Editor’s note: this story is a brand-new take built from our classic feature first published in 2017. With the Crump Cup coming in just over a week, it’s the perfect time to revisit what makes this tournament different — and preview what’s ahead.

PINE VALLEY, NJ — No one just stumbles across Pine Valley Golf Club. There are no signs on the narrow approach road, no billboards announcing that many consider it the world’s best course. Beyond a modest gate lies a property whose reputation is measured in whispers, not broadcasts — and each September, those whispers crescendo at the George A. Crump Memorial Tournament, better known as the Crump Cup.

For years, the Crump Cup was the mysterious event known mainly to top mid-amateurs and seniors — a jewel of the East Coast “cocktail circuit” alongside invitationals at Seminole, Merion, National Golf Links, Fisher’s Island, and Garden City. Local lore included Pine Valley’s tradition of opening its gate for the Sunday championship match — one of the few times the public might glimpse the course. Even with the internet making information easier to share, the event still carries a rare air of discretion.

The Course: Golf’s Holy Grail

Understanding the Crump Cup begins with understanding Pine Valley. The sandy, fast-draining soils play firm and reward imagination. The greens are a study in character: the long, angled tabletop at the 1st; the heaving “ocean waves” contours at the 2nd; the right-to-left drop-shot target at the 3rd; the fallaway at the 4th; and the famously pitched 5th.

Hazards scale from tiny scrapes to sprawling sandy wastelands. The legends are real: “Hell’s Half Acre” on the 7th and the “Devil’s A**hole” pot bunker on 10, where extraction is never guaranteed. There are no rakes in the sandy areas — a reminder that hazards here are meant to be hazardous.

Pine Valley’s routing feels like a pilgrimage as it crosses ridges and vast corridors. Difficulty is earned without relying on out-of-bounds or penal water (save for the par-3 14th and truly errant misses right of 16). The old standing bet — that no first-timer breaks 80 — still feels plausible, even for elite players.

Invitation Only — and Always Earned

There are no applications for the Crump Cup. If Pine Valley wants you in the field and a spot opens, you’ll be invited. Invitations are maintained through a blend of performance and conduct. This is a tournament “for gentlemen,” where exemplary behavior and respect for the setting are non-negotiable, and repeated poor play can cost a place in future fields. Yet the week is deeply social; many competitors stay on-site, from simple dorms with shared baths to a handful of clubhouse rooms.

Format and Traditions

• Qualifying: 36 holes of stroke play set the match-play flights.
• Flights: Mid-amateurs typically form three 16-player flights; seniors form two 8-player flights. Only the top (Championship) flight can claim the overall title.
• Dinner & Flags: On the eve of match play, the top 16 are seated at a head table and receive Pine Valley hole flags corresponding to their seeds — a cherished tradition.
• Final Sunday: Historically open to the public; in recent years that practice has been suspended. Verify current guidance with the club before making plans.

A History Written by Legends

First played in 1922, just four years after George A. Crump’s passing, the Crump Cup’s honor roll includes giants of amateur golf. Francis Ouimet and Chick Evans won early editions; Jay Sigel set the standard with nine titles between 1975 and 1993. In the modern era, Mike McCoy collected four wins in seven years (2004–2010), underscoring how difficult repeat victories have become.

Last Year at Pine Valley: Andrew Price’s Breakthrough

In 2024, Andrew Price capped a remarkable run by winning the Crump Cup after a summer highlighted by the Illinois Mid-Amateur title. His path through match play read like a who’s-who: a 1-up win over 2023 U.S. Mid-Am runner-up Evan Beck in the Round of 16; another 1-up decision over 2022 U.S. Mid-Am champion and then–AmateurGolf.com Mid-Am No. 1 Matthew McClean in the quarters; a semifinal win over medalist and No. 1 seed Bradford Tilley; and a 2&1 victory in the final against 2024 U.S. Amateur medalist Jimmy Ellis.

Ellis reached the final by edging three-time U.S. Mid-Am champion and defending Crump Cup winner Stewart Hagestad, winning the last three holes to prevail 1-up. In the Senior Championship Flight, Jamie Slonis II defeated Gene Elliott in 19 holes after lopsided wins over Dan Sullivan (8&7) and Rupert Kellock (7&6). Other flight winners included Robert F. Gerwin II (Senior Second), Gregor Orlando (Championship Second), and Taylor Wood (Championship Third), the latter advancing via a 9-for-2 card-off.

“Everybody is just so darn good… it’s such a stacked field, and to come out on top, you have to get a little bit lucky while also playing well.” — Andrew Price

Why the Crump Cup Stands Alone

The Crump Cup isn’t televised. It isn’t a USGA national. It offers no professional exemptions. What it does offer is rarer: pure competitive golf on the game’s most exacting stage, preserved by traditions that value restraint over spectacle. Victory at Pine Valley is less a line on a résumé and more a defining chapter in a player’s story.

Looking Ahead: Sep 25–28, 2025

The 2025 Crump Cup returns to Pine Valley Thursday–Sunday, September 25–28. Expect two days of stroke play to seed match-play brackets, followed by the weekend’s knockouts deciding champions across multiple flights. With Andrew Price fresh off last year’s breakthrough and perennial contenders like Jimmy Ellis, Bradford Tilley, and Stewart Hagestad shaping the mid-am landscape, the path to the trophy will again demand precision, patience, and poise on golf’s sternest canvas.

Spectator note: Pine Valley’s historical Sunday-open tradition has been suspended in recent years. Anyone hoping to attend should confirm current policy with the club before traveling.

About the Crump Cup

Named for hotelier and course architect George A. Crump, the Crump Cup is widely regarded as the premier mid-amateur invitational in the United States. The field is assembled by invitation and typically features top players from across the U.S. and the U.K. The four-day format combines 36 holes of qualifying with multiple match-play flights for both mid-amateurs and seniors.