USGA returns to West Orange, N.J., club for first time since 1985
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The USGA announced today that Montclair Golf Club, in West Orange, N.J., will be the host site for the 2026 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The club has previously hosted two USGA championships, the 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 1985 U.S. Amateur.
“We are excited to return to Montclair Golf Club, which not only has a challenging golf course, but a supportive and engaged membership,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “We are appreciative of the invitation and look forward to welcoming the best female mid-amateurs from around the world.”
Montclair Golf Club, founded in 1893, is one of the nation’s oldest golf courses, with its original 18-hole course by Tom Bendelow opening in 1899. In 1920, renowned architect Donald Ross designed the present-day first, second and third nines, and in 1928, Charles Banks designed the fourth.
“Montclair Golf Club is honored to be hosting the 2026 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur,” said Robert Scalzo, club trustee. “Montclair Golf Club has a storied history, and we are proud to once again partner with the USGA for what is sure to be an amazing week. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and all the members, we are excited to welcome this championship to our club.”
Robert Trent Jones Sr. and son Rees Jones, both longtime club members, redesigned and improved the original layouts. Legendary amateur and nine-time USGA champion Bob Jones once spoke of Montclair as the “longest short course” he had ever played.
Carol Semple Thompson won the first of her seven USGA titles at Montclair, the 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur, defeating fellow seven-time USGA champion Anne Sander in the final. Sam Randolph, a Haskins Award winner and low amateur at the Masters Tournament in 1985 and 1986, won the 1985 U.S. Amateur at Montclair.
Montclair was also one of the founding member clubs of the Metropolitan Golf Association. Club member Isaac “Ike” Grainger served as USGA president in 1954-55, and the USGA’s award that recognizes 25 years of volunteer service is named after Grainger. Fellow Montclair member Charles Littlefield served as USGA president in 1946-47.
The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is open to female amateur golfers who have reached their 25th birthday by the first day of the championship and have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 9.4. A starting field of 132 players will compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is cut to the top 64 players for match play. Five 18-hole rounds of match play will determine the finalists, who will square off in an 18-hole championship match.
This year’s championship will be held at Stonewall (North Course) in Elverson, Pa. from Sept. 9-14. The 2024 championship will be held at Brae Burn Country Club, in West Newton, Mass., from Sept. 7-12. The dates of the 2026 championship have not been determined.
About the USGA
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.
Media Contact:
Adrian Godoy
USGA Communications
678-894-6378
agodoy@usga.org
