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MIDWAY -- Utah has never hosted a national championship golf tournament, but that is about the change. The USGA is bringing the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship to Soldier Hollow in Midway.
"The USGA is extremely proud to have Utah's Soldier Hollow Golf Course as a future host of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship," said USGA President Jim Hyler.
"Utah's got some spectacular golf courses, and Soldier Hollow is one of the most spectacular of all," said Gov. Gary Herbert. "To host this national championship is gonna expose Utah to the rest of the country, and I think improve our golf tourism."
As of 2010, only three states have yet to host a USGA championship: Alaska, New Hampshire and Utah.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Utah and our golf community. We have a rich history of golf in this state and we look forward to sharing it with the rest of the country," said Utah Golf Association Executive Director Thomas Pagel.
Between 5,000 and 7,000 public golfers from the United States and internationally will compete in sectional tournaments to qualify for entry into the championship. Competitors traditionally run the gamut from tradesmen to professionals and collegians and usually range in age from teenagers to those in their 50s.
"This is no ordinary championship. The Amateur Public Links Championship is one of the most coveted championships to get, of all the USGA events, and so this is a very big deal," said Michael Bailey, volunteer member of the USGA Regional Affairs Committee.
Past winner of the Public Links include Billy Mayfair, Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark, and of course former Davis High star Clay Ogden.
The 2010 tournament is scheduled for July 9 through July 14. The winner of this championship gets an invite to the Master's.
