ChAmpionShipS mediA GUide - USGA

U.S. Amateur Public Links 11Championship HistoryThe U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship has been anunqualified success since its inception in 1922, giving exposureto many public-course players who otherwise might not havean opportunity to compete in a national championship.The championship’s prime mover was James D. Standish Jr.,of Detroit, who convinced his colleagues on the 1922 USGAExecutive Committee that the time was right for such a grassrootscompetition. Standish pointed to the public-coursegolfer, whose ranks were swelling following World War I, andto the growing number of municipal and daily-fee courses inAmerica.That those earliest championships drew upward of 18 teamsrepresenting cities from coast to coast was a tribute to thespread of public-course golf in America. From the initial entryof 140 players, today’s annual entry has surged to as many as6,000 competitors.The historic invitation to the Masters Tournament for thechampion of the Amateur Public Links began in 1989. RalphHowe III, who won in 1988, was the first Amateur PublicLinks winner to play in the Masters on that invitation. Thanksto the graciousness of Augusta National Golf Club, this invitationhas continued to be issued annually.The first championship was conducted at the Ottawa ParkCourse in Toledo, Ohio. The USGA had no way of knowinghow many players to expect, but a satisfying 140 entries werereceived. Less than half that number wore golf shoes. The firstchampion was Eddie Held, of St. Louis, who joined a private clubsoon after his victory and thus became ineligible to defend histitle in 1923.In 1923, the first team championship was conducted at thesame time as the individual competition. East Potomac Parkin Washington, D.C., was selected as the site, causing a greatdeal of excitement in the nation’s capital. President Warren G.Harding, a golf enthusiast, donated the team trophy. Hardingwanted to enter the championship himself, but time didn’tpermit, and besides, he was a member of at least one privateclub, which precluded his entry. The team championship wasdiscontinued following the 2008 championship.The championship has previously attracted bus drivers, bartenders,firemen, waiters, riveters, engineers and collegeprofessors. Not as many participate as in years past, but theopportunity for a field with mixed occupations still exists. Ithas also been a springboard for the likes of U.S. Open championsEd Furgol, Tommy Bolt and Ken Venturi; British Openchampion Tony Lema; PGA champions Dave Marr and BobbyNichols; and Masters winners George Archer and TrevorImmelman. In 1959, it produced the first African-Americanwinner of a USGA championship in William A. Wright, wholater became a golf instructor.APL