Massachusetts is once again leading the way when it comes to USGA Qualifying.
When registration for 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying opened Wednesday, April 19, George Wright Golf Course (Hyde Park) and GreatHorse (Hampden) were the first two qualifying sites in the nation to sell out. This news comes one month after Springfield’s Veterans Memorial Golf Course was first to sell out its U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier. Veterans and George Wright are two standout city municipal golf courses.
“The news of these sell outs once again demonstrates that these events and our courses are a tremendous draw, no matter what part of the state they’re located,” said Greg Howell, Mass Golf’s Assistant Director of Rules & Competition. “George Wright has received significant resources from the city of Boston in restoring and maintaining this classic course, which offers a fair test to every level of golfer. GreatHorse continues to be a great supporter of Mass Golf, and we are excited to showcase this facility to some of the area’s best golfers aged 25 and older.”
The 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship is set for September 9-14 at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, about 35 miles north of New York City.
The 2023 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will also take place September 9-14, but at Stonewall (North Course), about 50 miles west of Philadelphia. George Wright is also hosting U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur qualifying on the same day (August 7). To register, CLICK HERE
There’s no shortage of history when it comes to George Wright Golf Course. Opened in 1938 after President Franklin Roosevelt’s Workers Progress Administration (WPA) funded the construction cost, the course was designed by Donald Ross and has stood the test of time as one of the best municipal courses in the country (par 70, 6,440 yards).
As for the namesake, George Wright was a Hall of Fame baseball player with the Cincinnati and Boston Red Stockings from 1869 to 1875. Upon his retirement from the game, Wright became a known figure in the Boston community due to the presence of Wright and Ditson Sporting Goods. He also helped layout William J. Devine Golf Course, located less than five miles from George Wright.
GreatHorse provides a par-72, 7,600-yard layout from the championship tees. The New England Golf Course Owner Association named GreatHorse its Course of the Year in 2019, and it’s one of Golfweek’s Top 200 Modern Courses.
The Antonacci family purchased the club at auction in 2012, and its $55 million facelift has transformed it into the state-of-the-art facility that it is today.
Not only does GreatHorse offer a challenging golf course (its 77.2 men’s rating and 140 slope rating are the second-highest in Massachusetts), there are fun amenities all-around for members to enjoy. From the top of the 25,000 sq ft clubhouse, which offers sweeping views of the Connecticut River Valley, members enjoy amenities such as a spa, a pool, an elegant restaurant, tennis courts, and a bocce court.
Mass Golf is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing golf in Massachusetts by building an engaged community around the sport.
With a community made up of over 110,000 golf enthusiasts and over 340 member clubs, Mass Golf is one of the largest state golf associations in the country. Members enjoy the benefits of handicapping, engaging golf content, course rating and scoring services along with the opportunity to compete in an array of events for golfers of all ages and abilities.
At the forefront of junior development, Mass Golf is proud to offer programming to youth in the state through First Tee Massachusetts and subsidized rounds of golf by way of Youth on Course.
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