Monthly Archives: February 2024

USGA Museum and Library Receives Donation of Dr. Charlie Sifford Memorabilia

America’s preeminent golf museum continues its mission to preserve and celebrate the history of golf through latest acquisition of historical collection

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The USGA announced today that it has received a donation of memorabilia related to Dr. Charlie Sifford, a pioneer of the game who was the first Black player to compete on the PGA Tour and the first Black member inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. As part of the USGA’s commitment to preserve and celebrate this critical part of golf history, Dr. Sifford’s artifacts will be on display at the USGA Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, N.J., and at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, N.C.

Dr. Sifford, who died in 2015 at the age of 92, is often compared to baseball’s Jackie Robinson thanks to his relentless pursuit of civil rights on the golf course and around the country. Dr. Sifford’s desire to play the game and to continue to pave the way for future Black golfers, despite enduring tireless vitriol, hatred and discrimination during the mid-to-late 20th century, continues to inspire future generations. The preservation of his story is imperative to the USGA’s mission of chronicling the history of golf and sharing it with generations to come.

The collection of more than 200 artifacts related to Dr. Sifford’s professional career and personal life includes correspondence, photographs, clothing, medals, awards, golf clubs and personal effects. The collection will be housed at the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, N.J. Select items from the acquisition will be on display in Charlie Sifford’s locker at the new World Golf Hall of Fame, which will open on the USGA’s campus in Pinehurst, N.C., later this spring.

Since its founding, the USGA Golf Museum and Library has been a trusted repository for players, families and donors who want to ensure their legacies are preserved for generations to come. With this acquisition, the USGA has solidified the collection as the world’s greatest related to Sifford’s career in golf. As a centralized repository for artifacts related to Dr. Sifford’s legacy, the USGA Golf Museum and Library can now share memorabilia with other institutions committed to sharing his story.

“We are honored that Charles Sifford Jr. and his family have entrusted Dr. Charles Sifford’s legacy to the USGA,” said Hilary Cronheim, senior director of the USGA Golf Museum and Library. “Fundamental to our work is to preserve the story of each legend of the game in a multi-dimensional way, speaking to the breadth and depth of an individual’s life, character and impact. Sifford fought tirelessly to desegregate professional golf and paved the way for the future of equity in the sport. This acquisition and partnership with the Sifford family ensures that future generations will appreciate him as a pillar for the game’s history and the history of African American advancement in this country.”

In addition to his impact outside the ropes, Dr. Sifford saw success on the golf course for many years. He owns two PGA Tour victories: the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational, which was won by one stroke over Steve Oppermann, and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, which was won in a playoff. From 1952-1975, he won 12 non-PGA Tour events, including the 1957 Long Beach Open and 1963 Puerto Rico Open. He also competed in 12 U.S. Opens from 1959 to 1978, missing the cut just three times and earning a career best T21 finish in 1972 at Pebble Beach. Dr. Sifford went on to compete in seven U.S. U.S. Senior Opens as well. His best performance came in his event debut in 1980, when he finished fourth at the inaugural U.S. Senior Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. President Barack Obama awarded Sifford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.

“The Sifford family is extremely honored to entrust to the USGA Golf Museum memorabilia reflecting the life and legacy of Dr. Charles L. Sifford,” said his son, Charles Sifford Jr. “This collection of artifacts represents the grit and perseverance of an African American man’s struggles and successes during an era of racial tension and segregation. My father challenged racial barriers, changing American history and paving the way for future golfers such as Tiger Woods. We are equally proud that the USGA Golf Museum will use this collection to enable future generations to reflect on the key tenets of social equity and commemorate the significance of my father’s contributions to all mankind.”

Specific highlights from this acquisition include:

  • PGA card from March 1960 when Sifford became the first African American to be granted membership on the PGA Tour
  • First set of contract clubs used during the 1960 season
  • Miniature Presidential Medal of Freedom pin and program from the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony
  • Contestant badges from the 1969 United Golfers Association Tournament and the 1960 Open Championship
  • Qualifying medals from the 1959 and 1962 U.S. Opens
  • Contestant badges from the 1965, 1971, 1975 and 1978 U.S. Opens
  • Shadowbox with five PGA Tour artifacts, including the medal from the 1967 Greater Hartford Open
  • Scorecards from the 1967 Greater Hartford Open
  • Seagram Vanguard Trophy given annually to the champion of the United Golfers Association National Open Championship, given to Sifford permanently following his win in 1955
  • 1980 U.S. Senior Open qualifying medal and bag tag

The USGA Golf Museum and Library is the nation’s oldest sports museum and the world’s leading institution for the collection, preservation, interpretation and dissemination of golf history. It is the most trusted repository for preserving the legacies of the game’s greatest champions. The USGA Golf Museum and Library is also committed to elevating diverse perspectives. The Museum is particularly dedicated to preserving and celebrating the African American experience in golf by collecting artifacts and library materials, uncovering stories, producing exhibits and symposia, and creating the African American Golf History Archive to thoughtfully chronicle this history.

In Celebration of Black History Month, PGA of America Golf Professional Ira Molayo Leads by Example

FRISCO, Texas – Ira Molayo was introduced to golf at seven by his mother at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, Texas. Today, 40 years later, he is a PGA of America Golf Professional, Director of Golf at Cedar Crest and the newly elected Vice President of the Northern Texas PGA Section (NTPGA).

He’s the first Black PGA of America Golf Professional to serve as an Officer (Secretary, Vice President, President) for the NTPGA. He’s in line to become President in 2026.

His focus on and off the course is based upon inclusion.

Molayo started getting more involved in the NTPGA in 2013. He joined the teaching & coaching committee, which led to his involvement in the junior golf, education, awards and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) committees.

