Far Hills, N.J. (Sept. 22) – Saucon Valley Country Club, in Bethlehem, Pa., has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the site of the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The dates of the championship are Sept. 6-11.
Saucon Valley’s Old and Weyhill Courses will be used for the 2014 championship, with Weyhill hosting the match-play portion of the competition.
Herbert Strong designed the Old Course, which opened in 1921. William and David Gordon designed the Weyhill Course, which opened in 1968. Both courses have recently undergone restorations overseen by Fazio Golf, the Old in 2008 and the Weyhill in 2011. Saucon Valley’s historic facility boasts a third 18-hole layout, the Grace Course, as well as a six-hole practice course. The club is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
“Saucon Valley has been privileged to host six United States Golf Association championships,” said Saucon Valley Country Club President Andrew Warner. “We are delighted to have been selected to host the 34th U.S. Mid-Amateur. Saucon Valley’s relationship with the USGA dates back 60 years and has been mutually beneficial as our membership proudly offers its remarkable facility for the USGA to hold yet another exceptional national championship.”
The 2014 Mid-Amateur Championship will be the seventh USGA championship to be hosted by the club and its sixth different championship. The 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Eun-Hee Ji with a birdie on the 72nd hole, was the most recent USGA championship at the club.
The 1951 U.S. Amateur (won by Billy Maxwell) was the first USGA championship at Saucon Valley, which is located in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. The other national championships at the club were: 1983 U.S. Junior Amateur (won by Tim Straub); 1987 USGA Senior Amateur (won by John Richardson); and the 1992 and 2000 U.S. Senior Opens (won by Larry Laoretti and Hale Irwin, respectively).
The club has also hosted a number of Pennsylvania Golf Association and Golf Association of Philadelphia championships.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
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)
