Far Hills, N.J. (Aug. 29) – The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the site of the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship. The championship will be Aug. 19-25.
The Country Club’s hosting of the 2013 U.S. Amateur will coincide with the centennial of Francis Ouimet’s victory at the 1913 U.S. Open Championship. Ouimet, a 20-year-old amateur at the time, defeated Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, two of the greatest English golf professionals of the day, in a playoff. The victory marked the first time an amateur won the U.S. Open and is widely credited with spreading the popularity of golf in America. Ouimet also won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1914 and 1931.
The 2013 U.S. Amateur will be the 16th USGA championship hosted by The Country Club, which was one of five founding member clubs of the United States Golf Association in 1894.
“The Country Club is thrilled to have the opportunity to host one of golf’s most prestigious events for the sixth time,” said Sandy Tierney, chairman of the 2013 U.S. Amateur. “Amateur golf, in general, and the U.S. Amateur Championship, in particular, meant a great deal to Francis Ouimet and continue to be highly valued by The Country Club. The 2013 U.S. Amateur will offer a wonderful stage to celebrate amateur golf and the centennial anniversary of Mr. Ouimet’s unforgettable achievement.”
Previous USGA championships played at The Country Club include five U.S. Amateurs (1910, won by William C. Fownes Jr.; 1922, won by Jess Sweetser; 1934, won by W. Lawson Little Jr.; 1957, won by Hillman Robbins Jr.; and 1982, won by Jay Sigel), three U.S. Opens (1913, 1963, 1988), three U.S. Women’s Amateurs (1902, 1941, 1995), two Walker Cup Matches (1932, 1973), the 1968 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 1953 U.S. Girls’ Junior.
The Country Club evolved as a collaborative design. In 1893, the first six holes were designed by the club’s first golf committee, which comprised members Arthur Hunnewell, Laurence Curtis and Robert Bacon. Willie Campbell was hired as the professional in 1894 and helped add three new holes and redesign the original six. The club was expanded to 18 holes in 1899. In 1927, William Flynn designed a third nine, which is called the Primrose.
The course used for championships, including the U.S. Amateur, is a composite that incorporates three-and-a-half holes from the Primrose. Golf course architect Geoffrey Cornish was brought in to make changes before the 1963 U.S. Open. Rees Jones supervised revisions to the course before the 1988 U.S. Open.
Charles River Country Club in Newton Centre, Mass., will serve as the second course for the stroke-play rounds of the championship. Designed by Donald Ross in 1921, the club hosted the 2003 USGA Men’s State Team Championship.
In 2013, The Country Club will have hosted more USGA championships than any other club except for Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. With the 2013 U.S. Amateur, The Country Club and Merion Golf Club will have hosted the U.S. Amateur a record six times.
About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world’s golfers and golf courses.
The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, 10 national amateur and two state team championships. It also helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships.
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®, celebrates the history of the game, and administers an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 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:
Pete Kowalski (pkowalski@usga.org)
Web Address: www.usga.org
USGA Phone: 908-234-2300 ext.1322 (office) 908-216-8435 (cell)