“When I got on committees and started working with other PGA of America Members, it made the sport bigger in my head,” Molayo said. “It wasn’t just me and my facility, it was other talented people trying to do the same thing, all because we love golf.”

When he ran for NTPGA Secretary in 2016, he lost.

“I was shocked I lost, because I don’t like losing,” he explained. “When I lost, it was really a good thing because it made me realize that I do love it. I wasn’t doing it because I wanted notoriety, I really enjoyed serving and felt like I had something to contribute.”

After serving three terms as an At-Large Director and working on various committees, Molayo ran again in 2022 and won. After two years as Secretary, he was elected Vice President on February 5, 2024, during the NTPGA Annual Meeting.

“You don’t get elected Secretary, honestly, if your peers don’t see you as President. Those are telling moments in my life. The membership electing me means they see me as an equal, they see me, period. In golf, that hasn’t always been the case. To elect me and give me the opportunity to be a steward in this position, makes me feel included.”

On the course, he’s helping youth in South Dallas learn to play golf, work in golf and earn scholarships to receive higher education.

Molayo’s I AM a Golfer Foundation, was established out of necessity in 2018 to be a catalyst for community renewal and transformation in South Dallas.

In 2015, Cedar Crest had the largest First Tee program in Dallas, working with junior golfers six days a week. Then the First Tee program was moved to nearby Trinity Forest Golf Club, leaving juniors wanting to stay at Cedar Crest in need of help.

“I had kids who could afford to pay for golf instruction and I had a group of kids who couldn’t. I would always use the First Tee program to introduce golf to them. When that didn’t exist, I did not have a way to engage those youth.”

Molayo took action to create his Foundation to provide lessons, clubs and access for those who couldn’t afford golf. It’s grown exponentially ever since.

The Foundation additionally helps preserve Cedar Crest and promotes the game through events like the Dallas Amateur Championship and the Southwest Airlines Showcase at Cedar Crest—a Black collegiate tournament televised on Golf Channel.

The Foundation’s youth programs have three pillars: I AM a Golfer, I AM an Intern and I AM a Scholar.

Since the Foundation’s inception, over 900 juniors have participated, 115 paid internships have been provided, $300,000 college scholarships have been awarded and over $1 million has been invested in Cedar Crest.

The Path to Pinehurst Resort & Country Club Begins

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that online entry applications that began on Wednesday, Feb. 21st, at 9 a.m. EST, for the 124th U.S. Open Championship, to be played from June 13-16 on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Thousands of golfers are expected to qualify for the championship through a two-stage process, with a final field of 156 players advancing to Pinehurst’s Course No. 2, where one will be crowned U.S. Open champion. Non-exempt players will compete in one of 109 local qualifiers hosted throughout the United States (with one in Canada) between April 22 and May 20.

Nearly 1,000 players will then compete in 36-hole final qualifying, scheduled at 13 sites worldwide. Final qualifying is set to be contested in England and Japan (May 20) and Canada (June 3) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 20 and nine on June 3.

There are 23 categories for exemption into the U.S. Open, including four exemptions that were introduced last year: 2024 Latin America Amateur champion (must be an amateur), 2024 NCAA Division I men’s individual champion (must be an amateur), 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season points leader (using points earned in KFT Regular Season and points earned in KFT Tour Finals) and the top 5 players in the 2024 FedExCup standings as of May 20, 2024, who are not otherwise exempt. With final qualifying in England back on the schedule, the DP World Tour U.S. Open qualifying series has been discontinued.

Entry applications, along with a list of qualifying sites, can be accessed at champ-admin.usga.org, and entries will be accepted through Wednesday, April 10, at 5 p.m. EDT. To be eligible for 2024 U.S. Open qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4, or be a professional.

Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) in the United States, as well as the DP World Tour, Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada, are working with the USGA to provide thousands of entrants from all backgrounds with the opportunity to compete for a spot in this major championship. This collaboration with AGAs allows for an open qualifying process in all five USGA Open Championships. Since 2004, the U.S. Open has averaged 74.2 players in the final field who have advanced through one or both stages of qualifying.

Entry applications for three other USGA Open championships are also now available. The 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by Ally will be played May 30-June 2 at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club. The 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship will be contested June 27-30 at Newport (R.I.) Country Club, and the 6th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship will be held Aug. 1-4, at Fox Chapel Golf Club, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Entries for the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open, which will be held from July 8-10 at Sand Creek Station, in Newton, Kan., will be available at 9 a.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 22.

The U.S. Open was previously hosted by Pinehurst’s Course No. 2 in 1999 (won by Payne Stewart), 2005 (won by Michael Campbell) and 2014 (won by Martin Kaymer). As an anchor site, Pinehurst will also host the U.S. Open in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.

PGA of America Golf Professionals Remember Dr. Charlie Sifford

FRISCO, Texas – Dr. Charlie Sifford will forever be known as the man who broke the color barrier in professional golf. In 1961, he became the first African American to earn membership on the PGA Tour (then run by the PGA of America). That was when the PGA of America also struck down its Caucasian-only clause.

Sifford also became the first Black golfer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 2004, and his legacy influenced countless touring professionals, most notably Tiger Woods, who named his son Charlie in his honor. Sifford also influenced the PGA of America Golf Professional—on the lesson tee, in the pro shop and beyond.

The North Carolina native also received an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews as a Doctor of Laws in 2006 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 by former president Barack Obama.

At the age of 92, Sifford passed away in 2015. Yet his impact on the game continues to be felt.

As the PGA of America celebrates and honors Black History Month, PGA of America Golf Professionals Renee Powell, Leonard Jones and Kennie Sims reflected on how Sifford’s career motivated their own.

