DUPPLER WINS IPGA MATCH PLAY ON HIS HOME COURSE

THE ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB Founded in 1901-hosted the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship this past week-full details can now be located at IPGA.com #Golfmajor     _____________________________________________________________________

BY: RORY SPEARS Reporting from Elgin Country Club. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, or on Facebook or Linkedin.

ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB head golf professional Jonathon Duppler holds the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship trophy. After winning his first IPGA Section major championship.

THERE IS NOTHING like a home course advantage.

Elgin Country Club head professional Jonathon Duppler won his first Illinois PGA Section major Championship, when he defeated Skokie Country Club teaching professional Garrett Chaussard 3 & 2 in the title match.

Chaussard was the two time defending champion in the event, but Chaussard won both of his titles at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer. Elgin Country Club stepped up when the championship had to be moved, after a date change from May to September because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

CLICK HERE to hear interviews with IPGA Match Play Champion Jonathon Duppler, and runner-up Garrett Chaussard.

Elgin Country Club professional Jonathon Duppler rolls in an eagle putt on the 14th hole to take a 3 Up lead in the championship match.

After upsetting Medinah professional Travis Johns a past champion who won at Kemper Lakes in 2010 in the semi-finals, Duppler earned a ticket into the championship match with Chaussard.

Chaussard had wrapped up his semi-final match against St. Charles Country Club professional David Burdick 3 & 2, and had a chance to catch his breath before Duppler eliminated Johns.

When Duppler moved into the championship match, the small group of Elgin CC members that had been following Duppler in his matches all week, really started to grow.

As the championship match moved along, an army of over 25 golf carts was following the two players, and more members and course workers joined in walking along.

Duppler wasted no time sending a message to Chaussard that he was ready, when he eagled the first hole to go 1 Up. Duppler’s birdie on the third hole, coupled with Chassard’s short miss for par on the fourth hole, left Duppler 3 Up early into the match.

Garrett Chaussard hits his drive on the par 3, 9th hole that found the green.

Chaussard started to make a comeback winning the 8th hole, but Duppler birded the par 3, 9th hole and regained his 3 Up lead at the turn.

Then Chaussard won the tenth with a par, only to have Duppler win the 11th with a birdie.

Chaussard then made a birdie putt that did a full circle around the cup before falling on the 12th, and Dupplers lead was back down again to only 2 Up.

After halving the the 13th hole, Duppler drained an eagle putt from 25 feet on the 14th hole, to go 3 Up once more, but now with only 4 holes to play.

After missing the fairway on the 14th, Chaussard hit an outstanding approach to the back-upper tier of the green. His 6 foot birdie putt cut Duppler’s lead to 2 Up.

But Duppler’s par on the par 3 16th hole, was enough to close out the match, after Chaussard 3-putted from the green’s back fringe.

Duppler was immediately greeted by one of the club’s bartenders, who had brought out the champagne. Some of which was consumed, while some was sprayed on Duppler.

With the success of winning on his home course, Duppler said he would speak the clubs board of directors about having Elgin Country Club host the championship again in the future. The victory earned Duppler a ticket to Conway Farms Golf Club, and the Illinois PGA’s final major of the year, the Players Championship, which this year has only a field of the top 35 players in the year’s point standings.

ZIEHM & SPEARS PODCAST SERIES 2020-VOLUME 27

ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB hosts the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship tomorrow starting at 8 AM. Chaussard vs Burdick-Duppler vs Johns ______________________________________________________________________

LEN ZIEHM & RORY SPEARS have teamed up to provide the Chicago area’s and beyond most complete weekly golf report, with the Ziehm and Spears Podcast.

CLICK HERE to hear week 27 of the Ziehm & Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 27.

This week Len and Rory talk the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. The Illinois PGA Section Match Play Championship at Elgin Country Club. Some upcoming travel notes. The news coming form the University of Illinois and the Atkins Golf Course.

Recapping the Evans Scholars Invitational. A few equipment thoughts on what’s coming out now by Titleist, for their players in time for the U.S. Open.

The LPGA add’s a tournament at Ryenolds Lake Oconee in Georgia. The Symetra Tour adds Mission Hills Inn and Resort to their schedule.

How the golf season is heating up, and not slowing down for Mid-September.

All this and more. Thanks for listening-Len & Rory.

