U.S. SENIOR OPEN

U.S. Senior Open Returning to 3 Historic Venues

By Brian DePasquale, USGA

| Sep 26, 2023 | Liberty Corner, N.J.

U.S. Senior Open Returning to 3 Historic Venues

Scioto Country Club, in Columbus, Ohio, Oak Tree National, in Edmond, Okla., and Crooked Stick Golf Club, in Carmel, Ind., have been announced by the USGA as the host sites for the U.S. Senior Open Championship in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively. Each club has previously hosted the championship. Scioto also will host the 2036 U.S. Amateur Championship.

“The USGA is pleased to be returning to Scioto Country Club, Oak Tree National and Crooked Stick Golf Club as host sites for the U.S. Senior Open,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “Each club has a distinguished history of hosting national championships and promoting professional and amateur competition. We know each course will challenge the world’s best players and the communities will be welcoming and supportive.”

Scioto Country Club, designed by Donald Ross, opened for play in 1916. The course was renovated by Dick Wilson in the 1960s, by four-time U.S. Open and two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Jack Nicklaus and Dr. Michael Hurdzan in 2008 and most recently in 2021 by Andrew Green, who reclaimed the course to Ross’ original intent. In addition to the golf course, Scioto has acclaimed facilities and programs for aquatics, fitness, tennis, platform tennis and pickleball.

Nicklaus and Bob Jones, two legends of the game, are tied to Scioto Country Club. Jones won the U.S. Open, one of his nine USGA championships, at the club in 1926, while Nicklaus honed his game there with teaching professional Jack Grout. Dale Douglass claimed the 1986 Senior Open at Scioto in his first year of eligibility, while Gene Sauers posted a one-stroke victory over Billy Mayfair and Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2016 during the club’s centennial year. Bruce Fleisher edged Vinny Giles by one shot in the 1968 U.S. Amateur when it was a 72-hole, stroke-play championship.

Scioto will become the third club to host three U.S. Senior Opens. Saucon Valley Country Club, in Bethlehem, Pa., was a host site for a third time in 2022 and The Broadmoor’s East Course, in Colorado Springs, Colo., will host its third in 2025.

Oak Tree National, designed by Pete Dye, opened for play in 1976. Located on 640 acres of countryside 20 miles north of Oklahoma City, the course was named after a majestic oak tree that stands on the fifth hole. Tripp Davis completed bunker, fairway and minor putting green restorations in 2009. Oak Tree also is home to many well-known PGA Tour professionals, club pros and competitive amateurs, including USGA champions Viktor Hovland, Kevin Tway, Scott Verplank and Willie Wood.

The 2027 U.S. Senior Open will be the third USGA championship to be played at Oak Tree National. Colin Montgomerie defeated Sauers in a three-hole aggregate playoff to win the 2014 Senior Open. In 1984, Verplank, a Texan who attended nearby Oklahoma State University, posted a 4-and-3 victory over Sam Randolph to capture the U.S. Amateur.

Crooked Stick Golf Club will host its seventh USGA championship but first in almost two decades. Founded in 1964, the club was designed by Pete and Alice Dye. They converted a flat cornfield north of Indianapolis and incorporated many elements of Scottish golf, including railroad ties, strip bunkers, sand and grass pot bunkers and mounds. Fred Funk shot four rounds in the 60s and established a 72-hole scoring record of 20-under par 268 en route to his six-stroke victory in the 2009 U.S. Senior Open.

Crooked Stick has also hosted the 1982 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Rich Marik, the 1983 U.S. Senior Amateur, won by William Hyndman III, the 1989 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by James Taylor, the 1993 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Laurie Merten, and the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur, won by Maria Jose Uribe.

The U.S. Senior Open is open to professional golfers, and amateurs with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4, who are at least 50 years of age by the start of championship play. The field of 156 players will compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field will be reduced to the low 60 scores and ties for the final 36 holes. The 2024 championship will be held at Newport (R.I.) Country Club, June 27-30.

The U.S. Amateur is open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. The field of 312 players competes in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is reduced to the low 64 scorers. There will be six rounds of match play concluding with a 36-hole championship match. Hazeltine National Golf Club, in Chaska, Minn., will host the 2024 championship, Aug. 12-18.

Future U.S. Senior Open Championships

June 27-30, 2024: Newport (R.I.) Country Club
June 26-29, 2025: The Broadmoor (East Course), Colorado Springs, Colo.
2026: Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio
2027: Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla.
2028: Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Ind.
2029: Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kan.
2030: Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Pebble Beach, Calif.
2032: Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa.
2038: Plainfield Country Club, Edison, N.J.
2042: Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa.