Los Angeles CC to host 2017 Walker Cup

[Joel_Stewart]

A very big surprise, the USGA announced LACC will host the Walker Cup in 2017.

Far Hills, N.J. (Sept. 11) – The Los Angeles Country Club has been selected by the United States Golf Association as the site for the 46th Walker Cup Match. The dates of the Match are Sept. 9-10, 2017.

The 2017 Match will be played on the North Course, which opened in 1921 and was originally designed by W. Herbert Fowler, with George C. Thomas Jr. in charge of construction. Thomas redesigned the North Course in 1927, with William P. Bell as the builder.

“The Los Angeles Country Club is honored to have the USGA accept its invitation to host the 2017 Walker Cup Match on its historic George Thomas-designed North Course,” said Robert Cooper, club president. “The club believes that itschampionship course, enthusiastic membership support and predictably agreeable September weather will produce a memorable competition.”

The Los Angeles Country Club will be hosting its third USGA-sanctioned golf event, having served as the site of the 1930 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 1954 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The only previous Walker Cup Match in the state of California was in 1981 at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach.

First contested in 1922, the Walker Cup Match is a biennial team competition between 10 amateur players representing the USA and 10 amateur players representing Great Britain and Ireland. The Walker Cup Match is played over two days and consists of 18 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate shot) matches. The 42nd Walker Cup match takes place Sept. 12-13 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

The 43rd Walker Cup Match will be played at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland, Sept. 10-11, 2011, and the 44th Match will be played at National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y., Sept. 7-8, 2013. The site of the 2015 Match has not been announced.

[ed_getka]

Very cool. I'm taking my son to the Walker Cup tomorrow. I'm looking forward to taking him to NGLA in 2013 for the Walker Cup. Now we have 2017 to look forward to.

[Jon Spaulding]

Very, very cool. There have been some rumors about them doing something with the USGA....but I'm still shocked.

With the work in process, I'll simply say they have a LOT to look forward to....

[David Stamm]

Very, very cool. There have been some rumors about them doing something with the USGA....but I'm still shocked.

With the work in process, I'll simply say they have a LOT to look forward to....

I was hoping you were going to show pics to the class.


Very good news. I will be there for sure.

[rjsimper]

Oh look! Frilly bunkers! How strategic!!
 


(Seriously...very cool announcement - with LACC's low profile this seems like a Salinger TV interview)

[David Stamm]

Oh look! Frilly bunkers! How strategic!!
 


(Seriously...very cool announcement - with LACC's low profile this seems like a Salinger TV interview)

You have much to learn, young Skywalker. If you saw the rest of the course, you'd be blown away. And they haven't even touched the greenside ones or the greens yet. Don't look now, but there may be a new George Thomas sheriff in town.

[rjsimper]

Oh look! Frilly bunkers! How strategic!!
 


(Seriously...very cool announcement - with LACC's low profile this seems like a Salinger TV interview)

You have much to learn, young Skywalker. If you saw the rest of the course, you'd be blown away. And they haven't even touched the greenside ones or the greens yet. Don't look now, but there may be a new George Thomas sheriff in town.

Oh come on now...I have no doubt that they are improving the course.  However, please tell me how these frilly edges change the strategy or play of the 11th hole.  So long as we can all admit that it's eye candy and nothing more, we can co-exist.

[David Stamm]

Oh look! Frilly bunkers! How strategic!!
 


(Seriously...very cool announcement - with LACC's low profile this seems like a Salinger TV interview)

You have much to learn, young Skywalker. If you saw the rest of the course, you'd be blown away. And they haven't even touched the greenside ones or the greens yet. Don't look now, but there may be a new George Thomas sheriff in town.

Oh come on now...I have no doubt that they are improving the course.  However, please tell me how these frilly edges change the strategy or play of the 11th hole.  So long as we can all admit that it's eye candy and nothing more, we can co-exist.

Oh come on now, please tell me that it does not look better than what was there before. Have you no appreciation for artistry?