TOP SEEDS ADVANCE TO SWEET 16 AT IPGA MATCH PLAY

ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB is host to this weeks Illinois PGA Match Play Championship.    _____________________________________________________________________

BY: RORY SPEARS-reporting from the Elgin country Club in Elgin Illinois. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Skokie Country Club’s Garrett Chaussard is the #1 seed for this weeks IPGA Match Play

GARRETT CHAUSSARD the Skokie Country Club teaching professional is back for a crack at a three-peat, in the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship.

Chaussard has a shot to win as the tournaments #1 seed, and he has moved into the Sweet 16. But Chaussard gets another past champion in the match play championship, Glen View Club’s Kyle Bauer right out of the blocks at 7:45 AM.

To play Bauer, Chaussard fought a tough match with Biltmore’s Doug Bauman, before coming out on top 4 & 2.

Bauer had to put on his rally cap-three down at the turn to White Pines new head professional Andrew Godfrey. Bauer rallied on the closing holes for a 2 & 1 win.

Bauer’s staff at the Glen View Club plays each other in another morning match, Round of 16, when Jim Billiter takes on Chris Green.

Illinois PGA section champion Mike Small, who held off Mistwood’s Andy Mickelson at Medinah, get’s a rematch with Mickelson on Thursday morning, Mickelson admitted he was hoping to not have to play Small until maybe the final four.

Small won his match 6 & 5 over Brett McClellan of Twin Orchard Country Club. Getting done early, had Small off to the range and putting green for 2 more hours of practice after a quick lunch and media interviews.

2010 Match Play Champion Travis Johns and the 2019 IPGA Player of the Year, had to hold off a charging Roy Biancalana, winning 2 UP, after making birdie on 17, and hitting his approach shot in on the par 3-18th (back nine first match) within 10 feet. When Biancalana missed his 25 foot birdie putt on the final hole, he conceded Johns putt for a birdie 2 to end the match.

John’s fellow professional at Medinah Country Club Rich Dukelow, who admitted he is not a fan of match play, held off Ivanhoe Club’s Michael Strain in 20 holes. Jim Sobb the Director of Golf at Ivanhoe who has won both the match play and senior match play championship in years past, lost 1 Up to Butler National’s Jeff Kellen. Sobb was 1 Up at the turn, in a match that went back and forth the entire round.

Click hear to hear interviews in order with Garrett Chaussard, Mike Small, Andy Mickelson, Travis Johns and Rick Dukelow.

Johns also talks about the U.S. Open this week at Winged Foot, and the success of the IPGA’s Birdies for Charity fundraising event last week at River Forest Country Club.

Elgin Country Club head professional Jonathon Duppler remains in the mix, after defeating Bill Sakas of the Glencoe Golf Club 4 & 2. Duppler is getting support from Elgin CC members out following his matches around the golf course.

Golfers on Golf will return to Elgin Country Club for the semi-finals and championship match on Friday. With updates tomorrow on the matches right here, so stay clicked in.

TITLEIST ADDS NEW DRIVERS & JUSTIN THOMAS INSPIRED PUTTERS

ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB founded in 1901-hosts the IL. PGA Match Play Championship  _____________________________________________________________________

BY: RORY SPEARS, DIRECTOR OF CONTENT and CREATION for Golfers on Golf. You can follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or Facebook and LinkedIn/Instagram.

THE TITLEIST TSi Drivers are here, and staff players have them for this week’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Titleist has used the week leading into the 120th U.S. Open at Winged Foot, to add new drivers and putters into the bags of their staff players.

Titleist says they are the most played driver on the PGA Tour over the last two years.

The new Titleist TSi drivers are in play in the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Stay clicked in to Titleist social media outlets to learn more about the process, and when you can order the new TSi in your pro shop or golf retail outlet.

The new Justin Thomas inspired Scotty Cameron Phantom 5X.5 putter.

The new Justin Thomas inspired, Scotty Cameron design will launch a limited run of the putters coming up later this month.

This limited run of only 2020 putters will be available on September 22nd, and will come with a circle JT on the bottom heel of the putter.

MAP $850.00

The putter combines a high-MOI wingback head style, with a welded small slant neck, which produces an arced putting stroke, that usually found in a blade type putter.

“This was an extremely cool project for me to work on with Scotty. When I first saw the 5.5, I immediately noticed how nicely it sits down on the green. The neck just makes it sit so square. In the beginning, I was only thinking it would give me something different to look at for a couple of weeks-yet here I am-four-something years later and still using it. So, I guess it’s worked out pretty well for me.”

Thomas will be using the putter at this weeks U.S. Open.