Each has taken notes out of Sifford’s metaphorical yardage book for guidance on how to make golf more accessible.

PGA of America Golf Professional Renee Powell

While Sifford was the first African American member of the PGA Tour, Renee Powell was the first Black woman to become a Member of the PGA of America and the second Black professional to play on the LPGA Tour.

“Knowing the history of Charlie and what he went through in the ‘60s to play on the Tour, I think anyone when they are breaking barriers can always be a role model,” Powell said. “I went to the LPGA Tour in 1967, Charlie was playing on the PGA Tour in 1960, so he was an inspiration. I would talk to Charlie and some of the other African American golf pros and compare notes.”

Powell received the inaugural Charlie Sifford Award in 2022 from the World Golf Hall of Fame, which honors his groundbreaking achievements through perseverance, confidence, respect and adaptability.

PGA of America Golf Professional Leonard Jones

For PGA of America Lifetime Member Leondard Jones of Dallas, Texas, Sifford’s most important lesson was in perseverance.

“Charlie was the type of guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer,” said Jones, the longtime Head Professional at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas. “What he had to go through, which I experienced some myself, I don’t think anybody but him could have done it. He was designated to be the one.”

Jones met Sifford while playing professionally for 12 years, mainly on the United Golf Association (UGA) Tour. In 1986, he became a PGA of America Golf Professional, working as Head Professional of L.B. Houston (now Luna Vista) and Cedar Crest Golf Courses in Dallas.

The Leonard Jones Minority Junior Golf Foundation, which he formed in 1997,  provided access to underprivileged youth to learn, play and work at the two golf courses. He was also instrumental in bringing the First Tee initiative to Dallas at the two facilities he operated.

PGA of America Golf Professional Kennie Sims

Currently the Senior Director of Impact for the PGA of America Reach Foundation, Kennie Sims, PGA, has long been inspired by Sifford’s career.

Sims, a PGA of America Golf Professional since 1998, works to open more doors to the game and the industry through programs such as PGA WORKS. One of the four pillars of the PGA of America REACH foundation, PGA WORKS provides Fellowships, Scholarships and Championships to inspire and engage talent from diverse backgrounds.

“I am honored to be continuing the legacy of Dr. Sifford by working for the PGA of America, the institution he integrated in 1961. I am committed to continuing the work he started by providing equal opportunities for all people, especially those who look like me,” Sims said. “I find great satisfaction in knowing that I am contributing to these programs that align with the challenges Dr. Sifford faced and the courage and bravery he showed. He would be proud of what we are doing.”

PGA of America REACH Foundation Awards $250,000 Places to Play Grant to Gillespie Golf Course Re-Imagination Project

GREENSBORO, North Carolina and FRISCO, Texas – The PGA of America REACH Foundation has awarded the 2025 Places to Play Spectator Championship Legacy Grant to Gillespie Golf Course in its effort to revitalize Greensboro’s oldest municipal golf course with a prominent history during the civil rights movement. The $250,000 Legacy Grant is awarded by the PGA of America in conjunction with the 2025 PGA Championship, to be played at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte in May 2025, and offers a lasting community impact to promote playing opportunities for all.

In response to the grant award, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, “The City of Greensboro is honored to receive the PGA of America REACH Foundation Places to Play Grant. Gillespie Golf Course’s significance goes far beyond golf and includes impact on the Civil Rights Movement, ongoing local community engagement and opportunities for life skills development for those of all backgrounds and abilities. We are committed to this special facility and grateful for the PGA of America’s generous support.”

Located approximately 90 miles from Quail Hollow Club, and near the PGA of America’s Carolinas Section headquarters at Bryan Park in Greensboro, Gillespie Golf Course opened in 1941 with a beautiful 18-hole layout designed by famed golf architect Perry Maxwell.  Maxwell is one of the most acclaimed golf architects of the 20th century whose work includes Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Old Town Club in Winston-Salem and a major renovation of Augusta National in 1937, home of the Masters Tournament.

“It’s a true honor to work alongside the City of Greensboro and the Carolinas PGA Section to elevate the historic Gillespie Golf Course through our Places to Play Program,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “Gillespie Golf Course is rich with history, by revitalizing key areas of the facility we will ensure that all members of the community can enjoy this game we love for generations to come. This will not only enable golf to be learned and enjoyed, but also help to show the importance and impact of breaking barriers to accessibility.”

The Gillespie Golf Course has an incredible history during the racial strife of the 1950s. On December 7th, 1955, one week after Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white man, the “Greensboro Six,” a group of heroic Black men, were arrested for daring to play the white-only golf course. The gentlemen, remembered on a historic marker near the clubhouse, were tired of the shaggy conditioning and putrid smell from a sewage plant near Nocho Park, the nearby Blacks-only course. Dr. George Simkins Jr., a prominent second-generation dentist, champion tennis player and golfer, led the  charge to tee it up at Gillespie. After their arrest, the case moved through the courts and was argued before the United States Supreme Court. The court ruled 5-4 against the Greensboro Six. Due to a related case, Gillespie was to be integrated, but before that happened the clubhouse was set on fire. The City decided to abandon its involvement and sold the property where nine of the 18 holes were, resulting in the back nine being bulldozed to create a parking lot for City vehicles and equipment. In 1962, the City voted to reopen the nine remaining holes of Gillespie Golf Course to all Greensboro residents.

The City of Greensboro is now investing $2 million in the Gillespie Golf Course renovation project and is working closely with the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation to secure additional funding to bring the course back to Perry Maxwell’s vision by completing a master plan and engaging with one of the most decorated modern-day architects, Rees Jones. Jones has designed or renovated more than 260 golf courses, including Bryan Park’s Champions Course, and earned the moniker “The Open Doctor” for his work in preparation for seven U.S. Open venues, nine PGA Championship courses and six Ryder Cups.

