Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Bill Brightly on September 22, 2011, 03:49:06 PM
-
It just became official that the 2014 US Mid Am will be played at Saucon Valley's Old and Weyhill courses.
I am so happy that Weyhill was chosen as the second course, even though it might have been easier from a logistics standpoint to use the Old and Grace courses (since the same locker room and driving range could be used, and members could use the Weyhill course with its separate facilities.) I am obviously biased, but I think Old and Weyhill will be superb tests for these players. I took Joe Bausch to play both courses this year, so if any of you Philly guys have not seen the renovated Weyhill course, drop me a note. I have always felt this is one of the best parkland sites in the US and the changes made last year are fantastic.
And if any of the "sticks" on GCA actually qualify for the event, I'll definitely be happy to show you the courses!
SAUCON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB SELECTED AS SITE OF 2014 U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Far Hills, N.J. (Sept. 22) – Saucon Valley Country Club, in Bethlehem, Pa., has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the site of the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The dates of the championship are Sept. 6-11.
Saucon Valley’s Old and Weyhill Courses will be used for the 2014 championship, with Weyhill hosting the match-play portion of the competition.
Herbert Strong designed the Old Course, which opened in 1921. William and David Gordon designed the Weyhill Course, which opened in 1968. Both courses have recently undergone restorations overseen by Fazio Golf, the Old in 2008 and the Weyhill in 2011. Saucon Valley’s historic facility boasts a third 18-hole layout, the Grace Course, as well as a six-hole practice course. The club is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
“Saucon Valley has been privileged to host six United States Golf Association championships,” said Saucon Valley Country Club President Andrew Warner. “We are delighted to have been selected to host the 34th U.S. Mid-Amateur. Saucon Valley’s relationship with the USGA dates back 60 years and has been mutually beneficial as our membership proudly offers its remarkable facility for the USGA to hold yet another exceptional national championship.”
The 2014 Mid-Amateur Championship will be the seventh USGA championship to be hosted by the club and its sixth different championship. The 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Eun-Hee Ji with a birdie on the 72nd hole, was the most recent USGA championship at the club.
The 1951 U.S. Amateur (won by Billy Maxwell) was the first USGA championship at Saucon Valley, which is located in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. The other national championships at the club were: 1983 U.S. Junior Amateur (won by Tim Straub); 1987 USGA Senior Amateur (won by John Richardson); and the 1992 and 2000 U.S. Senior Opens (won by Larry Laoretti and Hale Irwin, respectively).
The club has also hosted a number of Pennsylvania Golf Association and Golf Association of Philadelphia championships.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
Media Contact: Pete Kowalski (pkowalski@usga.org)
Web Address: www.usga.org
USGA Phone: 908-234-2300 ext.1322 (office) 908-216-8435 (cell)
-
Bill,
From the looks of it, Weyhill is actually going to be the Match play course, with "Old" being the "2nd" course. I just got back from caddying for my brother in the Mid-Am and it is a great event.
Jason
-
Bill,
This is a tribute to the fine work that has been done at Weyhill. It will certainly bring Weyhill the national attention it deserves.
-
Bill,
Saucon Valley has a fond place in my memories as I did an internship in college there working for Landscapes Unlimited. I haven't seen the course since 2003, but I really liked the place.
Congrats to the club, it should be a wonderful event.
-
Cool! I am playing the Weyhill on Sunday for the first time so this heightens the expectations. I hear the Old is great too but no time on this trip unfortunately.
-
Congrats to the club!
Here is the thread on the Weyhill course from a couple of months ago:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49018.0.html
And here is a link to my entire photo album on the Weyhill course:
http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/sauconweyhill/
And here is the thread on the Old course from a couple of months ago:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49090.0.html
And here is a link to my entire photo album on the Old course:
http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/sauconold/
-
Congratulations Bill. Saucon is a perfect site. I was fortunate to play Weyhill six weeks ago and was very impressed with the work. I have long admired the Old Course as well. Its hard to think of a club with three courses of the quality of Saucon's.
-
Congrats, Bill. Should be a perfect venue for this event!
-
I'm in. ;D
Just got my call today as a first alternate from my site. I remember seeing Saucon Valley on TV as far back as its first Senior Open in the early 90's. I can't wait!
-
Bill,
Nothing like short notice.
Saucon Valley is a pretty neat place.
My dad played in the U.S. Amateur there in the early 50's.
