History of the U.S. Amateur Championship

The U.S. Amateur Championship was born in 1895 due to a controversy. In 1894, two clubs - Newport (R.I.) Club and New York's St. Andrew's Golf Club - had conducted invitational tournaments to attract the nation's top amateur players. Newport's tournament was won by club member W.G. Lawrence, who triumphed over a field of 20 competitors. The match-play competition at St. Andrews attracted 27 golfers and was won by Laurence Stoddart, of the host club. Both clubs proclaimed their winners as the national champion. Clearly, golf needed a national governing body to conduct national championships, develop a single set of rules for all golfers to follow, and to promote the best interests of the game. With that, representatives from five clubs founded the USGA on Dec. 22, 1894.

As a result, in 1895, its first full year of operation, the USGA conducted the National Amateur and Women's Amateur Championship as well as . The National Amateur and Open Championships were conducted at Newport Golf Club during the same week of October and Charles B. Macdonald became the first U.S. Amateur champion. is the oldest golf championship in this country - one day older than the U.S. Open.

Many of golf’s greatest players had held the U.S. Amateur title. It was, however, longtime amateur Robert T. Jones Jr., who first attracted media coverage and spectator attendance at the Amateur Championship. Jones captured the championship five times (1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930). His 1930 victory was a stunning moment in golf history when, at Merion Cricket Club in Ardmore, Pa., Jones rounded out the , winning the four major American and British championships in one year.

Sixty-six years later, in 1996, attracted similar interest and enthusiasm when he won a record third straight U.S. Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. In 1994, Woods, at 18, entered the record book as the then youngest ever to win the Amateur Championship. In 1996, he smashed yet another record when he won, having registered 18 consecutive match-play victories. Other legends to have become U.S. Amateur Champions include , , , and .

The Owning a legendary place on the American golfing landscape, The Riviera Country Club’s famed George Thomas-designed has hosted one U.S. Open, two PGA Championships and a U.S. Senior Open, in addition to serving as the perennial site of the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open. Legends like , , , , , and Phil Mickelson have all tasted victory here, while celebrities like , , Charlie Chaplin and Dean Martin have long graced its fairways. could often be spotted watching the pros play from under the Sycamore tree by the 12th green, and it was on these historic links that the fresh ocean breezes helped Howard Hughes whittle his down to a four. Ben Hogan, who won his first U.S. Open at the Riviera in 1948, once remarked, “Some of my most pleasant memories and thoughts are of this wonderful club and magnificent golf course.” Hogan’s feelings are echoed by the world’s best golfers today, most of whom return each year to compete in the Genesis Open.

Bel-Air Country Club The Bel-Air Country Club is one of America’s most exclusive and admired clubs. It is an oasis in the urban spread that is , snuggled within the residential community of Bel-Air. U.S. Amateur Championship Preview The club has a wonderful story behind its beginnings with founder , Sr. hiring famed architect George C. Thomas in 1925. The two ultimately selected the magnificent routing through the hills and canyons of Mr. Bell’s sprawling property and the now famous “Swinging July 12-13, 2016 Bridge” walkway over the ravine at hole no. 10 quickly has become the club’s architectural landmark. The Bel-Air Country Club has hosted two major USGA Championships in its history: the 1976 U.S. Amateur and the 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur. Oakland Hills Country Club Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Schedule of Events The USGA, The Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club cordially invite

you to the 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship Preview. Monday, July 24

The U.S. Amateur Championship Preview package includes: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast  One Round of Golf at The Riviera Country Club with cart and fore-

 One Round of Golf at Bel-Air Country Club with cart and fore-caddie 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. USGA Championship Press Conference

 Insider Access to the USGA’s Championship Press Conference 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch  Full Lunch Buffet on Monday, July 24 and Tuesday, July 25

 U.S. Amateur Celebration Reception with Cocktails & Hors d ’Oeuvres 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Golf Outing - The Riviera Country Club -USGA Featured Speakers discuss the U.S. Amateur Championship

-Silent Auction with Special Golf Opportunities and Memorabilia 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. U.S. Amateur Celebration Reception