“Having grown up across the street as a young boy and watching Perry Maxwell build the original Gillespie Golf Course, I am honored to see my good friend Rees Jones bring Gillespie back to a place of prominence for all of our residents to enjoy,” said Jim Melvin, former Mayor of Greensboro and President & CEO of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation.

In addition to the Bryan Foundation and the Carolinas Section of the PGA of America, the City is joining forces with the First Tee – Central Carolina (based at Gillespie Golf Course), the Wyndham Championship and North Carolina A&T to enhance the renovation project with aspirations of revitalized practice areas, a short game course, a mural of the Greensboro Six and clubhouse renovations. The City is also pursuing additional funding through state and federal grants and local corporate support.

“We are delighted to support the ongoing efforts to bring Gillespie Golf Course back to its prominence and provide a community gathering spot for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy this great game of golf,” said Carolinas PGA Section President Chris Byrd. “We are proud of Gillespie Golf Course Head PGA of America Golf Professional Bob Brooks who supports our PGA REACH pillars of youth player development, military and veteran outreach through PGA HOPE and our diversity and inclusion efforts to do good through golf.”

The Championship, making its first visit to the state of Texas, will be contested on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in June of 2025

FRISCO, Texas ー The PGA of America and KPMG announced today the appointment of Ashley Miller as General Chair of the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She is the inaugural General Chair to be appointed for a Major Championship at PGA Frisco. Over 50 Division and Committee Chairs and nearly 1,200 volunteers will support Miller on the Championship Host Committee.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a collaboration between the PGA of America, LPGA, and KPMG, and serves as a catalyst to empower women on and off the golf course.

The 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be the second Major Championship held on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, following the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, won by Steve Stricker.

“I speak for our entire Frisco-based Championships team when I say we are all very excited to work alongside Ashley to continue to elevate this significant event and make the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship the best and most impactful ever contested,” said Jason Mengel, Championship Director of the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “Given her track record of community involvement, it goes without saying that Ashley will be a fantastic ambassador for this Championship.”

Broadcast in partnership with NBC and Golf Channel, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship offers a purse among the highest in women’s golf. The event combines an annual major golf championship with the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit and an ongoing charitable initiative called the KPMG Future Leaders Program – all focused on the development, advancement, and empowerment of women on and off the golf course.

Passionate about community engagement, Miller serves on various local boards, including Melody of Hope, Frisco Chamber Foundation, City of Frisco Parks and Recreation Board, and is the past Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.

A Leadership Frisco graduate, Miller received the 2018 Frisco Number Ones Award and currently serves as the Director of Public Relations and Official Spokesperson for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Miller is a passionate sports enthusiast and currently resides in Frisco alongside her husband, Justin, and two children.

“What a distinct privilege to serve in such a coveted position for the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” said Miller. “I am honored to work alongside such an incredible championship team, and look forward to hosting the world’s elite female golfers right here in Frisco. I am humbled to serve alongside KPMG, PGA of America, LPGA, and all of our valued volunteers as we advocate and empower all women, particularly daughters like mine.”

Beginning with the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May 2023, Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco is scheduled to host an unprecedented six Major Championships, including the 2027 and 2034 PGA Championships, between now and 2034. Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco is slated to host a total of 30 PGA of America spectator, member and amateur championships through 2034.

USGA Announces Qualifying Sites for 2024 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced qualifying sites for the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by Ally, to be held at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, from May 30-June 2. The club will host its second U.S. Women’s Open.

Conducted over 36 holes, qualifying will be held at 23 sites across the United States, plus Canada, Japan and Germany between April 15 and May 20. Online entry applications open on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and will continue through Wednesday, April 3, at 5 p.m. EDT (champs.usga.org).

“The USGA values the qualifying process, and we appreciate the efforts of Allied Golf Associations throughout the United States and international Federations and Tours who provide thousands of competitors the opportunity to earn a place in our national championship,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “Lancaster Country Club and the surrounding community was the site of one of the most successful U.S. Women’s Opens in history nine years ago and most assuredly will host another outstanding championship again in 2024.”

Bradenton (Fla.) Country Club and Dunwoody Country Club, in Atlanta, Ga., will host Women’s Open qualifying for the seventh and sixth time, respectively. Four courses will each welcome qualifying fields for a fifth time. They are: Shannopin Country Club, in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Belle Haven Country Club, in Alexandria, Va.; Sugar Mills Country Club, in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; and Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, in Westminster, Colo.

Starmount Forest Country Club, in Greensboro, N.C., is among seven courses that will host qualifying for a third time. The club hosted the 1947 U.S. Women’s Open when Betty Jameson fired a final-round 6-under-par 70 to win by six strokes over two amateurs. Ohio State University Golf Club, in Columbus, Ohio, is also in that group of courses and is hosting for third consecutive year. OSU’s Scarlet Course will also serve as a U.S. Open final qualifying site in June.

Boso Country Club, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, is an international site for the third consecutive year. Last year’s qualifier at the club produced three players who made the 36-hole cut. Aya Kinoshito tied for 13th in her U.S. Women’s Open debut, while Miyu Sato (tie, 53rd) and Kana Mikahima (tie, 68th) also played in all four rounds as first-time competitors.

California has the most qualifying sites with four. Three U.S. Women’s Open qualifiers are scheduled in Florida, while Texas will host two qualifiers. There are qualifying sites in 17 states.

Birdie Kim (2005) is the last player to win the U.S. Women’s Open after advancing through qualifying. In 2023, 18 golfers who played in a qualifier made the 36-hole cut in the Women’s Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.

