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USGA Announces 2005, 2008 U.S. Women's Open Sites

Far Hills, N.J. - Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colo. and Interlachen Country Club of Edina, Minn. have been chosen as the host sites for the 2005 and 2008 U.S. Women’s Open, respectively, as announced by the Women’s Committee of the United States Golf Association. The 2005 U.S. Women’s Open will be played on June 23-26 while the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open will be conducted on June 26-29.

"We’re delighted to announce two such high-caliber sites for the U.S. Women’s Open," said Cora Jane Blanchard, Chairman, USGA Women’s Committee. "Both clubs have a long, distinguished history with USGA championships and we’re very pleased to add the Women’s Open to their lists."

William S. Flynn designed the original layout of Cherry Hills, which opened in 1923. Press Maxwell, the team of Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, and the combination of Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva have made revisions through the years.

Cherry Hills has served as the site of seven previous USGA championships, including three U.S. Opens. Ralph Guldahl won the 1938 U.S. Open by six strokes over Dick Metz. Arnold Palmer captured the 1960 U.S. Open in dramatic fashion by coming from seven strokes back after three rounds to win by two strokes over then-amateur Jack Nicklaus. Finally, Andy North prevailed by a single stroke over J.C. Snead and Dave Stockton in 1978.

The four other USGA championships held at Cherry Hills include the 1976 USGA Senior Amateur, won by Lew Oehmig; the 1983 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by Jay Sigel; the 1990 U.S. Amateur, won by Phil Mickelson; and the 1993 U.S. Senior Open, won by Jack Nicklaus.

"We welcome the USGA to Cherry Hills for the eighth time and we’re confident the Women’s Open will be a great addition to our club’s history," Cherry Hills president Bob Butterly said. "There are few clubs in the country that have hosted the number and variety of USGA championships that Cherry Hills has, and we value that relationship."

Interlachen is perhaps most well-known as the site of the 1930 U.S. Open victory of Bobby Jones during the calendar year in which he also won the British Open, British Amateur, and U.S. Amateur.

Willie Watson routed the layout of the original course, which opened in 1910. Donald Ross designed the current course, while Willie Kidd, Robert Trent Jones, and Geoffrey Cornish have made revisions.

Besides the 1930 U.S. Open, three other USGA events have been contested at Interlachen. Glenna Collett Vare defeated Interlachen member Patty Berg, 3 and 2, during the final match of the 1935 U.S. Women’s Amateur at the club. The next USGA championship at Interlachen was the 1986 USGA Senior Amateur, won by R.S. Williams. Finally, the U.S. team defeated the squad from Great Britain & Ireland by a score of 19-5 in the 1993 Walker Cup Match.

"Interlachen, as the home course of golf legend Patty Berg, is both pleased and proud to have the opportunity to host the premier championship in women’s golf," Interlachen president David Hays said.

The 2002 U.S. Women’s Open will be conducted at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., from July 4-7. In 2003, Lake Merced G.C. in Daly City, Calif. will host the championship and the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open will be conducted at Pumpkin Ridge G. C. in North Plains, Ore.

The U.S. Women’s Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. For more information about USGA championships, please call (908) 234-2300 or visit www.usga.org.