U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Successfully Relocated, Champions Golf Club Steps Up to Host

FAR HILLS, N.J. (Sept. 26, 2017) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that the 31st U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, originally slated for Oct. 7-12 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla., has been relocated to Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas. The championship will be conducted from Nov. 11-16 on the club’s famed Cypress Creek Course.

This follows last week’s announcement that the championship would be relocated due to the impact of Hurricane Irma, which caused extensive flooding and damage to Quail Creek’s course and clubhouse.

“We are extremely grateful to Champions Golf Club for stepping forward to assist during the unprecedented and unfortunate displacement of the 31st U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship from Quail Creek Country Club,” said Rachel Sadowski, U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship director. “As we work to deliver an exemplary championship for all in Houston, our thoughts remain with Quail Creek and all of those working to rebuild and recover from this year’s storms.”

“Champions, the site of the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, has been an incredible friend of the USGA over the years,” said USGA President Diana M. Murphy. “And it speaks volumes to the character of the members and leadership for them to offer their course – a three-time USGA championship venue, no less – on such short notice. We are confident this championship will be a success. We will keep all of those who have been impacted by the recent hurricanes in our utmost thoughts.”

Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by World Golf Hall of Fame members Jack Burke Jr., who currently serves as president, and the late Jimmy Demaret. The Cypress Creek Course was designed by Ralph Plummer and opened in 1958.

“As an all-too-recent witness to the powerful and destructive ability of Mother Nature, it is a privilege for Champions Golf Club to be able to host the 31st U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur,” said Robin Burke, the 2016 USA Curtis Cup Team captain and Champions Golf Club Vice President, in regard to the damage inflicted on much of Greater Houston, including the Champions area, due to Hurricane Harvey in late August and early September. “Lucky for us, our course has rebounded exceptionally well from the more than 30 inches we sustained last month due to the storm, and we feel it is our duty to give back to the golf community and an honor to welcome those who have been adversely affected by another hurricane to our home. We wish our friends in Florida a speedy and successful recovery.”

Champions has a rich pedigree of hosting elite professional and amateur competitions. Orville Moody won the 1969 U.S. Open at Champions, coming back from a three-stroke deficit after three rounds to win his only major title by one stroke over future PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, Al Geiberger and Bob Rosburg. The club also hosted the 1993 U.S. Amateur, won by John Harris, and the 1998 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, won by Virginia Derby Grimes, captain of the 2018 USA Curtis Cup Team.

The 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will be the 30th USGA championship held in Texas.

For more information on the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, visit www.usga.org/womensmidam.

About the USGA

The USGA celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment and amateur status rules. Our operating jurisdiction for these governance functions is the United States, its territories and Mexico. The USGA Handicap System is utilized in more than 40 countries and our Course Rating System covers 95 percent of the world’s golf courses, enabling all golfers to play on an equitable basis. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.