The USGA accepted a record total of 2,107 entries for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. The previous highest totals were 1,874 for the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge & G.C., in Southern Pines, N.C., and 1,873 for the 2015 championship at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club.

This will be the 93rd USGA championship and 10th U.S. Women’s Open contested in Pennsylvania. In 2024, the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball will be played at Philadelphia Cricket Club and the U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be held at Fox Chapel Golf Club, in Pittsburgh.

 

2024 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying Sites (26)

Monday, April 15 (2)

  • El Macero (Calif.) C.C.
  • The Vancouver G.C., Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Tuesday, April 16 (1)

  • The Village Course at Waikola, Waikoloa Village, Hawaii

Monday, April 22 (1)

  • Boso C.C. (East/West Courses), Chiba Prefecture, Japan

Tuesday, April 23 (2)

  • Soboba Springs Golf Course, San Jacinto, Calif.
  • Rainier G. & C.C., Seattle, Wash.

Thursday, April 25 (1)

  • Belle Haven C.C., Alexandria, Va.

Monday, April 29 (2)

  • Soule Park Golf Course, Ojai, Calif.
  • Rockwall G. & Athletic Club, Rockwall, Texas

Tuesday, April 30 (2)

  • Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster, Colo.
  • Starmount Forest C.C., Greensboro, N.C.

Wednesday, May 1 (1)

  • Winchester (Mass.) C.C.

Thursday, May 2 (1)

  • Ohio State University G.C. (Scarlet Course), Columbus, Ohio

Monday, May 6 (5)

  • Pinnacle Peak C.C., Scottsdale, Ariz.
  • San Joaquin C.C., San Jose, Calif.
  • Sugar Mill C.C. (Red/White Courses), New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
  • Dunwoody C.C., Atlanta, Ga.
  • Woodhill C.C., Wayzata, Minn.

Tuesday, May 7 (1)

  • Shannopin C.C., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Wednesday, May 8 (1)

  • Sunset C.C., St. Louis, Mo.

Friday, May 10 (1)

  • The Club at Admirals Cove (North/West Courses), Jupiter, Fla.

Monday, May 13 (4)

  • Bradenton (Fla.) C.C.
  • Briarwood C.C., Deerfield, Ill.
  • Haworth (N.J.) C.C.
  • Golfcrest C.C., Pearland, Texas

Monday, May 20 (1)

  • G. & C.C. Seddiner See, Michendorf, Germany

USGA Announces Qualifying Sites for 124th U.S. Open

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced local and final qualifying sites for the 124th U.S. Open Championship. The U.S. Open will be contested on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C., for the fourth time from June 13-16, 2024.

Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 U.S. states and Canada, will take place between April 22-May 20. Those players who advance out of local qualifying will join a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes. This final stage will be held in England and Japan (May 20) and Canada (June 3) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 20 and nine on June 3.

Online player registration for the 2024 U.S. Open will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at champs.usga.org and will continue through Wednesday, April 10.

“Allied Golf Associations in the United States and National Federations and Tours in Europe, Canada and Japan collaborate to provide an avenue to the U.S. Open through both qualifying stages where the world’s greatest players will compete for our national championship,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “Thousands of professional and amateur golfers with diverse backgrounds will have an opportunity to earn a place in this year’s championship at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.”

The USGA accepted a record 10,187 entries for the 2023 championship at The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club. The previous mark of 10,127 entries was established for the 2014 championship on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2.

Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., will hold a U.S. Open qualifier for the 45th consecutive year in which qualifying has been conducted. Maketewah Country Club, in Cincinnati, Ohio, returns to the schedule after a one-year absence, its 46th time hosting since 1976. Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club and Ironwood Country Club, in Palm Desert, Calif., will host local qualifying for the 26th and 23rd year, respectively. Collindale Golf Course, in Fort Collins, Colo., has been a host site since 2003.

To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4 or be a professional. There are 14 local qualifying sites in California, the most of any state. Florida will host 13 local qualifiers.

The final qualifying venues in Dallas, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; and Summit, N.J., will use two courses. Dallas Athletic Club’s Gold and Blue Courses will host a qualifier for the 11th time. Austin Eckroat, who tied for 10th, was among three players from the Dallas qualifier who made the 36-hole cut at The Los Angeles Country Club in last year’s U.S. Open. In Columbus, Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course and Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club will be paired for the first time. Canoe Brook Country Club, with its North and South Courses, will serve as a final site for the 19th time since 1980.

Woodmont Country Club, in Rockville, Md., will host final qualifying for the 36th time in the last 38 years, with only the North Course used for the 10th consecutive time. Springfield Country Club in Ohio will host final qualifying for the 15th time. Lake Merced Golf Club, in Daly City, Calif., will be a final qualifying venue for the first time since 2012 and 12th time overall.

U.S. Open final qualifying returns to The Golf Club of Georgia for the first time since 1992. The Bear’s Club, in Jupiter, Fla., will host the final stage for a fourth time, while Old Chatham Golf Club, in Durham, N.C., and Pronghorn Resort’s Nicklaus Course, in Bend, Ore., will each be sites for a second time.

Walton Heath Golf Club, in Surrey, England, was a site when international qualifying began in 2005. The Old and New Courses will host a final qualifier for the 17th time. Cherry Hill Club and Lookout Point Country Club will combine as a site in Canada’s Ontario province. Hino Golf Club’s King Course, in Shiga Prefecture, is a first-time site in Japan.

Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and final stages. Gene Littler (1961), Julius Boros (1963), Jerry Pate (1976), Steve Jones (1996), Michael Campbell (2005) and Lucas Glover (2009) won after advancing through final qualifying.

