After Pinehurst named U.S. Open anchor site Oakmont named second

As part of its commitment to stage golf’s greatest championships at the nation’s most iconic venues, the United States Golf Association (USGA) has awarded five more U.S. Open Championships and four U.S. Women’s Open Championships to Oakmont Country Club and Merion Golf Club, located in Pennsylvania. The announcement comes after the USGA partnered with Pinehurst to be an anchor site.

As part of the announcement, the USGA has also committed to bring its national championships to the Keystone State with greater frequency, beyond the now 18 championships scheduled to be played in the commonwealth between now and 2050, said the USGA in a press release.

Sandhills Sentinel Reporter John Patota traveled to Pennsylvania to cover the announcement and this week’s U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club. The announcement was made on Wednesday at Oakmont, supported by representatives from both clubs, as well as several legislators.

Oakmont Country Club, which was previously announced as the host site for the 2025 U.S. Open, will host the 2028 and 2038 U.S. Women’s Opens, the 2034, 2042 and 2049 U.S. Opens, the 2033 Walker Cup Match and the 2046 U.S. Women’s Amateur. It will become the second U.S. Open anchor site named by the USGA, in an effort to return to iconic venues with deep and meaningful USGA championship history every five to six years. Pinehurst Resort & Country Club was designated an anchor site last year.

Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, which was previously named the host site for the 2022 Curtis Cup Match and the 2026 U.S. Amateur, will host four additional Opens – the 2030 U.S. Open, 2034 U.S. Women’s Open, 2046 U.S. Women’s Open and 2050 U.S. Open, with additional championships to be named in the future.

The USGA will conduct five Men’s U.S. Opens in Pinehurst every five to seven years beginning in 2024 and one U.S. Women’s Open every 10 years. The USGA also committed to investing $25 million in facilities with a total of 50 employees.

Pinehurst No. 2. Sandhills Sentinel/John Patota.

The USGA will move parts of its operations to Pinehurst beginning in 2023.

Moving to Pinehurst will be the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History and the ball and equipment testing facility. A visitor center is also part of the plan. They all are presently headquartered in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, in what is known as the USGA Golf House.

Also relocating to Pinehurst will be the section dedicated to turfgrass agronomy and management. Partnering with the USGA in turfgrass research will be NC State, NC A&T State University, and Sandhills Community College. It is expected that cooperation will lead to future job opportunities and training.

The USGA intends to call the new facilities Golf House Pinehurst.   

For a complete list of upcoming USGA championships, see usga.org/championships.

Feature photo of Fred Perpall, USGA Chairman Committee Chair in Pennsylvania on Aug. 11, 2021, captured by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter John Patota.

Sandhills_Sentinel~Article written with the help of Sandhills Sentinel Reporter John Patota.

 

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