Putter length is 34.5 inches, with a 10 gram stainless steel heel and toe weights for proper balance. The JT inspired 5.5 Phantom comes with a new Pistolero Plus grip in the color of cement gray with black letters. There is also a Justin Thomas Inspired headcover that comes with the putter.

For more details please visit Titleist.com.

ILLINOIS PGA STROKE & MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

THE ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB founded in 1901-hosts this weeks Illinois PGA Section Stroke and Match Play Championship, play starts Tuesday and runs through Friday.      _____________________________________________________________________

20218 & 2019 IPGA Match Play champion Garrett Chaussard of Skokie Country Club.

HE’S BACK & GOING FOR THREE IN A ROW.

Skokie Country Club’s teaching professional Garrett Chaussard is biding for a three-peat.

One problem that Chaussard could have is that this Stroke/Match Play Championship is on a new venue Elgin Country Club, not Kemper Lakes Golf Club where Chaussard won both of his major match play titles.

The field of over 80 players starts on Tuesday with a new format for the match play championship. A day of stroke play.

The day of stroke play determines the 64 players who advance to the match play, and their seeds heading into round 1 of the matches.

Elgin Country Club is a 119 year old club, and the best way to describe the golf course is that it’s hilly. Where Kemper Lakes had plenty of water, Elgin has plenty of hills, that require downhill tee shots, and plenty of uphill approach shots.

The par 4, 10th hole behind the flag and looking back towards the tee.

The greens will reflect the change in terrain, with putts taking off and rolling in one solid direction. Uphill or downhill and left to right. Throw-out the seeds here, anyone can win and somebody not expected to be one of the favorites, might do just that.

Severe water will be found on the par 3, 16th hole, that looks a little like one of Medinah’s Course #3, par 3 holes. The 12th hole has a small pond left of the green that should not come into play all that much.

Click hear to hear Garrett Chaussard speak about both the Illinois Open and defending his title in the IPGA Match Play championship.

Stamina could come into play for players who win a few matches, but have to play most of the 18 holes, or extra holes and might have to go on and play two-matches a day.

The par 3 16th hole, could decide plenty of matches, especially if pins are placed upfront on the green.

Match play begins on Wednesday, with the round of 64 and then 32.

Thursdays matches take the field from 16 to 8 players, and then from 8 players to the remaining four players.

The semi-finals will be Friday morning with the 18 hole championship match on Friday afternoon.

The yardage will play at 6,430 yards, and to a par of 72.

IPGA.com and Golfersongolf.com will both have results from the championship. You will be able to hear from the winner next Saturday on Golfers on Golf Radio Am 820 WCPT.

THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT-IT’S U.S. OPEN WEEK.

THE FRENCH LICK RESORT has three golf courses, 2 hotels, a casino-sportsbook, and spa open for business. Ready to book your next play and stay see Frenchlick.com.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS-Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and on Facebook or LinkedIn. With the U.S. Open trophy.

IT’S NOT BIG and it’s not heavy like the Stanley Cup or the Wanamaker trophy.

But it’s something pretty special to wrap your hands around. The U.S. Open trophy will go to the best player in the field this week at Winged Foot Country Club in Mamaroneck New York.

Could it be Phil Mickelson this time, since Phil would never let people down at Winged Foot. A great funny ad by the folks at Callaway Golf, kudos to Lefty for playing along. If you haven’t seen it you should, look it up on-line.

It seems weird having the U.S. Open at a time when the NFL is heading for week 2, and the NHL is almost headed into the Stanley Cup finals. Major League Baseball is in the stretch drive for the post-season and here comes the U.S. Open. Next thing you know the Masters will go head to head with the start of the college basketball season, instead of being played right after the final four.

In a year that’s been strange and different, the U.S. Open brings us back to something that’s traditional. This year only 144 players instead of 156 get to play in the U.S. Open, (a smaller field due to less daylight) and this time around, nobody made it into the field through qualifying. There won’t be an 18-hole playoff on Monday, if there is a tie at the end of play on Sunday night. But in this case, let’s hope the tee-times start early enough on Sunday, so there is time for a playoff before it’s get dark. TV are you listening. NBC is back with the U.S. Open on it’s network this year. Fox is gone and now locked in on the NFL.

Dan Hicks will be in the booth, and most likely be back to rooting on Tiger. Without Johnny Miller to reel him in unfortunately, maybe NBC can have Johnny stop by the booth for the weekend. It wouldn’t be a bad idea. Len Ziehm and I will discuss the U.S. Open more in detail later this week on our podcast Volume 27, do stay tuned-in.