Several U.S. Open champions have advanced to the championship through both local and final qualifying at some point in their careers, including Glover, David Graham, Lou Graham, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, Johnny Miller, Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, Lee Trevino, Gary Woodland and Fuzzy Zoeller.

The U.S. Open was previously hosted by Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2 in 1999 (won by Payne Stewart), 2005 (won by Michael Campbell) and 2014 (won by Martin Kaymer). As an anchor site, Pinehurst will also host the U.S. Open in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.

 

2024 U.S. Open Championship Local Qualifying Sites (109) *

Monday, April 22 (4)

  • Marietta C.C., Kennesaw, Ga.
  • The King Kamehameha G.C., Wailuku, Hawaii
  • The Territory G. & C.C., Duncan, Okla.
  • Fox Den C.C., Knoxville, Tenn.

Tuesday, April 23 (1)

  • Jackson (Tenn.) C.C.

Wednesday, April 24 (4)

  • Mission Inn Resort & Club (El Campeon Course), Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
  • Lost Key G.C., Pensacola, Fla.
  • Stonewall Orchard G.C., Grayslake, Ill.
  • River Landing G.C. (River Course), Wallace, N.C.

Thursday, April 25 (2)

  • TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.
  • The Legacy G. & Tennis Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Monday, April 29 (9)

  • Morris Park C.C., South Bend, Ind.
  • Cantigny G.C. (Woodside/Lakeside Courses), Wheaton, Ill.
  • Crestview C.C. (North Course), Wichita, Kan.
  • Westwood C.C., St. Louis, Mo.
  • Cold Spring C.C., Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.
  • Duke University G.C., Durham, N.C.
  • Fair Oaks Ranch G. & C.C., (Blackjack Course), Fair Oaks, Texas
  • Alpine C.C., Highland, Utah
  • Parkersburg C.C., Vienna, W.Va.

Tuesday, April 30 (4)

  • Crystalaire C.C., Llano, Calif.
  • Collindale Golf Course, Fort Collins, Colo.
  • Brookside G. & C.C., Columbus, Ohio
  • Weymouth C.C., Medina, Ohio

Wednesday, May 1 (3)

  • The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Ky.
  • Royal G.C., Lake Elmo, Minn.
  • Pinehurst R. & C.C. (Course No. 6), Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Thursday, May 2 (8)

  • Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C., Maricopa, Ariz.
  • La Purisima G.C., Lompoc, Calif.
  • The Grand G.C., San Diego, Calif.
  • Broadmoor C.C., Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Sewickley Heights G.C., Sewickley, Pa.
  • C.C. of York, York, Pa.
  • Columbia C.C. (Ridgewood/Tall Pines Courses), Blythewood, S.C.
  • McCormick Woods G.C., Port Orchard, Wash.

Monday, May 6 (13)

  • Brentwood C.C., Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Indian Ridge C.C. (Grove Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
  • The Fountaingrove Club, Santa Rosa, Calif.
  • The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
  • Seminole Legacy G.C., Tallahassee, Fla.
  • Wellington National G.C., Wellington, Fla.
  • Muskegon (Mich.) C.C.
  • Fairmount C.C., Chatham, N.J.
  • Highland Meadows G.C., Sylvania, Ohio
  • Union League Liberty Hill, Lafayette Hill, Pa.
  • The C.C. of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
  • Coyote Ridge G.C., Carrollton, Texas
  • Escondido G. & Lake Club, Horseshoe Bay, Texas

Tuesday, May 7 (8)

  • Andalusia C.C., La Quinta, Calif.
  • The Club at Ruby Hill, Pleasanton, Calif.
  • Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster, Colo.
  • TimberStone Golf Course, Caldwell, Idaho
  • Running Deer G.C., Pittsgrove, N.J.
  • University of New Mexico Championship G.C., Albuquerque, N.M.
  • Champions G.C. (Jackrabbit Course), Houston, Texas
  • North Shore C.C., Mequon, Wis.

Wednesday, May 8 (8)

  • Casino Del Sol – Sewailo G.C., Tucson, Ariz.
  • Granite Bay (Calif.) G.C.,
  • Kensington G. & C.C., Naples, Fla.
  • White Oak G.C. (The Old Course), Newnan, Ga.
  • The Club at P.B. Dye, Ijamsville, Md.
  • Omaha (Neb.) C.C.
  • Ross Rogers Golf Course (Mustang Course), Amarillo, Texas
  • Riverton (Wyo.) C.C.

Thursday, May 9 (6)

  • Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Silver Lakes (Backbreaker/Heartbreaker Courses), Glencoe, Ala.
  • Bermuda Dunes (Calif.) C.C. (Classic Course)
  • Bayview G. & C.C., Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
  • The Broadlands Golf Course, Broomfield, Colo.
  • CasaBlanca G.C., Mesquite, Nev.
  • Crestmont C.C., West Orange. N.J.

Saturday, May 11 (1)

  • Ellendale C.C., Houma, La.

Monday, May 13 (23)

  • Phoenix (Ariz.) C.C.
  • The C.C. at DC Ranch, Scottsdale, Ariz.
  • TPC Stonebrae C.C., Hayward, Calif.
  • Dragonfly G.C., Madera, Calif.
  • Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.
  • C.C. of Darien, Darien, Conn.
  • Shingle Creek G.C., Orlando, Fla.
  • Marsh Creek C.C., St. Augustine, Fla.
  • Orchid Island G. & Beach Club, Vero Beach, Fla.
  • Hoakalei C.C., Ewa Beach, Hawaii
  • Illini C.C., Springfield, Ill.
  • Crow Valley G.C., Davenport, Iowa
  • Longmeadow (Mass.) C.C.
  • Hillendale C.C., Phoenix, Md.
  • Birmingham (Mich.) C.C.
  • Somersett G. & C.C., Reno, Nev.
  • New Mexico State University G.C., Las Cruces, N.M.
  • Mendon (N.Y.) G.C.
  • Albany C.C., Voorheesville, N.Y.
  • Maketewah C.C., Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Elmhurst C.C., Moscow, Pa.
  • Riverton Pointe G. & C.C., Hardeeville, S.C.
  • Troy Burne G.C., Hudson, Wis.

