraise during the tournament. Hope Loosbrock’s dance team is selling concessions in one of the course-side tents.

“It’s definitely something cool because, in the following years, people will ask about the Ryder Cup,” Loosbrock said. “It’s in our hometown. So, it’s cool to be so close to it.”