ONE FINAL THOUGHT on the U.S. Open. I’m all for the expanded presence of the USGA in Pinehurst the home of american golf, and Pinehurst No.2 getting 4 more U.S. Open’s. But the talk of keeping the U.S. Open in just a six or seven course rotation does more harm than good. There are plenty of good courses around the country that have the overall size and footprint to handle a U.S. Open. The shortlist of courses being mentioned leave out the Midwest, and the West Coast minus Pebble Beach. The sport of golf needs it’s majors spread around the country to grow the game. Sports like Tennis get hurt because there is only one major in the USA, and it’s always in New York.

THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL at the Chicago Highlands Golf Club, finally had some good weather on Sunday. The players were due, after three days of rainy, windy and cooler weather.

When it was over, Curtis Thompson had his first win on the Korn-Ferry Tour. Thompson is better known for being the brother of Lexi Thompson the LPGA star. His sister wasted no time in calling her brother and her former caddie after he clinched the title.

The end of the ESI marked the end of two straight weeks in Illinois for the Korn Ferry Tour, two weeks that did not stand out for the native Illinois players on the tour. Brad Hopfinger finsihed T-4 three shots back, and Nick Hardy was T-13 and six shots back, both made late charges on Sunday for respectable finishes but it wasn’t enough.

IF THE Korn Ferry Tour gets back on it’s normal schedule in 2021, where does the ESI championship go, back to the Glen Club, or back to Chicago Highlands. Maybe a rotation of clubs is a possibility. A rotation of local clubs is the same plan that people here in the Windy City would like to see for the BMW Championship. In 2021 the BMW drive’s off to the burbs of Baltimore and Caves Valley Country Club. I was there for the inaugural LPGA International Crown in 2014 and Caves Valley is a great facility. It’s just that it’s not here in the Chicago area.

The 2022 BMW is up for grabs I hear. It could be back in Chicago or maybe again out of state, discussions are on-going with clubs in and out of town. Stay tuned.

ELGIN COUNTRY CLUB is the home for this weeks Illinois PGA Match Play. I’ve asked people in the past, what’s Elgin Country Club like. The answer was always, it’s very hilly. I played the course last week, and guess what. It’s very hilly. Some of the biggest elevation changes I’ve seen on a golf course in Illinois.

This type of golf course with a real risk-reward design in match play, can lead to some real upsets, so throw out the seeding and get ready for a few unexpected results. Two-time defending champion Garrett Chaussard of the Skokie Country Club will have his hands full going for three-in-a row.

IT FIGURES rain would have to pop-up last Tuesday as the Illinois PGA was playing the 10th edition of it’s Birdies for Charity (BFC) fundraiser at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst. Kudo’s to the professionals about 35 of them, and former Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly of Golf 360 who came out to raise money for four outstanding charities. Here is to dry-rounds in September of 2021. The 10 year total is now over $2 million dollars raised.

I’M PUZZLED that yet again when the coaches were announced for the Palmer Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in 2021, that none of our local coaches were selected. I don’t know if they turned down the chance, of just weren’t selected. No coaches from Illinois or Northwestern, or even the Big Ten coaching in this major event here in Illinois. Leaves you wondering what is going on with the selection process. No knock on the coaches selected, but a local coach or two from Illinois would be a great choice.

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO wraps it up for 2020, this Saturday morning from 10-11 Am on AM 820 WCPT, or WCPT820.com or watch us on Facebook Live the WCPT page. Len Ziehm joins us as guest host via the phone, as we putt out on 18 for the radio edition of our show. This website goes all year round-and the Ziehm and Spears Podcasts will run through early December. Make sure you catch the season finale, with a great round table of golf discussion for the last 30 minutes.

The GOG blog returns tomorrow. RS

THE GOG BLOG’S SUNDAY MORNING SHORT GAME NEWS COLUMN

THE PETE DYE COURSE (L) at the French Lick Resort- (R) THE DONALD ROSS COURSE-all golf courses and casino are open. For more details visit Frenchlick.com .    ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and Facebook or LinkedIn. At the Elgin Country Club, home of this weeks Illinois PGA Match Play Championship.

Today is the final round of the Evans Scholars Invitational at the Chicago Highlands Club in Westchester.

Local players Brad Hopfinger at 9 under par to start the final round 11th place, and Nick Hardy 6 under par to start the day is in 32nd place.

Players are teeing off both the front nine and back nine, with the first groups out at 9 Am and the leaders at 11 Am.