Tuesday, May 14 (11)

  • Hot Springs C.C. (Arlington Course), Hot Springs, Ark.
  • Ironwood C.C. (South Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
  • The Club at Eaglebrooke, Lakeland, Fla.
  • The Conservatory at Hammock Beach, Palm Coast, Fla.
  • Firekeeper Golf Course, Mayetta, Kan.
  • Missoula (Mont.) C.C.
  • Whippoorwill Club, Armonk, N.Y.
  • Arrowhead G.C., Molalla, Ore.
  • Kirkbrae C.C., Lincoln, R.I.
  • Keswick Hall (Full Cry Course), Keswick, Va.
  • Palouse Ridge G.C., Pullman, Wash.

Wednesday, May 15 (1)

  • Eagle Creek G. & C.C., Naples, Fla.

Monday, May 20 (1)

  • Palmer (Alaska) Golf Course

*one local qualifying site in Texas and Massachusetts will be added at a later date

 

2023 U.S. Open Final Qualifying Sites (13)

International (3)

Monday, May 20

  • Asia – Hino Golf Club (King Course), Shiga Prefecture, Japan
  • Europe – Walton Heath Golf Club (New and Old Courses), Surrey, England

Monday, June 3

  • Canada – Cherry Hill Club & Lookout Point Country Club, Ontario, Canada

United States (10)

Monday, May 20

  • Dallas Athletic Club (Gold & Blue Courses), Dallas, Texas

Monday, June 3

  • Lake Merced Golf Club, Daly City, Calif.
  • The Bear’s Club, Jupiter, Fla.
  • The Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta, Ga.
  • Woodmont Country Club (North Course), Rockville, Md.
  • Canoe Brook Country Club (North & South Courses), Summit, N.J.
  • Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham, N.C.
  • Ohio State University Golf Club (Scarlet Course) & Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, Columbus, Ohio
  • Springfield (Ohio) Country Club
  • Pronghorn Resort (Nicklaus Course), Bend, Ore.

Terry Francona named honorary chair of 2024 U.S. Senior Open

Newport Country Club in Rhode Island will host the 44th U.S. Senior Open in June

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Feb. 5, 2024) – Terry Francona, who managed Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles and guided the Cleveland Indians to an American League pennant, has been named honorary chair of the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship. The United States Golf Association (USGA) will conduct the U.S. Senior Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club from June 26-30.

“As an avid golfer myself, I am honored to be selected as the honorary chair of this year’s U.S. Senior Open,” said Francona. “When I retired from baseball, one of the things that excited me the most was the opportunity to get on the golf course as often as possible. I’ve been a fan of the sport my whole life and have been lucky enough to form relationships with some of the players on the [PGA] Champions Tour. It will be nice to see some familiar faces while participating in this prestigious event.

“Having spent many happy and successful years in Boston, I know how much the New England community is golf crazy, particularly in the summer. I appreciate the revered place Newport Country Club holds in the history of golf as well as the beauty of the city of Newport.”

Francona, a three-time American League Manager of the Year (2013, 2016, 2022), guided the Red Sox to World Series titles when they swept both the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies in four games in 2004 and 2007, respectively. In that first run to the championship, the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to rally from an 0-3 deficit in a seven-game series, defeating the rival New York Yankees for the American League Championship. Boston made five playoff appearances in his eight seasons with the organization.

In his 11 seasons with Cleveland, Francona guided his teams to four AL Central Division titles, six playoff appearances and the 2016 World Series, losing a memorable seven-game series to the Chicago Cubs. His managing career began in the Gulf Coast League in the early 1990s, and he worked his way through Class A and AA at the minor-league level before being hired as the Detroit Tigers’ third-base coach. His first MLB managerial stop was with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1997-2000. During his time in Class AA, he led the Birmingham Barons to the 1993 Southern League title and was Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan’s manager the following year.

Francona, who recorded 1,950 victories in 23 seasons as an MLB manager, was selected by the Montreal Expos in the first round of the 1980 MLB Draft following an outstanding collegiate playing career at the University of Arizona, where he helped the Wildcats claim the 1980 College World Series title and was named that year’s Golden Spikes Award recipient for being the top collegiate player. Nicknamed “Tito,” he played for five big-league teams over a nine-year period as an outfielder and first baseman.

“Terry Francona is one of the most accomplished managers in Major League Baseball history and an avid golfer who is a regular participant in charity events,” said Hank Thompson, senior director, U.S. Senior Open Championship. “He will be an excellent ambassador for the U.S. Senior Open and help bring together Rhode Island and the New England region around this coveted national championship.”

In his role, Francona will support the fifth USGA championship to be held at Newport Country Club and the first since 2006. The club is one of the five founding members of the USGA, which was formed on Dec. 22, 1894, and was the site of the inaugural U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open championships in 1895.

Tickets for the 44th U.S. Senior  Open Championship at Newport Country Club are now on sale and available for purchase at this TICKET LINK.

The U.S. Senior Open Championship (ussenioropen.com) is for golfers 50 and older and is open to any professional and any amateur with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. Major champions Bernhard Langer (2023), Padraig Harrington (2022) and Jim Furyk (2021) have won the previous three championships.