P.S. Have fun tomorrow and Wednesday.
-
Matt-
Good luck in September.
-
Two years ago a couple of other GCA guys got in. Anyone else this year?
-
Matt C. -
Congrats and good luck!
You must have missed this thread from a couple of weeks ago. GCA-ers David Bartman and Jeff Fortson were medalists at two SoCal qualifying sites.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59209.0.html
DT
-
I really look forward to seeing how these players handle the golf course, particularly Weyhill. I've played Grace and Weyhill, and quite frankly, I was shocked at how good a course Weyhill is. It's also gorgeous and should present well.
-
Matt--congrats and good luck. I will be there as a volunteer.
-
I'll be there and really looking forward to it!
Lawrence Largent
-
I'm at SVCC right now, played 36 today and 36 more tomorrow. Courses are in amazing shape.
Good luck Matt, message me if you have any questions.
-
Saucon is such a great place. The hospitality has always been fantastic. It's been a few years since I played the Old but was there for the Women's Open and was impressed. Weyhill on the other hand is one of my favorite courses anywhere! Congratulations to Saucon. No doubt it will put on a great show!
-
See you there Matt!
-
Weyhill is a gem and don't forget the world famous showers.
-
Matt--congrats and good luck. I will be there as a volunteer.
Chris, please look the myself and the other GCAers that qualified, always nice to put a face with a name. Also, thanks in advance for helping out and volunteering we greatly appreciate it.
nice Matt, nice playing in NCGA match play as well
-
Played the Old today. I've seen worse golf courses. ;D
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8371_zps98797ead.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8348_zps4de2ec61.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8353_zpsdf623105.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8358_zpsc63c3f8f.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8360_zps66f6749c.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8349_zpsba06ddc6.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8363_zpsdd9fb414.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8372_zps53c9dd35.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8346_zpsc0293558.jpg)
(http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8356_zpsc783a0bf.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8345_zps3867a564.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/cohnhead72/IMG_8351_zpsb0ab4e81.jpg)
-
I've a couple of days at Saucon Valley next month including an overnight in the guest house, looking forward to it!
-
Matt--congrats and good luck. I will be there as a volunteer.
Chris, please look the myself and the other GCAers that qualified, always nice to put a face with a name. Also, thanks in advance for helping out and volunteering we greatly appreciate it.
nice Matt, nice playing in NCGA match play as well
Will do. I fly in tomorrow and will be a roving Rules Official during the Championship--I will try and find you guys--good luck to all our competitors!
-
Chris,
If your roving takes you over to #15 on Weyhill, let me know what they do with the long fescue on the hill short and eft of the green. We play it as red hazard. Perhaps they'll leave it unmarked for the Mid Am.
And while you are looking at that hole from the tee, try to envision evry tree on the left being removed to open up a secong great look at the quarry! ;)
-
Will do!
-
I'm on what's normally the 14th tee now, but it's the fourth hole in our routing. The hill on 15 looks to be unmarked.
-
Matt--congrats and good luck. I will be there as a volunteer.
Chris, please look the myself and the other GCAers that qualified, always nice to put a face with a name. Also, thanks in advance for helping out and volunteering we greatly appreciate it.
nice Matt, nice playing in NCGA match play as well
Will do. I fly in tomorrow and will be a roving Rules Official during the Championship--I will try and find you guys--good luck to all our competitors!
Guys, I am heading up this afternoon as I will be serving as a Pace of Play Checkpoint official on the 18th Hole Old for both days of the stroke-play competition.
-
I'm on what's normally the 14th tee now, but it's the fourth hole in our routing. The hill on 15 looks to be unmarked.
As a point of interest, the routing you are playing is the original one when Beth Steel built the course. The Weyhill Guest House was expanded to include a locker room and additional rooms. Naturally, one and ten tees were near the Weyhill Guest House.
When Beth Steel determined they needed to sell the course, which was purchased by Saucon Valley CC, Beth Steel kept the guest house as a meeting place. So a different building on the property had to be used as a locker room/lunch area, and a new routing had to be found. The current 4th, apr 4 with pond on right became hole number 1 and this has remained, even after the club subsequently purchased the guest house. The current routing is superb, with a great 7 hole finish.
I'm sure the USGA is using the old routing because there is so much more parking near the guest house.
-
Good luck to our GCA players Sunday!