Follow PGATour.com for details and up to the minute leader boards. The Golf Channel has coverage of every tour today, except the Korn Ferry Tour, so don’t look for the event on television.

CDGA.org

THE CDGA’S Senior Amateur tee’s off tomorrow at the Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria. The field of players 55 and up will contest the 34th annual edition of the championship through Monday through Wednesday. Players compete for the Earl L. Liff Trophy, which will be awarded after play concludes on Wednesday. The Low-Super Senior honors for players 65 and older, will be awarded on Tuesday after 36 holes of play.

This years field is 81 players, after Tuesday’s play and the completion of 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 35 players and ties. 173 players with handicaps of 10.4 or below registered for the event. 24 players received exemptions into the event, while 57 players advanced to the championship through qualifying.

Favorites to watch this week include 2018 CDGA Senior Amateur Champion Brad Kay, three-time past champion Tom Miler, and Dave Ryan a four-time past champion.

Mt. Hawley Country Club opened in 1922, and was renovated by Bob Lohman in 1996. This is the 8th time the club has hosted the championship, most recently in 2000. Yardage will be 6,380 and play to a par of 72. More details at CDGA.org.

Honmagolf.com

MacKenzie Tour Player Albert Pistorius won this past weekends tour event at TPC Toronto, on the clubs Heathlands course.

Pistorius won using the new Honma TR 20 Driver.

Pistorius first turned professional in 2005, and took a break from golf in 2013 before returning to the game. More information on Honma, at Honmagolf.com.

Mission Inn Resort near Orlando Florida.

THE MISSION INN Resort and Club located in Howey-In-The-Hills, FL. will host the inaugural Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship, presented by the Insurance Office of America (IOA).

This championship has just been added to the Symetra Tour schedule, and will be contested from October 15-17 of 2020.

For more details MissionInnResort.com. currently there is no information on whether fans will be allowed on the grounds to view the championship, because of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the country at this time. Tournament week is Oct. 11-17. Mission Inn Resort can be reached by calling (352)-324-3101. Mission Inn is located only 30 minutes from Orlando.

The Gog Blog Returns tomorrow. RS

ZIEHM & SPEARS PODCAST SERIES 2020-VOLUME 26

   A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FRIENDS IN LAKE CHARLES-LOUISIANA. Best wishes in cleaning up after hurricane Laura. VisitLakeCharles.com on how to help relief efforts.      ______________________________________________________________________

LEN ZIEHM ILLINOIS GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE (L) AND RORY SPEARS (R) long time golf media and industry specialist, put together Chicago’s and beyond most complete weekly golf report, at the Ziehm & Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 26.    _____________________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE To hear this weeks edition of Ziehm & Spears Podcast Series 2020-Volume 26.

This week Len and Rory discuss the Western Golf Associations Korn Ferry Event, the Evans Scholars Championship at Chicago Highlands Golf Club.

The upcoming Illinois PGA Championship Match Play Championship at Elgin Country Club, this coming week.

The USGA moving part of it’s operation to Pinehurst, which has been awarded four more U.S. Open Championships.

Is a U.S. Open rotation of just a few courses good for golf ? Some thoughts on our local professionals on the Korn Ferry Tour-and Doug Ghim on the PGA Tour.

No local coaches get announced for the U.S. Team at the 2021 Palmer Cup at Rich Harvest Farms.

Thanks for listening……Len and Rory

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO-WEEK 21-ESI-PINEHURST-LAKE CHARLES

L’AUBERGE HOTEL & CASINO (L) THE GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL & CASINO (R)  both hotels are in Lake Charles Louisiana and currently closed from Hurricane Laura. Both have storm damage and the reopening date is still unknown. #SaveLakeCharles.    _____________________________________________________________________

Golfers on Golf Radio L-R Rory Spears-Ed Stevenson and Bill Berger at WCPT Am 820 home of Golfers on Golf Radio.

Golfers on Golf Radio in it’s 30th season is well into the Back-Nine.

Week 21 today at 10 AM on Am 820 WCPT, and Wcpt820.com or watch us on the WCPT Facebook Page. If you need a mulligan, you can watch on the Facebook page later, or revisit the show on SoundCloud.com/ChicagosProgressiveTalk.

Today’s show we welcome back Will Precht from the Lake Charles Convention Bureau, tells us about the damage and recovery from Hurricane Laura, and what you can do to help.

Pinehurst Resort President Tom Pashley in his office over the 18th green of Pinehurst No.2

Tom Pashley the President of the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club joins us for he back nine today, to talk about the new USGA operations moving to Pinehurst, and what’s that meant in terms of receiving several new U.S. Opens for years to come.