"There is no thrill in driving over an ugly hazard."

[Robert_Ball]

Hopefully by 2017 the Walker Cup will get some decent TV coverage and everyone can see the fine restoration work by Gil, Jim and Geoff.

Ryan,
Don't you know that the angle of that photo is the strategic line?  11 clearly calls for a 40yd hook. 

[rjsimper]

"There is no thrill in driving over an ugly hazard."

As long as your gospel admits that it's eye candy - nobody ever said eye candy was a bad thing, but it's still eye candy

Remember, I'm an ocean whore...I love "pretty"...but I do believe my thrill would be just the same knocking one to 10 feet on 11 at LACC whether these bunkers look like the above or whether they look like giant white jelly beans...I just want to make a 2!

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

This is wonderful news. I am pleased with the membership at LACC for this commitement to the game as well as the USGA for a great choice of venues.

[Bill_McBride]

What an incredible contrast between Walker Cup and Ryder Cup venues!

it's hard to be too critical of the USGA when the PGA is there to show what greed really means!

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Bill that is interesting view and correct. The USGA has a basket full of its own issues but the PGA almost always finds a way to more and worse. My hat is off to the USGA on these recent Walker Cup venues

[Tim_Cronin]

Wow. As the release noted, LACC hasn't hosted anything since Arnold Palmer discovered golf. This will be the first USGA toonamint with the Beverly Hilton as the media hotel. (It's adjacent to the club's South Course on Wilshire Blvd.)

[Steve Kline]

"There is no thrill in driving over an ugly hazard."

As long as your gospel admits that it's eye candy - nobody ever said eye candy was a bad thing, but it's still eye candy

Remember, I'm an ocean whore...I love "pretty"...but I do believe my thrill would be just the same knocking one to 10 feet on 11 at LACC whether these bunkers look like the above or whether they look like giant white jelly beans...I just want to make a 2!

So hitting it over/around that stupid giant oval lake at Bay Hill is the same as hitting around over the ocean on 18 at Pebble Beach? A water hazard is a water hazard right? Artistry means nothing right? 18 at Pebble isn't more thrilling than that hole at Bay Hill since they both have giant water hazards all the way down the left side right?

[Steve Kline]

I just wish they were taking the Mid-Am there. The selections after Atlantic don't really get me excited.

[rjsimper]

So hitting it over/around that stupid giant oval lake at Bay Hill is the same as hitting around over the ocean on 18 at Pebble Beach? A water hazard is a water hazard right? Artistry means nothing right? 18 at Pebble isn't more thrilling than that hole at Bay Hill since they both have giant water hazards all the way down the left side right?

...I think the water hazard left of 18 at Pebble is a little bigger than the hazard right of 18 at Bay Hill.

And, that's not my point.

My point is more akin to....is the thrill of hitting over the ocean on 18 at Pebble any less now that there is an artificial sea wall holding it up?

[David Stamm]

So hitting it over/around that stupid giant oval lake at Bay Hill is the same as hitting around over the ocean on 18 at Pebble Beach? A water hazard is a water hazard right? Artistry means nothing right? 18 at Pebble isn't more thrilling than that hole at Bay Hill since they both have giant water hazards all the way down the left side right?

My point is more akin to....is the thrill of hitting over the ocean on 18 at Pebble any less now that there is an artificial sea wall holding it up?

No, it's still the same ocean. That is not an analogous comparison. Is hitting to the green on 12 at Spyglass the same as the 15 at CPC?

[rjsimper]

So hitting it over/around that stupid giant oval lake at Bay Hill is the same as hitting around over the ocean on 18 at Pebble Beach? A water hazard is a water hazard right? Artistry means nothing right? 18 at Pebble isn't more thrilling than that hole at Bay Hill since they both have giant water hazards all the way down the left side right?

My point is more akin to....is the thrill of hitting over the ocean on 18 at Pebble any less now that there is an artificial sea wall holding it up?

