A star-studded cast of courses will headline the Metropolitan Golf Association’s lineup of championship tournaments this year. From Westchester Country Club in May to Metedeconk in October, the MGA championship season is studded with regional clubs boasting internationally recognized pedigrees.
“When the MGA was formed in 1897, our core mission was to conduct championships,” says MGA President Stephen Boyd. It’s safe to say the organization will meets that goal this year; the MGA will run 19 different championships in 2015, along with some 60 other tournaments including the sectional qualifiers for the US Open, which will be held at Century and Old Oaks in Purchase.
The highlight of the season will be the 100th anniversary edition of the Met Open, played on the East Course at Mamaroneck’s Winged Foot for the first time. The one-time professional major has been held on the storied venue’s West Course six times, so it’s time for the slightly lesser-known sister to enjoy spotlight.
“A lot of people don’t understand how good the East Course is,” says 2014 Met Open champion Grant Sturgeon, who is an assistant pro at Winged Foot. “The character and shot values will make it a treat for all the competitors.”
By the way, even though you may not qualify for the Met Open, you can still play Winged Foot on August 24 if you sign up for the MGA Caddie Scholarship Pro-Am.
The MGA championship season kicks off with the Senior Amateur Championship May 5 and 6 on the West Course at Westchester Country Club. A month later, the course will host the first professional major in the county since 2006: the KPMG PGA Women’s Championship.
One of the MGA’s most prestigious championships, the Ike, will be held at Friar’s Head on Long Island. As 2011 Ike champion Tommy McDonagh says, “The atmosphere here is like any of the top ten clubs in the world.” Like many winners of the Ike, an amateur-only event, McDonagh turned pro following his win. He recently reclaimed amateur status, however, and promises to be a strong competitor in numerous local events.
Baltusrol in Springfield Township, New Jersey, is the site of the Met Amateur this year, Engineers (Roslyn, New York) the MGA Senior Open, and Nassau Country Club the MGA Mid-Amateur. Among the other excellent Westchester/Hudson Valley courses hosting MGA events this year are Tuxedo (WMGA/MGA Women’s Met Amateur), Whippoorwill (Men’s Four-Ball), Paramount (Met Junior), Spook Rock (WMGA/MGA Women’s Pub Links), Brynwood, (Father & Son Net), and Hampshire (Women’s Four-Ball)
The MGA tournament season wraps up at Metedeconk with the Carey Cup Challenge, where the Americans will defend their title against the Golfing Union of Ireland.