 Full Breakfast Buffet on Tuesday, July 25 *Cocktails & Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres *Speakers and Auction Items  U.S. Amateur Gift Bag

 Photo Opportunity with famed Havemeyer Trophy Tuesday, July 25

 USGA Preferred Accommodations Rate 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Registration / Breakfast

7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Golf Outing - Bel-Air Country Club 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship Preview Pricing 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Closing Remarks Foursome $3,500 Individual $950 For all questions,

*Payments can be made by check or credit card to the USGA. Robbie Zalzneck Director, U.S. Amateurplease Championship contact: OFFICE 910-295-3900 Cell 910-409-0465 [email protected] History of the U.S. Amateur Championship

The U.S. Amateur Championship was born in 1895 due to a controversy. In 1894, two clubs - Newport (R.I.) Golf Club and New York's St. Andrew's Golf Club - had conducted invitational tournaments to attract the nation's top amateur players. Newport's stroke play tournament was won by club member W.G. Lawrence, who triumphed over a field of 20 competitors. The match-play competition at St. Andrews attracted 27 golfers and was won by Laurence Stoddart, of the host club. Both clubs proclaimed their winners as the national champion. Clearly, golf needed a national governing body to conduct national championships, develop a single set of rules for all golfers to follow, and to promote the best interests of the game. With that, representatives from five clubs founded the USGA on Dec. 22, 1894.

As a result, in 1895, its first full year of operation, the USGA conducted the National Amateur and Women's Amateur Championship as well as the Open Championship. The National Amateur and Open Championships were conducted at Newport Golf Club during the same week of October and Charles B. Macdonald became the first U.S. Amateur champion. The Amateur Championship is the oldest golf championship in this country - one day older than the U.S. Open.

Many of golf’s greatest players had held the U.S. Amateur title. It was, however, longtime amateur Robert T. Jones Jr., who first attracted media coverage and spectator attendance at the Amateur Championship. Jones captured the championship five times (1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930). His 1930 victory was a stunning moment in golf history when, at Merion Cricket Club in Ardmore, Pa., Jones rounded out the Grand Slam, winning the four major American and British championships in one year.

Sixty-six years later, in 1996, Tiger Woods attracted similar interest and enthusiasm when he won a record third straight U.S. Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. In 1994, Woods, at 18, entered the record book as the then youngest ever to win the Amateur Championship. In 1996, he smashed yet another record when he won, having registered 18 consecutive match-play victories. Other legends to have become U.S. Amateur Champions include Chick Evans, Francis Ouimet, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.

The Riviera Country Club Owning a legendary place on the American golfing landscape, The Riviera Country Club’s famed George Thomas-designed golf course has hosted one U.S. Open, two PGA Championships and a U.S. Senior Open, in addition to serving as the perennial site of the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open. Legends like Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson have all tasted victory here, while celebrities like Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Dean Martin have long graced its fairways. Humphrey Bogart could often be spotted watching the pros play from under the Sycamore tree by the 12th green, and it was on these historic links that the fresh ocean breezes helped Howard Hughes whittle his handicap down to a four. Ben Hogan, who won his first U.S. Open at the Riviera in 1948, once remarked, “Some of my most pleasant memories and thoughts are of this wonderful club and magnificent golf course.” Hogan’s feelings are echoed by the world’s best golfers today, most of whom return each year to compete in the Genesis Open.

Bel-Air Country Club The Bel-Air Country Club is one of America’s most exclusive and admired clubs. It is an oasis in the urban spread that is Los Angeles, snuggled within the residential community of Bel-Air. U.S. Amateur Championship Preview The club has a wonderful story behind its beginnings with founder Alphonzo Bell, Sr. hiring famed architect George C. Thomas in 1925. The two ultimately selected the magnificent routing through the hills and canyons of Mr. Bell’s sprawling property and the now famous “Swinging July 12-13, 2016 Bridge” walkway over the ravine at hole no. 10 quickly has become the club’s architectural landmark. The Bel-Air Country Club has hosted two major USGA Championships in its history: the 1976 U.S. Amateur and the 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur. Oakland Hills Country Club Bloomfield Hills, Michigan