No, it's still the same ocean. That is not an analogous comparison. Is hitting to the green on 12 at Spyglass the same as the 15 at CPC?

David,

It is precisely an analogous comparison. Ocean on 18 at Pebble with seawall vs. ocean on 18 at Pebble w/o seawall = no difference in thrill of completing the task.  Same exact hazard, same location, same everything except in one instance it's a little prettier.

Bunkers short of 11 at LACC with boring edges vs bunkers short of LACC with thrilling edges = no difference in thrill of completing the task.

This does not mean that standing on the tee with my Canon Powershot in my hand, that I do not prefer something aesthetically pleasing, but it remains just that...aesthetics.

If I make a hole in one on that hole, and 20 years from now I am talking about it...nobody will ask me "Did you make it with or without the frilly bunkers?"

My point I believe I have made. Onward the discussion may go.

[Mark Chaplin]

Is the reason the USGA take the Walker Cup to great venues because the great venues offer to host the WC?

Surely the likes of PV, NGLA and CP would be awarded any event they offered to host but the members choose not to put their club forward. However my understanding is the best clubs are queuing up the host the WC.

[Bill_McBride]

Is the reason the USGA take the Walker Cup to great venues because the great venues offer to host the WC?

Surely the likes of PV, NGLA and CP would be awarded any event they offered to host but the members choose not to put their club forward. However my understanding is the best clubs are queuing up the host the WC.

Very good point, Mark, but the contrast between for example the Belfrey and Ganton or Royal County Down is as stark as the contrast between Valhalla and Clhicago Golf Club or Merion.

Either the US PGA or the European PGA could secure better venues without a doubt, but only money money money explains a choice such as Celtic Manor or Valhalla.

[Lou_Duran]

Perhaps it is my untrained eye, but those bunkers sure look busy and unnatural to me.  Do they resemble the original Thomas bunkers?  BTW, which hole is this a picture of?  A par 5, I hope.

[David Stamm]

Perhaps it is my untrained eye, but those bunkers sure look busy and unnatural to me.  Do they resemble the original Thomas bunkers?  BTW, which hole is this a picture of?  A par 5, I hope.

Lou, it is the reverse Redan par 3 11th. And they look exactly the way Thomas/Bell first did them.

[David Stamm]

So hitting it over/around that stupid giant oval lake at Bay Hill is the same as hitting around over the ocean on 18 at Pebble Beach? A water hazard is a water hazard right? Artistry means nothing right? 18 at Pebble isn't more thrilling than that hole at Bay Hill since they both have giant water hazards all the way down the left side right?

My point is more akin to....is the thrill of hitting over the ocean on 18 at Pebble any less now that there is an artificial sea wall holding it up?

No, it's still the same ocean. That is not an analogous comparison. Is hitting to the green on 12 at Spyglass the same as the 15 at CPC?

 

Bunkers short of 11 at LACC with boring edges vs bunkers short of LACC with thrilling edges = no difference in thrill of completing the task.

 

No?

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5176/rcdcomp.jpg

[Anthony_Nysse]

So hitting it over/around that stupid giant oval lake at Bay Hill is the same as hitting around over the ocean on 18 at Pebble Beach? A water hazard is a water hazard right? Artistry means nothing right? 18 at Pebble isn't more thrilling than that hole at Bay Hill since they both have giant water hazards all the way down the left side right?

My point is more akin to....is the thrill of hitting over the ocean on 18 at Pebble any less now that there is an artificial sea wall holding it up?

No, it's still the same ocean. That is not an analogous comparison. Is hitting to the green on 12 at Spyglass the same as the 15 at CPC?

 

Bunkers short of 11 at LACC with boring edges vs bunkers short of LACC with thrilling edges = no difference in thrill of completing the task.

  

No?

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5176/rcdcomp.jpg

David,
  If the bunkers had the same color sand, I do not think that you'd get the same reaction between the pictures that you are hoping for.

Tony Nysse
Pine Tree GC
Boynton Beach, FL