Far Hills, N.J. (June 17) – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., will host the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, June 27 – July 2, 2011. This will be the first time that the Amateur Public Links Championships are conducted jointly.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is built on a stretch of sand dunes perched along Oregon’s Pacific coastline. The first course Bandon Dunes opened in 1999 and was designed by David McLay Kidd. A second course Pacific Dunes followed in 2001 and was designed by Tom Doak. The design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw fashioned a third layout, Bandon Trails, in 2005. A fourth course, called Old McDonald and created by resort owner Mike Keiser, is scheduled to open in 2010.
“Mike Keiser’s vision for Bandon Dunes was to build golf courses that would compare to some of the top private clubs in America, yet remain open to the public,” said Josh Lesnik, president of Kemper Sports, which manages the property on Keiser’s behalf. “Mike also has a history of supporting and promoting amateur golf.”
Bandon Dunes has previously hosted the 2006 Curtis Cup Match (won by the USA 11½ to 6½); and the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship (won by Trip Kuehne). The state of Oregon has hosted 31 previous USGA championships, most recently the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Eugene Country Club (won by Amanda Blumenherst).
The 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links will be played at Red Tail G.C., in Devens, Mass., June 22-27, and the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links will be played at Jimmie Austin OU G.C. in Norman, Okla., July 13-18.
The 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links will be played at Warren G.C. in Notre Dame, Ind., June 21-26, and the 2010 U.S. Amateur Public Links will be played at Bryan Park G & C.C. in Greensboro, N.C., July 12-17.
The U.S. Amateur Public Links was first contested in 1922 as a way to give public course players an opportunity to compete for a national championship. It is open to amateur golfers who are bona fide public course players and hold a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4.
First staged in 1977, the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is open to women golfers who are bona fide public course players and have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 18.4.
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Contact:
Pete Kowalski (pkowalski@usga.org)
Web Address: www.usga.org
USGA Phone: 908-234-2300 ext.1322 (office) 908-216-8435 (cell)
