The United States Golf Association announced yesterday that it has awarded the 2013 Walker Cup to National Golf Links of America, the site of the first-ever Walker Cup Match held in 1922. National Golf Links of America is a links-style course located on scenic Long Island in Southampton, N.Y.
“The USGA is very excited to take the Walker Cup back to its birthplace,” said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA Championship Committee. “That first American team included Chick Evans, Bob Jones, Francis Ouimet, and Jess Sweetser so National Golf Links of America has an irreplaceable connection to golf history. The course dates back to the beginning of golf course architecture in this country, but has a design that has successfully stood the test of time.”
“National Golf Links is delighted that the Walker Cup will return to the place where it all began,” said S. Parker Gilbert, President of National Golf Links. “The Club and its members look forward to hosting a magnificent match.”
National Golf Links of America was opened in 1909 and designed by renowned golf course architect Charles Blair Macdonald who presided over the development of the course over its first 30 years. Macdonald’s tenure included the initial installment of the Walker Cup Match in 1922. Led by captain William C. Fownes Jr., the United States won the inaugural Match, 8-4. National Golf Links of America was the home club of George Herbert Walker, USGA President in 1920 when the plan for the event was conceived and the man for whom the trophy is named.
The Walker Cup Match is contested by male amateur players – one team from the United States and one team from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – every two years, alternately in the U.S. and Great Britain/Ireland. The teams consist of not more than 10 players and a captain.
The United States leads the all-time Walker Cup series with a record of 33-6-1, including victories in the last two matches: at Royal County Down Golf Club in 2007 and Chicago (Ill.) Golf Club in 2005. The Great Britain and Ireland team had won the previous four contests (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003).
The 2009 Walker Cup Match will return to the United States where it will be played from Sept. 12-13, 2009, at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. The 2011 Walker Cup Match will take place at Balgownie Links of Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland.
About The USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in this country and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world’s golfers and golf courses.
The Association’s most visible role is played out each season in conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System and administers an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $59 million over 11 years to successful programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
Contact:
Chris Wightman
Managing Director, Communications
908/470-1986 (office)
CWightman@USGA.org