-
I hope all the GCA guys do well but I'll be pulling most heavily for my old high school teammate Bill Williamson who was runner-up in this event last year. He is tied for second after the first round today, though he was on the Old which looked to have lower scores.
-
Well, I played rather terribly today (78, +7). I really did nothing well.
I have had quite a three days from a golf point of view, though. Thursday I played my practice round on the Old. Yesterday I played my practice round on Weyhill and then played Lehigh Country Club in the afternoon. Today I played Old in the morning and Plainfield Country Club in the afternoon (possibly my new favorite golf course).
Now I'm mostly just tired. Pictures another time! ;D
-
I have had quite a three days from a golf point of view, though. Thursday I played my practice round on the Old. Yesterday I played my practice round on Weyhill and then played Lehigh Country Club in the afternoon. Today I played Old in the morning and Plainfield Country Club in the afternoon (possibly my new favorite golf course).
Now I'm mostly just tired. Pictures another time! ;D
Hell of a stretch of courses, Matt. I'm a huge Plainfield fan myself.
-
It would take forever to post so many pictures on here, so here are links to my albums on Facebook:
Weyhill: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101439214289822.1073741832.108419&type=1&l=c3df7663b5
Lehigh: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101439215322752.1073741833.108419&type=1&l=f3ca0da1ad
Old: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101439213671062.1073741831.108419&type=1&l=c84f6ea638
Plainfield: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101440178587362.1073741834.108419&type=1&l=3e54e4d81f
-
Matt, I think you posted Lehigh twice and missed posting SVCC Old.
-
Matt, I think you posted Lehigh twice and missed posting SVCC Old.
Links are updated above, including Plainfield!
-
Congrats to Jeff Fortson, who finished the 36-hole qualifying T11.
-
Great playing Jeff.
-
Congrats to Jeff Fortson, who finished the 36-hole qualifying T11.
If you go to the USGA site and click on Mid Amateur, you will quickly find a sidebar story about Mr. Fortson. Really good story about a terrific guy.
-
Bill Williamson and Michael McCoy will have a rematch of their 2013 final this afternoon IF they both win their morning matches today.
-
Here is a link to the story on Jeff
http://www.usga.org/ChampEventArticle2.aspx?id=21474872471
-
A little history of Saucon Valley CC
By David Shefter, USGA
September 9, 2014
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Indirectly, Saucon Valley Country Club, site of the 34th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, is responsible for the construction of iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Chrysler Building, Hoover Dam and New York’s Madison Square Garden.
How did a sleepy private facility in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley play a role in these structures?
It occurs when your club is comprised almost entirely of employees from the country’s second-largest steel company.
While Bethlehem Steel never owned Saucon Valley, its membership rolls for many years made up for nearly 90 percent of its management.
“It started out 95 percent [Bethlehem Steel] with a couple of doctors and lawyers,” said Barry Treadwell, a 34-year Saucon Valley member who is the general chairman for the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur and relocated to the area from Boston to work at Bethlehem Steel. “I can remember when I joined in 1980, my next-door neighbor was an oral surgeon. He was a member and I asked how long he waited to get in. He told me seven years and asked him if that bothered him. He said no because, ‘I knew it was the home of Bethlehem Steel and there weren’t that many outsiders who got in.’ And when you did get in, you were happy.”
Eugene Grace, the second chairman of Bethlehem Steel, was responsible for Saucon Valley’s golf prominence. Before Grace joined the company in 1916, he had two options. He could play baseball for the New York Yankees or serve as the assistant to the first president of Bethlehem Steel, Charles M. Schwab, who formed the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in 1899 with Joseph Wharton.
The company itself dates to 1857 when it was called the Saucona Iron Company. The name changed to the Bethlehem Iron Company in 1861 and was incorporated as Bethlehem Steel 38 years later.
Under Grace’s leadership, Bethlehem Steel became the largest shipbuilder in the country. During World War II, Bethlehem Steel promised President Franklin D. Roosevelt it would build a ship a day via the company’s 18 shipyards. It exceeded its commitment by 15 ships.
After the war, Bethlehem Steel developed the wide flange steel beam, which allowed buildings to be constructed more than two stories high. The Chrysler Building in New York City was an example of that new steel technology.
