Fabulous Four-Balls: We look at some of the best
21 Feb 2014
by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com
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The rise and popularity of team golf has
grown
immensely in recent years. Ask any
professional
golf fan and they’ll admit that the four-ball
and
foursomes formats are their favorite.
Mid Amateurs and seniors like the
four-ball format because the five-hour grind is
much more enjoyable when you've got a
partner
playing alongside -- we're not always able to
practice as much as we would like and it's
great
to have someone take the wheel when we hit
it
sideways for a few holes.
With the USGA’s decision to cut the U.S. Public
Links Championship in exchange for the new
U.S. Four-Ball Championships (qualifying
starts
this year for the men's and women's events
that
start in 2015), it’s clear that team golf is here
to
stay.
Following is a just a small list of the country's
top four-ball events.
Admittedly, most of these
tournaments are
invitationals and some, like the Williams and
Anderson, are almost impossible to get into.
But
heck, when Tom Lehman got back on the Tour
in 1992, he set the goal of winning an event,
making the Ryder Cup team, winning the
money title, and becoming the No. 1 player in
the world. And that came from a guy who had
struggle for the previous 10 years. Guess
what?
He achieved all four (and one more I'm
forgetting) within the next seven years.
SilverRock
|
Giddings Cup:
Established in 1983, the 36-hole event is
played
at the gorgeous SilverRock and Indian Wells
Resorts in Southern California. This year is the
first for the event's mid-am flight.
Bandon
Dunes |
Amateurgolf.com Two-
Man
Links Championship: There's a reason we
keep going back...This year will mark the 13th
playing of our annual links championship with
three divisions played over three days at
Pacific
Dunes, Bandon Trails and Bandon Dunes.
Winged
Foot |
Anderson Memorial Four-
Ball: This is a big one. Many of the
nation's
top mid-amateurs and seniors make the
annual
trek to famed Winged Foot for the four-day
event. A 36-hole stroke-play qualifier sets the
table for two days of match play.
Secession
Golf
Club |
The Devlin: There
aren't many events with the charm the Devlin
carries. Played at beautiful -- walking-only --
Secession Golf Club in Beaufort, S.C., the
Devlin
is run by the Devlin Family and calls famed
Australian golfer, broadcaster and course
designer Bruce Devlin chairman.
Oak
Hill
|
John R. Williams Four-
Ball:
Another four-ball at one of golf's
premier
locations, the J.R. Williams Four-Ball is played
at Oak Hill, site of the 2013 PGA
Championship.
To view a complete list of major four-ball
events,
click here ».