Worcester Country Club
Encyclopedia
Worcester Country Club is a golf course
in Worcester, Massachusetts
. The course hosted the first Ryder Cup
in 1927, and was the site of the 1925 U.S. Open
, which was won by Willie Macfarlane
. It is the only golf course in the United States to host all three events: the Men's and Women's U.S. Open Championships and the Ryder Cup.
. The event was won by Scottish golfer Willie Macfarlane
in a second 18 hole playoff over Bobby Jones
. This was the championship in which Jones famously called a penalty on himself when his ball moved slightly in the rough after he touched the grass with his club on the 11th hole of the first round. The penalty cost him the title. When praised by the press for his sportsmenship Jones said "You may as well praise me for not robbing a bank. There is only one way to play the game." Walter Hagen
had his first hole-in-one during a practice round of the 1925 U.S. Open. In 1939 Byron Nelson
won the Massachusetts Open
held at Worcester. In 1927 Worcester Country Club hosted the inaugural Ryder Cup
. The United States team led by captain Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen
defeated captain Ted Ray
and the British team by a score of 9.5 to 2.5. Donald Ross came back to the club in 1929 with plan for changes, including new tees and some work that he had been unable to carry out in 1913. In 1960 Betsy Rawls
won her fourth U.S. Women's Open with a score of 292. Hosting the Women’s Open marked Worcester CC as the first club in the United States to entertain both Open Championships. Judy Torluemke (Judy Rankin
), then 15 years old, was the youngest player in history to win low amateur honors, with 326. Mickey Wright
, the leader going into the final day and seeking her third consecutive Open championship, shot eighty-one to lose to Betsy Rawls. The prize money was $7,200. Rawls won $1,800.
42.320926°N 71.778682°W
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. The course hosted the first Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
in 1927, and was the site of the 1925 U.S. Open
1925 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 1925 U.S. Open was a golf competition held at Worcester Country Club. The Championship was won by Willie Macfarlane in a second 18 hole playoff over Bobby Jones. Macfarlane shot a U.S. Open record 67 in the second round, but nearly blew his chance at victory with a 78 in the final round...
, which was won by Willie Macfarlane
Willie Macfarlane
William "Willie" Macfarlane was a Scottish professional golfer....
. It is the only golf course in the United States to host all three events: the Men's and Women's U.S. Open Championships and the Ryder Cup.
History
Worcester Country Club was founded in 1900. In 1913 the club called on golf architect Donald Ross to build a 18-hole golf course on a new site in Worcester and in 1914 President William H. Taft dedicated the new club. In 1925 the club hosted its first and only major championship the U.S. OpenU.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
. The event was won by Scottish golfer Willie Macfarlane
Willie Macfarlane
William "Willie" Macfarlane was a Scottish professional golfer....
in a second 18 hole playoff over Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
. This was the championship in which Jones famously called a penalty on himself when his ball moved slightly in the rough after he touched the grass with his club on the 11th hole of the first round. The penalty cost him the title. When praised by the press for his sportsmenship Jones said "You may as well praise me for not robbing a bank. There is only one way to play the game." Walter Hagen
Walter Hagen
Walter Charles Hagen was a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of eleven professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods . He won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win the British Open, which he went on...
had his first hole-in-one during a practice round of the 1925 U.S. Open. In 1939 Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912...
won the Massachusetts Open
Massachusetts Open
The Massachusetts Open is the Massachusetts state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Massachusetts Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1905 at a variety of courses around the state. It was considered a PGA Tour event from...
held at Worcester. In 1927 Worcester Country Club hosted the inaugural Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
. The United States team led by captain Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S...
defeated captain Ted Ray
Ted Ray (golfer)
Edward R. G. "Ted" Ray was a British professional golfer born on the Isle of Jersey. He won two major championships and contended in many others during the early years of the 20th century.-Biography:...
and the British team by a score of 9.5 to 2.5. Donald Ross came back to the club in 1929 with plan for changes, including new tees and some work that he had been unable to carry out in 1913. In 1960 Betsy Rawls
Betsy Rawls
Elizabeth Earle "Betsy" Rawls is an American professional golfer.Rawls was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After attending the University of Texas, Rawls joined the LPGA Tour in its second season in 1951. She won 55 tournaments on the tour, including eight major championships...
won her fourth U.S. Women's Open with a score of 292. Hosting the Women’s Open marked Worcester CC as the first club in the United States to entertain both Open Championships. Judy Torluemke (Judy Rankin
Judy Rankin
Judy Torluemke Rankin is an American professional golfer and golf broadcaster. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1962 and won 26 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Amateur career:...
), then 15 years old, was the youngest player in history to win low amateur honors, with 326. Mickey Wright
Mickey Wright
Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright is an American professional golfer. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
, the leader going into the final day and seeking her third consecutive Open championship, shot eighty-one to lose to Betsy Rawls. The prize money was $7,200. Rawls won $1,800.
Tournaments
- 1921 Massachusetts Amateur won by Jesse P. GuilfordJesse P. GuilfordJesse Poore Guilford was an American amateur golfer. He is most notable for winning the United States Amateur Championship in 1921....
- 19251925 U.S. Open Golf ChampionshipThe 1925 U.S. Open was a golf competition held at Worcester Country Club. The Championship was won by Willie Macfarlane in a second 18 hole playoff over Bobby Jones. Macfarlane shot a U.S. Open record 67 in the second round, but nearly blew his chance at victory with a 78 in the final round...
U.S. OpenU.S. Open (golf)The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
won by Willie MacfarlaneWillie MacfarlaneWilliam "Willie" Macfarlane was a Scottish professional golfer.... - 19271927 Ryder CupThe 1st Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts.The United States team won the competition by a score of 9½–2½ points. USA Captain Walter Hagen became the first winning captain to lift the Ryder Cup...
Ryder CupRyder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
won by the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
over Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
9½-2½ - 1933 Massachusetts Amateur won by Joseph P. Lynch
- 1939 Massachusetts OpenMassachusetts OpenThe Massachusetts Open is the Massachusetts state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Massachusetts Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1905 at a variety of courses around the state. It was considered a PGA Tour event from...
won by Byron NelsonByron NelsonJohn Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912... - 1948 Massachusetts Amateur won by Edward Martin
- 1960 U.S. Women's Open won by Betsy RawlsBetsy RawlsElizabeth Earle "Betsy" Rawls is an American professional golfer.Rawls was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After attending the University of Texas, Rawls joined the LPGA Tour in its second season in 1951. She won 55 tournaments on the tour, including eight major championships...
- 1964 Massachusetts Amateur won by William Foley
- 1989 Massachusetts Amateur won by Jim McDermott
- 2000 Massachusetts Amateur won by Jim Salinetti
- 2006 Massachusetts Amateur won by Ben Spitz
External links
42.320926°N 71.778682°W