After Covid-19 concerns cancelled local qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Open, such qualifiers are returning this spring for the 121st U.S. Open Championship – with two being hosted in Michigan.
Muskegon Country Club will host the men on Monday, May 3, followed a week later with a qualifier at Barton Hills near Ann Arbor on May 10. The USGA is offering 109 sites nationwide and in Canada. California and Florida lead with the most local sites at 14 and 13, respectively. Weather is a factor in scheduling as the first local qualifier is scheduled for April 26 in Tennessee and the last is May 18 in Ontario.
Barton Hills is an exceptional Donald Ross design. A long ravine runs through a large section of the back 9, creating rolling fairways and a very challenging climb to the highly perched green of No. 15. Back in 2008, the course hosted the USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur, and 10 years prior contested the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Muskegon Country Club, founded in 1908, has ties to Ross and has hosted two Michigan Amateur Championships since 2005.
Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and final play.
To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.
