Pinehurst to host six additional USGA championships

Following the monumental announcement in 2020 of the establishment of “Golf House Pinehurst” and the first U.S. Open Anchor Site at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced Tuesday that Pinehurst will serve as the host for six more prestigious USGA championships in the coming years.

These events include the 2027 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 2032 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior, 2038 U.S. Amateur, 2044 U.S. Women’s Amateur and a future U.S. Adaptive Open. The 2027 and 2044 U.S. Women’s Amateurs and 2038 U.S. Amateur will be held on Pinehurst No. 2, with the remaining championship’s courses to be determined at a later date.

“Bringing more championships to a venue like Pinehurst is a testament to the USGA’s commitment to our long term partnership with the Resort and our promise of expanding the presence of our organization in the area,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “Pinehurst’s rich golfing heritage and commitment to excellence make it the perfect setting for all of the USGA’s world-class events. Their commitment to our Open championships is incredible, and now we are able to shine a light on the amateur game here as well.” 

This decision reaffirms the USGA’s commitment to Pinehurst and North Carolina while marking a significant milestone in the association’s strategic efforts to bring its other premier championships to the state with more frequency. The inclusion of the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior will mark the first time these championships will be contested at Pinehurst. The resort has hosted one U.S. Women’s Amatuer in 1989 and the U.S. Amateur will be played at Pinehurst for a fourth time when it returns in 2038. In addition to the championships announced today, Pinehurst will host the U.S. Open in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. The U.S. Women’s Open will come to Pinehurst in 2029 for another historic year of back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships. 

“We are honored and thrilled to welcome these USGA championships to our historic venue in the years to come and today continues to help us achieve our goal of hosting a variety of premier championships,” said Bob Dedman Jr., speaking on behalf of the Dedman family, which owns Pinehurst Resort. “This continued partnership with the USGA reflects our shared dedication to the game of golf and the bright future we envision together. Pinehurst’s legacy in golf combined with the USGA’s commitment to innovation ensures that our collaboration will continue to create memorable championship moments for years to come at all levels of the game.” 

In total, North Carolina has hosted 37 USGA championships while Pinehurst Resort has hosted 12 USGA championships. The resort has played host to several championships in recent years including the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship, the first two playings of the U.S. Adaptive Open in 2022 and 2023 and back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships in 2014, which were won by Martin Kaymer and Michelle Wie West. 

Future USGA Championships at Pinehurst 

The U.S. Women’s Amateur marks the beginning of women’s competitive golf in the United States, having been founded in 1895, the same year as the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open. It is open to female amateur golfers with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 5.4, and it boasts champions such as Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Juli Inkster, Lydia Ko, Danielle Kang and Rose Zhang. The U.S. Women’s Amateur champion earns an exemption into the following year’s U.S. Women’s Open. 

Established in 1948 by the USGA, the U.S. Junior Amateur is open to amateur golfers who have not reached their 19th birthday by the conclusion of the championship and who have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4. Among the notable champions are three-time winner Tiger Woods, two-time winner Jordan Spieth, Johnny Miller, David Duval, Hunter Mahan, Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris. The 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur will take place at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 

The U.S. Girls’ Junior was first conducted in 1949 and is open to female amateurs who have not reached their 19th birthday by the conclusion of the championship and have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 9.4. The champion of the U.S. Girls’ Junior earns an exemption into the following year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Notable U.S. Girls’ Junior champions include Mickey Wright, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Hollis Stacy, Nancy Lopez, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Minjee Lee. The 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior will take place at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, Calif. 

One of the USGA’s three original championships, the U.S. Amateur is open to amateur golfers who have a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. The championship contains a field of 312 golfers who play two 18-hole rounds of stroke play. The championship is decided by a 36-hole final, and the champion and runner-up are invited to the following year’s U.S. Open Championship. The 2024 U.S. Amateur will take place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. 

The U.S. Adaptive Open is open to both male and female professional and amateur golfers with a Handicap Index of 36.4 or less and an eligible impairment confirmed by a WR4GD Pass. The championship is contested over 54 holes of stroke play. Multiple sets of tees are utilized, and carts are permitted for all players and caddies. A player’s Handicap Index is the primary factor in determining the field, with the USGA reserving at least five male player spots and two female player spots per impairment category. The 2024 championship will take place at Sand Creek Station In Newton, Kan. 

Photo: U.S. Open Championship men’s trophy on Pinehurst No. 2 golf course/Sandhills Sentinel photographer Wendy Hodges. 

Contributed.