USGA Recognizes Outstanding Efforts in Volunteerism, Turfgrass Research and Golf Literature with Annual Awards

Joe Dey Award, Green Section Award and Herbert Warren Wind Award recipients to be honored at USGA Annual Meeting

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The USGA has announced the recipients of its Annual Awards, honoring three individuals for their significant contributions for the good of the game in the areas of volunteerism, turfgrass advancement and golf literature.

E. Lee Coble, of Richmond, Va., is the recipient of this year’s Joe Dey Award for his decades-long service to golf and for fostering a more inclusive game. Bob Farren, director of golf course management at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, is the Green Section Award honoree for serving as a leader in sustainable golf course maintenance practices. “Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson,” by Ashley Brown, Ph.D., has been selected as the winner of the USGA’s Herbert Warren Wind Award.

“This year we celebrate barrier-breakers, innovators and individuals who have witnessed – and overcome – great challenges in their respective fields of the game,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “We recognize the incredible accomplishments of Lee, Bob and Ashley and are thrilled to have them as our Annual Award honorees this year.”

The USGA will recognize the recipients at its Annual Awards Dinner in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, March 2, during the organization’s Annual Meeting.

Joe Dey Award – E. Lee Coble

Lee Coble’s lifelong love of golf has led to decades of service to the game, sharing his knowledge, his time and his boundless energy to community golf initiatives. His volunteer resume includes serving as the 34th president of the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) as well as mentorship and fundraising for numerous junior programs while advocating for accessibility for everyone, including Hook A Kid on Golf, The First Tee of Richmond and Chesterfield County, and the VSGA Foundation’s Robins Junior Programs at Independence Golf Club.

A longstanding USGA Committee member, Coble’s entry into the game came as an 11-year-old, caddieing at a nine-hole, racially segregated course in rural Mebane, N.C. That’s where he grew his desire to play and perseverance to overcome obstacles – values that would guide him on his lifelong journey from being denied a spot on his high school golf team to becoming the first African American to lead the VSGA. Coble currently serves as the head golf coach at Virginia Union University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Richmond, Va., a commitment driven by his desire to grow the game and be a positive force for the next generation.

Presented annually by the USGA since 1996, the award is named for Joseph C. Dey Jr., the USGA’s executive director from 1934-1968, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975 and devoted his life in service to the game.

USGA Green Section Award – Bob Farren, CGCS

A highly regarded leader in golf course management, Robert Farren Jr. began his storied 45-year career in golf course management in 1979. Three years later, he joined Pinehurst Resort & Country Club and advanced to his current role as director of golf course management in 2001. Since that time, Farren has been a principal force behind a dedicated effort to restore Pinehurst’s historic course architecture while advancing the environmental and economic sustainability of its now 11-course footprint.

Those efforts have included reducing more than 40 acres of irrigated turf in favor of signature sandscapes that feature native wiregrass, converting greens and fairways to more drought-tolerant turfgrasses, eliminating resource-intensive overseeding throughout the property, and championing training for his team. He was also a principal founding partner of the Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program, launched in the Pinehurst area last year with the USGA and Sandhills Community College to provide education and mentorship for golf course maintenance workers. Through Farren’s tenure, Pinehurst has become a beacon for innovation and a successful testing ground for advanced, data-driven maintenance practices and on-course learning for superintendents, agronomists and others.

Among the 11 USGA championships Farren has worked at Pinehurst, one of his team’s most significant agronomic accomplishments was in delivering a consistent playing experience for the unprecedented back-to-back 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open in consecutive weeks on Pinehurst’s iconic Course No. 2.

Presented annually since 1961, the USGA Green Section Award honors distinguished service to golf through an individual’s work with turfgrass.

Herbert Warren Wind Award – Ashley Brown, Ph.D.: “Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson”

This compelling biography explores Gibson’s relentless drive to become the best athlete in not just one, but two competitive sports – and her incredible journey that would eventually break the color barrier in both. Brown, who picked up the game of golf in her 20s, draws on her historical expertise and lifelong love for the sport to tell the story of Gibson’s wholehearted pursuit of excellence, first in tennis where she became a paid professional in 1959 and then in golf, becoming the LPGA Tour’s first Black player.

Through this insightful look at the cultural influences that shaped women’s sports in the 1950s and beyond, Brown shows us a trailblazer who put herself and her ambitions first, to show the world how much she loved being an athlete. That same drive carried through the rest of Gibson’s life, propelling her to obtain her college degree after initially leaving school at age 14, to pursue careers in the music and movie industries, and to later advocate for education, physical fitness and youth development through participation in sports, as the book chronicles in vivid and inspiring detail.

Brown is the Allan H. Selig chair in the history of sport and society and an assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

The Herbert Warren Wind Award recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to golf literature. Brown’s book will be on display at the USGA Golf Museum and Library, home to the world’s largest collection of golf books and periodicals, with more than 100,000 individual volumes.

In addition to Brown, Coble and Farren, the USGA recognizes 10 Ike Grainger Award recipients, presented to those who have reached a 25-year milestone in volunteerism with the USGA. This year’s recipients include Barbara Barrow of San Diego, Calif.; Steve Block of Bethesda, Md.; Scott Brooks of Wichita, Kan.; Sandy Dowling of Osterville, Mass.; Larry Kniseley of Daphne, Ala.; Ellen O’Hara of Mesa, Ariz.; Thomas Schmidt of Brookfield, Wis.; Leslie Schupak of Orlando, Fla.; Leslie Sirbaugh of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Thomas Snell of Diamondhead, Miss.

The USGA’s Bob Jones Award recipient will be announced at a later date and celebrated during U.S. Open week in Pinehurst this June.