The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced that Plainfield Country Club, in Edison, N.J., will be the host site for three USGA championships: the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, the 2031 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and the 2038 U.S. Senior Open. They will be the third, fourth and fifth USGA championships held at the club.
“The USGA is excited to return to Plainfield Country Club after nearly four decades and continue to build upon a partnership that will support both professional and amateur competition,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “We know that the club’s rich heritage, renowned course and comprehensive facilities will not only challenge the best players from around the world but will also provide a welcoming environment for each of the three championships.”
Plainfield Country Club, located at the highest point in Middlesex County and overlooking New York City and the Watchung Mountains, was founded in 1890 as the Hillside Tennis Club and added a nine-hole golf course five years later. The current course was designed by Donald Ross and opened for play in 1921. Today, it is a family-oriented club that also provides premier racquets and swimming facilities.
Gil Hanse and his team gradually began restoring Ross’ features in the late 1990s, including many that had become covered by trees or lost over the years. During the early 2000s, every green, fairway, teeing ground, chipping area and bunker was restored, and encroaching trees were removed. This process opened up strategic playing angles and enhanced views across the property.
“On behalf of Plainfield Country Club, we are thrilled to welcome the USGA back to our historic club and classic Donald Ross course,” said Terence Gallagher, club president. “This 15-year agreement between PCC and the USGA affirms our longstanding partnership and we look forward to hosting championship golf at PCC for years to come.”
The club previously hosted the 1978 U.S. Amateur Championship and the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open Championship. John Cook made eight birdies in the final match of the Amateur to defeat Scott Hoch, 5 and 4, sealing his victory with a 4-foot par putt on the 32nd hole. Laura Davies carded a 1-under-par 71 to win an 18-hole playoff with Ayako Okamoto and JoAnne Carner to claim the Women’s Open. The players completed 72 holes at 3-under 285.
Plainfield Country Club twice hosted The Barclays on the PGA Tour. Dustin Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open champion, won the first one by two strokes in 2011. Jason Day, a two-time U.S. Open runner-up, powered his way to a six-stroke triumph four years later. A member club of both the Metropolitan Golf Association and the New Jersey State Golf Association, the club has also hosted six Met Amateurs, five Met Opens, five New Jersey Amateurs and seven New Jersey Opens.
The 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, with Echo Lake Country Club, in Westfield, serving as the stroke-play co-host course, will be the 64th USGA championship contested in New Jersey. The dates of the championship are May 17-21. The Garden State last held a U.S. Senior Open in 1990 (at The Ridgewood Country Club, won by Lee Trevino by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus) and will host a U.S. Senior Women’s Open for the first time.
The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball was first played in 2015. The championship is open to teams (or sides) of amateurs, with each player’s Handicap Index® not exceeding 5.4. The field of 128 sides will compete in two rounds of stroke play, resulting in the low 32 teams advancing to match play.
First played in 2018, the U.S. Senior Women’s Open is open to professional females and amateur females with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 7.4, who have reached their 50th birthday as of the first day of the championship. The field includes 120 players who compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is reduced to the low 50 scores and ties. This year’s championship will be played Aug. 24-27 at Waverley Country Club, in Portland, Ore.
The U.S. Senior Open is open to professional golfers, and amateurs with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4, who are at least 50 years of age by the start of championship play. The field of 156 players will compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field will be reduced to the low 60 scores and ties.
No comments:
Post a Comment