The Palmer Cup starts the progression of tournaments coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove the week of June 10th through the 14th. It’s USA vs Europe in a Ryder Cup format style of matches between top rated college players. The event is named for the King Arnold Palmer, this August the Western Amateur comes to Rich Harvest Farms for the first time, then in July 2016 the LPGA UL International Crown will tee off in the first LPGA event in the Chicago area since the Solheim Cup at RHF in 2009.
The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory Spears on Facebook,Linkedin & Twitter @GogBlogGuy. With the Palmer Cup Trophy at Rich Harvest Farms.
The progression is coming to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. What’s progression you ask, it’s a progression of tournaments that starts in June with a great international event, that becomes a major international professional golf championship in July of 2016.
The amateur game returns with the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championship Golf Championships in 2017, that however is another great story for another day.
If you made it to Medinah and saw the Ryder Cup in 2012, then you understand the format for the Palmer Cup named after Arnold Palmer. The Palmer Cup Matches are played every year and rotate back and forth between Europe and America.
Rich Harvest Farms owner Jerry Rich with some of his historic golf collection at Rich Harvest Farms.
Currently the United States holds a 9-8-1 advantage in the history of the Palmer Cup Matches.
Long time European Tour player Jean Van de Velde is the European Team Captain. His assistant coach is Janice Moody who played on the 2009 Solheim Cup Team for Europe.
For the United States, Georgia Tech head coach Bruce Heppler, he will be assisted by Chris Hill from the University of the Pacific. Each team is consists of 10 players, that earned their way on to the team in one of four ways. By points, a committee selection, a player was selected to the USA team that was not a NCAA Division 1 player, and on the European team one player was named via their performance in the R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament. Each head coach had one selection to put on the team.
Beau Hossler the 2014 Western Amateur Champion at Beverly Country Club, will represent Team USA in the Palmer Cup.
One member of Team Europe will be Fighting Illini Golfer Thomas Detry. Detry hails from Belgium and qualified through the point system earned by his play at Illinois.
Beau Hossler who won the 2014 Western Amateur Championship, gets a sneak peek at Rich Harvest Farms where the Western Amateur will be played this August, as he will play for Team USA.
Unlike the professional events, spectators will be able to get right up close to the players, and will be able to walk the fairways with them during the matches.
More than 80 former players of the Palmer Cup Matches have gone on to play professional golf on either the European Tour, or on the PGA Tour. Some of them include former British Open Champion Ben Curtis, former U.S. Open Champion’s Graeme McDowell and Webb Simpson. Recent Players Championship winner Rickie Fowler is a past Palmer Cup player for Team USA.
The Week starts on June 10th with a practice round and a Junior Clinic, Thursday June 11th is a college-am, opening ceremonies and the Palmer Gala at RHF that is sold out. June 12 matches begin with both Foursomes and Four-Balls matches. Saturday June 12th are singles matches, and Sunday June 13th are another set of Singles matches. Upon completion of play on Sunday are the closing ceremonies at Rich Harvest Farms.
Admission and parking are free. There are plenty of items for purchase in the souvenier tent. For more information visit Palmercup.org or Richharvestfarms.com. For sales and marketing or to volunteer call (630)-466-7610.