Two Arizona Courses Awarded USGA Events | Sports Destination Management

Two Arizona Courses Awarded USGA Events

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Mar 16, 2021

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. has been awarded the 61st U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, scheduled for September 30 – October 5, 2023, and the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, scheduled for September 13 – 18, 2025. In addition, Troon North Golf Club will serve as the stroke play co-host for the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

The 61st U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship will feature a field of 132 golfers age 50 and above, and includes two rounds of stroke play. The low 64 scorers then advance to match play, where there are six rounds of match play – 64 golfers, 32, 16, Quarter-Final, Semi-Final and an 18-hole final match.

The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship is open to amateur golfers age 25 years and older whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 3.4. The 264 competitors will play two rounds of stroke play, one at Troon North Golf Club and one at Troon Country Club, with the low 64 advancing to match play at Troon Country Club. Match play rounds of 64 golfers, 32, 16, 8 and 4 will lead to the 36-hole Mid-Amateur Championship between the finalists.

Troon Country Club is a Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf-design that originally opened for play in 1986. In 2020, the course underwent a $4.6 million dollar, seven-month-long renovation led by Weiskopf and design consultant Phil Smith. Troon Country Club hosted the 1990 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, won by Jim Stuart 1-up over Mark Sollenberger, who was a three-time Arizona State Amateur champion; member of the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame; and attended Arizona State University. Current Troon Country Club member Dan Belden also competed in the 1990 Championship.

The state of Arizona has hosted 16 USGA Championships at 11 host sites. The most recent USGA Championship held in Arizona was in 2019 when the Women’s Mid-Amateur was played at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff. The last USGA Championship held in the Metro Phoenix area was the 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree.

“The Members of Troon Country Club are honored to partner with the USGA to host these two prestigious National Championships,” said Garrett Wallace, general manager, Troon Country Club. “Tom Weiskopf’s first golf course design has stood the test of time and with the refinements completed under his watchful eye in 2020, will provide a challenging test to the best amateur golfers in the world.”

As part of the 2020 renovation, Weiskopf and Smith made design modifications to enhance playability, accentuate site lines and assist in course maintenance. All greens were resurfaced with A4 bentgrass, all tees were leveled, expanded and several new forward tees were added. Tee boxes, fairways and rough were re-grassed with TifWay 419 bermudagrass. Bunkers were modified (some eliminated), reshaped and rebuilt incorporating a technically advanced drainage and liner system featuring Capillary Concrete.  The new bunkers are filled with Caltega bunker sand and are expected to last for many years to come. The Club’s irrigation system was also updated, including all new high-density polyethylenemainline and lateral piping; new Rainbird IC system sprinkler heads with central control; and a new WaterTronics pump station. The ultra-efficient irrigation system allows crews to individually control each sprinkler head on the golf course assisting in the club’s water conservation efforts.

The golf course renovation came on the heels of Troon Country Club’s $7.5 million clubhouse expansion and renovation completed in January 2018. Douglas Fredrikson Architects of Phoenix oversaw the project which gave the clubhouse a new, modern look featuring an incredible 9,000 sq. ft. Health and Wellness Center on the newly added second floor of the building. The state-of-the-art Wellness Center includes space for more than 20 group classes, while on-staff trainers customize personal fitness regimens to fit each member. The Health and Wellness Center also offers TRX suspension training, a private Pilates studio, physical therapy, a stretching area, a steam room, and private lounges.

For more information on Troon Country Club, visit www.trooncc.com or call 480-473-5093.

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.

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