Grace was such a golf enthusiast that he made sure there were management courses in every city in which Bethlehem Steel owned a plant. In the Lehigh Valley, The Steel Club (now Silver Creek Country Club) was the course for the plant managers. Saucon Valley served as a corporate club. When the club’s growth in the early 1950s required a second golf course, it was Grace who brought in architect David Gordon to design what is now called the Grace Course.
Treadwell told the story of how Grace would have his secretary alert Bethlehem’s chief of police when he left the office and headed to the club, about five miles away.
“He would have all of his officers control the [traffic] lights so he had green lights all the way down,” said Treadwell.
Another story involves the 1951 U.S. Amateur conducted at Saucon Valley. Grace was standing near the 13th tee and watched as player after player hit their tee shots down the left-hand side. Bobby Nichols told Grace the hole was a “breather” on the highly challenging Herbert Strong layout that has been renovated over the years by such architects as Perry Maxwell, and the duo of Tom Fazio and Tom Marzolf from the Fazio Group.
Hearing this talk, Grace called in some Bethlehem Steel employees to have them construct several bunkers to the left of the fairway prior to the start of the championship. It was akin to the USGA installing a tree on the Inverness Club’s par-5 eighth hole in the 1979 U.S. Open to prevent the long-hitting Lon Hinkle from taking a shortcut down the adjacent 17th fairway.
Working overtime, the bunkers were installed in time for the competition.
“Nobody is alive to refute that story,” said Treadwell. “We’re telling it and sticking with it.”
In the 1960s, some Bethlehem Steel executives thought Saucon Valley was getting too big, so they purchased land at nearby Weyhill Farm and had Gordon design the Weyhill Course, which opened in 1968. Weyhill, which was recently renovated by The Fazio Group, served as the companion stroke-play qualifying venue for the Mid-Amateur.
“If you were a member here [at Saucon Valley], you could play Weyhill for like $5,” said Treadwell, who played ice hockey at Harvard University in the 1960s. “They thought it was getting too crowded over here and they wanted [a club] that was more exclusive for their customers. They would do a lot of entertaining on the golf course.”
But when Bethlehem Steel started its decline toward bankruptcy in the early 1990s, Saucon Valley, whose membership had diversified in the last quarter-century, purchased Weyhill in 1995. They also later purchased the Weyhill Guest House, which has roots to 1790. The Guest House has 13 unique guest rooms and was utilized during the Mid-Amateur.
Today, the club has nearly 1,000 members and features three championship-caliber courses, although all seven USGA championships contested at Saucon Valley have been played on the Old Course. Membership wanted to have Weyhill serve as the companion qualifying course to showcase the recent renovation, but some believe the Grace Course is the most challenging from the back tees.
The scoring averages between the two qualifying venues were almost identical. The Old Course, which hosted the match-play portion of the championship, played at 77.7, while Weyhill was 0.6 strokes lower.
When asked which course is his favorite, Treadwell opted for the political response.
“It’s the one I am playing that day,” he said.
Some remnants of the Bethlehem Steel days remain on the Weyhill Course, including limekilns that were used to make fertilizer. Two holes also traverse an old quarry.
But very little else is left from the Bethlehem Steel days. Treadwell, 71, is one of the few members with ties to the company.
Nevertheless, the club, with a tad fewer than 1,000 active members – 450 of whom are full-time members – still maintains a love for conducting elite competitions. Treadwell has been around for one U.S. Junior Amateur (1983), one U.S. Senior Amateur (1987), two U.S. Senior Opens (1992 and 2000) and one U.S. Women’s Open (2009). This week, he has been traversing the grounds, helping out in a variety of roles. He was even running caddie bibs to the tees.
Saucon Valley attracted 600 volunteers, enough to utilize a scorekeeper and forecaddie for each group during stroke-play qualifying, a first in the 34-year history of the Mid-Amateur.
“It’s been a wonderful week,” said Treadwell. “I can’t say enough about the players and how they appreciated all of our volunteers. We’ve had a good percentage of our membership volunteering. And we got help from the Lehigh [University] kids.
“I don’t know how the entire membership [at-large] feels about [the championship], but it’s been good.”
-
Looks like the mid am is about to get a very worthy champion in Scott Harvey.
-
Looks like the mid am is about to get a very worthy champion in Scott Harvey.
Not surprising that the player who shot what is believed to be the competitive course record at Saucon Valley during stroke play qualifying is now holding the trophy at the end of the week. Congrats Mr. Harvey. Glad I was able to see you play some of that phenomenal round on Saturday.