We’ll learn more about where the new buildings and museum will be on the Pinehurst grounds, near the main clubhouse.

From the Evans Scholars Invitational at the Chicago Highlands Golf Club, we hear from Korn Ferry Tour Players, Nick Hardy from Northbrook, and Patrick Flavin of Highwood Illinois.

Len Ziehm of the Daily Herald joins us from PGA Village in Port St. Lucie Florida, with some thoughts on Brad Hopfinger who is third place at the Evans Scholars Invitational.

Golfers on Golf Radio Am 820 WCPT-WCPT820.com watch us on the WCPT Facebook Page. It’s week 21 only 2 weeks to go. Join us.

USGA EXPANDS PRESENCE AND CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PINEHURST

THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL TEE’S OFF TODAY in Westchester at the Chicago Highlands Golf Club. Several local players will be teeing it up, VERY limited VIP tickets can be purchased, visit the website. PINEHURST North Carolina will be getting an expanded USGA office and championship presence for years to come. #Golf  _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG-by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and Facebook or LinkedIn.

The main clubhouse at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. Photo courtesy of the USGA.

THE USGA IS ON THE MOVE.

This time it’s not to another television network, it’s south, to North Carolina.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) is taking part of it’s New Jersey operation in Liberty Corner, and moving it to Pinehurst North Carolina.

Great move.

What many golfers might not know, is that the USGA is already in Pinehurst. They have been for a while. So few people know that, that in fact USGA CEO and Executive Director Mike Davis once wondered, how many of the USGA staff in New Jersey even knew the organization had an office in Pinehurst, and if the ones that knew about the office could they find it, if they were suddenly put in the center of the Village of Pinehurst. The current small USGA Pinehurst office is on the second floor above the Pinehurst Deli, in downtown Pinehurst.

THE USGA in Liberty Corner New Jersey, won’t be fully relocating to North Carolina.

What some are calling this partial move for the USGA, is that Pinehurst is becoming a second home for the USGA, in the home of American golf.

“This is one of the great days in the 125-year history of the USGA,” said Davis. “It’s the start of something wonderful.”

It’s been suggested by those who know the USGA from the inside-out, that having championships in Pinehurst is a win-win for the organization.

Several members of Davis’ championship staff live in Pinehurst anyway, so the hotel bill is much smaller when the USGA holds a championship there. The current USGA office has about 15 employees, the number is expected to be over 50 when the new buildings open.

Golfers on Golf Rory Spears (L) with USGA CEO Mike Davis (M), and Illinois Golfer’s Tim Cronin (R) at the CDGA 100th anniversary dinner in 2014.

The Pinehurst area that already has it’s share of USGA championships, will be getting even more of them.

The U.S. Open was already scheduled for Pinehurst in 2024, has now also been given the 2029 U.S Open, the 2035 U.S. Open, the 2041 U.S. Open and the 2047 U.S. Open.

Which makes Pinehurst the first host in a possible rota of courses that would receive a U.S. Open every few years, or at least once in ten years.

What could happen is the U.S. Women’s Open already scheduled for Pine Needles in nearby Southern Pines in 2022, could get a back-to-back situation and receive the U.S. Women’s Open in 2029, the week after the men play at Pinehurst No.2.

Pinehurst is expected to be come the permanent home of the USGA annual meetings starting in 2022. The new buildings at the Pinehurst resort will include a new USGA testing center, and a museum area to showcase a history that’s full of USGA artifacts.

20 Jun 1999: Payne Stewart of the United States celebrates victory with the trophy after winning the 1999 US Open Tournament played on the number two course at Pinehurst in North Carolina, USA. Photo USGA.

“We are humbled the USGA has named Pinehurst No.2, as the first U.S. Open anchor site. Eight U.S. Opens in less that 50 years is a real testament tour partnership.”

BOB DEDMAN-for the Dedman family owners of the Pinehurst Resort.

Construction on the new USGA facilities is expected to start in 2022. With the facilities opening in 2023.

The buildings will be built on the site of the current tennis courts, between the main Pinehurst Clubhouse and the historic Carolina Hotel.

In addition to U.S. Open’s other USGA championships will added to the Pinehurst area.

The project was first in talks between all parties- 5 years back, and the most recently the North Carolina legislature approved $18 million dollars in incentives to secure this agreement. Economic impact is expected to be over $2 Billion dollars in the years ahead.

More news on this development is expected next week during the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.