[Ronald Montesano]

GCA has hosted rotation threads prior to this one, motivated principally by desire. There's an opportunity to be didactic with a national junior rotation, for both the girls and boys championships, to introduce future generations of elite golfers in the USA to classic principles of golf. I recall an anecdote about Ben Crenshaw competing in a nat jun at The Country Club back in the day and being forever enthused by the features of a golden-age course.

This is not meant to disparage G-A courses, implying that they are no longer relevant for adult amateur and professional events. That is an unrelated branch topic. The point of this thread is to put classic courses on the radar screen for golfers at an early age.

I suggest that the USGA could establish a 20-course list for rotational purposes. I suspect that certain clubs would have no interest in deigning to host a junior event, yet I wonder how many courses of a similar ilk would jump at the opportunity. For example, take Philadelphia. Whether Merion or Pine Valley ever hosted a national junior is unimportant; there are other classic courses in the area that could serve the same purpose.

Feel free/encouraged to continue this thread and to list your 20 best candidates for just such a rotation.

[Tim Martin]

Connecticut/Western Mass has hosted three U S Juniors in the last decade. The boys event was held at the venerable Longmeadow CC (Ross)while the girls events were held at Hartford Golf Club(Ross) and Brooklawn CC(Tillinghast). All three were quite successful and seemingly held in high esteem by competitors, parents and spectators alike. I wouldn't speculate as to the most worthy venues for the upcoming rotation but there is a bounty to choose from from the Golden Age era. Just to clarify the Girls Junior was held at Merion East in 1998. There is something about attending these events with no ropes and smaller crowds allowing you to walk along with the matches that is very special.

[Connor Dougherty]

I have played junior golf for most of my life (up until 2 years ago), and if it seems like people I've played with have played a few courses of architectural significance (Pebble Beach, Pasatiempo, Olympic Club, etc.) i will ask them what their favorite course is. Most mention a private club that is renowned for its conditioning but has no architectural interest whatsoever. They rave about the green speeds and lush fairways and give that as their reason for why they like it so much. Similarly, the beauty of a golf course also plays into it (largely from the framing school of design), but not because it looks natural or blends in, but because it either has a backdrop or competes with Augusta National for lushness. The words "strategy" and "contours" or anything remotely similar are almost never mentioned.

It's a shame. I do hope there will come a day where junior golfers see more than the competition they are preparing for in a golf course. But Ben Crenshaw is one of the few to find interest in the subject after playing a great course.

[Carl Johnson]

I'm not going to suggest courses because I don't have enough familiarity with a large number of great classic courses.  However, I agree that this is a great idea.  I would also hope that most of the classics would jump at USGA junior golf event.

[Bryan Lewis]

I'm not going to suggest courses because I don't have enough familiarity with a large number of great classic courses.  However, I agree that this is a great idea.  I would also hope that most of the classics would jump at USGA junior golf event.

Carl,

One would hope, but it's not always the case.  I'm on the Junior Committee and we would love to get more invitations from the classic courses.

Bryan

[Ronald Montesano]

I don't mean to imply that only the cream of the cream should host the Nat Juns. Any golden-age course with the valued attributes could host an event and offer an education to these talented golfers about the difference between a bomb-and-gouge layout and a thoughtful, strategic course. I know that Country Club of Buffalo hosted a National Girls Junior in 1962. I think that the course would serve as a fine Nat Jun tournament venue in the 2010s and beyond.

[Chris Roselle]

In 2012, the Golf Association of Philadelphia's two most prominent junior events were held on classic courses.  Our Junior Boys' Championship took place at Torresdale-Frankford CC, a classic Donald Ross design and our Christman Cup (our 36-hole stroke play championship) was held at the West Course at Merion GC.  It was really interesting to see our juniors play two courses where driver is not necessary and have to put green complexes that are very old school.  And if you compare it to this year's schedule, our Junior Boys' is at The Ridge at Back Brook (very modern) and our Christman Cup is at Talamore CC (more modern within a house development).

[Carl Johnson]

I'm not going to suggest courses because I don't have enough familiarity with a large number of great classic courses.  However, I agree that this is a great idea.  I would also hope that most of the classics would jump at USGA junior golf event.

Carl,

One would hope, but it's not always the case.  I'm on the Junior Committee and we would love to get more invitations from the classic courses.

Bryan

That is unfortunate.  It seems to me that junior tournaments are perfect for clubs that (1) would like to serve youth and the future of the game; (2) bring a level of notice to their club; and (3) with very little disruption to the membership.  In 2006 Carmel Country Club (I'm not a member) in my hometown of Charlotte hosted the USGA Junior Girls Am.  I attended several days and it did not appear to me that, other than loss of play on tournament days, the members would be adversely affected at all (but I do not know how the finances work).  At that time the Carmel course they played was a 1950 George Cobb design, which I'd call classic, more or less.

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