History

The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship has been an unqualified success since its inception in 1922, giving exposure to many public-course players who otherwise might not have an opportunity to compete in a national championship.

The championship's prime mover was James D. Standish Jr., of Detroit, who convinced his colleagues on the 1922 USGA Executive Committee that the time was right for such a grass-roots competition. Standish pointed to the public-course golfer, whose ranks were swelling following World War I, and to the growing number of municipal and daily-fee courses in America.

The first championship was conducted at the Ottawa Park Course in Toledo, Ohio. The USGA had no way of knowing how many players to expect, but a satisfying 140 entries were received. Less than half that number wore golf shoes. The first champion was Eddie Held of St. Louis, who joined a private club soon after his victory and thus became ineligible to defend his title in 1923.

In 1923, the first team championship was conducted at the same time as the individual competition. East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., was selected as the site, causing a great deal of excitement in the nation's capital. President Warren G. Harding, a golf enthusiast, donated the team trophy. Harding wanted to enter the championship himself, but time didn't permit, and besides, he was a member of at least one private club, which would preclude his entry.

That those earliest championships drew upward of 18 teams representing cities from coast to coast, was a tribute to the spread of public-course golf in America. From the initial entry of 140 players, today's annual entry has surged to a massive 6,000 competitors or more.

The championship continues to attract bus drivers, bartenders, firemen, waiters, riveters, engineers, and college professors. It has also been a springboard for the likes of U.S. Open champions Ed Furgol, Tommy Bolt, and Ken Venturi; British Open champion Tony Lema; PGA champions Dave Marr and Bobby Nichols; and Masters winner George Archer. In 1959, it produced the first black winner of a USGA championship in William A. Wright, who later became a golf instructor.

  

U.S. Amateur Public Links

PAR AND YARDAGE – Shaker Run will play at 6,966 yards and a par of 35-35—70.

HOLE BY HOLE – Holes 1-9 (Woodlands Nine) will play at 3,542 yards and par 35.

Holes 10-18 (Lakeside Nine) will play at 3,424 and par 35.

COURSE SET-UP:

  • Teeing ground – Height of grass – approximately ½ inch
  • Fairways and approaches – Height of grass – approximately ½ inch
  • Putting green collars – Height of grass – one mower width at approximately ½ inch
  • Putting greens – Height of grass – 5/32 inch with a speed of 10-11 feet on USGA Stimpmeter
  • Intermediate rough – Height of grass – 1½ inches
  • Primary rough – Height of grass – 3 inches

The course is hilly and fairways are tight and lined with trees. Some of the greens feature multiple tiers.

ARCHITECT – Arthur Hills, a native of Toledo, Ohio, designed Shaker Run Golf Club, which was opened in 1979. The course originally was a private club owned by Armco Steel for its employees. But in 1993 Shaker Run became a daily-fee public facility when Armco sold it. The facility is now managed by Premier Golf Management.

LET'S PLAY 27 – Shaker Run is actually a 27-hole facility, but only the Woodlands and Lakeside nines will be used for the APL. This will be the first USGA championship hosted by the course.

 
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