“The Massachusetts and New England golf communities have become accustomed to event sellouts,” said Greg Howell, Mass Golf’s Assistant Director of Rules & Competition. “To be the first site in the country to sellout highlights the demand for golf in the region and the work that the city of Springfield has put into their golf courses and operations. We look forward to highlighting a fabulous facility to the region’s best junior golfers in June.”
The city of Springfield’s recent $1 million investment in the renovation of its municipal golf courses (Veteran’s Memorial and Franconia Golf Course) is already paying dividends. Opened in 1964, the Geoffrey Cornish design will showcase the top junior talent in the area, as they seek a coveted spot in the field in Charleston. In 2018, Massachusetts’ Michael Thorbjornsen won the U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club – perhaps the next young champion will begin forging their path to the final at a municipal golf course near you.
The 2023 United States Junior Amateur Championship will be contested from July 24-29 at Daniel Island Club – Ralston Course in Charleston, South Carolina.
This is the first time Veterans Memorial Golf Course has been chosen to host this qualifying event and follows a significant $1 million renovation program investment along with the city’s other municipal Franconia Golf Course.
Mayor Sarno states, “This is tremendous news that the US Junior Amateur qualifier at our Veterans Memorial Golf Course has already sold out, becoming the first in the nation – yet another first for our Springfield ‘The City of Firsts’. This is a testament of my administrations investment to enhance and renovate our municipal golf courses, along with the management of PBRM Director Patrick Sullivan and his dedicated team. Our public golf courses are being nationally recognized and are quickly becoming a hidden jewel in the region, offering some of the most affordable rates in the area. This great news will bring with it positive economic spinoff for our hotels, restaurants and hospitality industry too.”
PBRM Director Sullivan stated, “Thanks to Mayor Sarno’s support, our municipal golf courses are quickly becoming very popular and recognized both regionally and nationally, as is evident by the great news that the qualifier for the US Junior Amateur Championship at Veterans Memorial Golf Course has already sold out. The investment of $1 million worth of renovations at our public golf courses is the best example on why it is important to make these capital investments into our open spaces as it has a return of economic development where people will be staying in our hotels and dining at our local restaurants. The investments and renovations made at both Franconia and Veterans have enhanced the quality of play for players of all ages and level, and I want to thank and congratulate our Greens Crews led by Anthony Kowal, who do a phenomenal job in maintaining them.”
Read the Mass Golf announcement here.
