Chicago Golf Club (USGA photo)
Chicago Golf Club, in Wheaton, Ill., has been chosen by the USGA as the host site for the 2036 Walker Cup Match. In addition, the USGA also announced that Chicago Golf Club will serve as the host venue for the 2033 U.S. Women's Open.
“The history of the USGA and American golf can’t be told without Chicago Golf Club, and just over 125 years after hosting its first USGA championship, we’re thrilled to announce our return for two additional significant events,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “With the tremendous support of its members and a world-class venue, we’re confident that Chicago Golf Club will deliver memorable moments and an opportunity for golf fans around the world to see one of the country’s finest golf venues.”
Located in Chicago’s western suburbs, Chicago Golf Club was founded in 1892, debuted the first 18-hole course in the United States in 1893, and became one of five founding member clubs of the USGA in 1894. The storied club was established by Charles Blair Macdonald, who was the first U.S. Amateur champion in 1895 and served as the first vice president of the USGA.
Macdonald also designed the original Chicago Golf Club course, prior to Seth Raynor’s redesign that opened for play in 1923. The course recently underwent a restoration to return the original fairway lines and dimensions of all 128 bunkers on the course, including 13 bunkers that were reinstalled after the club discovered maps that indicated they were part of Raynor’s original layout.
“Hosting the best players in the world – men, women, amateur and professional – for USGA events is a point of pride for our club and a significant part of our long history,” said Herb Getz, Chicago Golf Club president. “We very much look forward to building upon that history and continuing our valued partnership with the USGA on an even larger stage well into the future.”
The venue has staged USGA championships in three centuries – U.S. Open (1897, 1900 and 1911); U.S. Amateur (1897, 1905, 1909 and 1912); U.S. Women’s Amateur (1903); Walker Cup (1928 and 2005); U.S. Senior Amateur (1979) and U.S. Senior Women’s Open (2018). Only six courses have hosted more USGA events than Chicago Golf Club’s 12, and Illinois’ 61 championships are the fifth-most of any state.
USA captain Bob Lewis called the 2005 Walker Cup Match at Chicago Golf Club “the greatest Walker Cup ever played” after the Americans held off Great Britain and Ireland, 12½-11½, to reclaim the Cup after three straight defeats. In 2018, Laura Davies won the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open with a dominant 16-under-par, 10-stroke victory over Juli Inkster at Chicago Golf Club.
In 2021, the USA claimed its third consecutive victory over Great Britain and Ireland, prevailing by a 14-12 margin in the 48th Walker Cup Match at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. Jointly organized by the USGA and The R&A, the Walker Cup Match is a 10-player amateur team competition between the USA and GB&I. Starting in 2026, the match will be held in even-numbered years.
ABOUT THE The Walker Cup
The Walker Cup Match is a biennial 10-man
amateur
team competition between the USA and a team
composed of players from Great Britain and
Ireland
and selected by The R&A. It is played over two
days
with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes
(alternate-shot) matches.
The first United States Walker Cup Team, which
in
1922 defeated the GB&I side, 8-4, at the
National Golf
Links of America, is considered among the best
teams
ever and included Francis Ouimet, Bob Jones,
Charles
“Chick” Evans and Jess Sweetser. Many of the
game’s
greatest players have taken part in Walker Cup
competition, including U.S. Open champions
Jack
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth for
the
USA
and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Justin
Rose
for Great Britain and Ireland.
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