Aronimink GC to host AT&T National?

by Bill Jempty on Oct 7, 2008 8:54 AM EDT

Leonard Shapiro at The Washington Post reports that all is needed is a majority of the club's membership to approve the deal.

Aronimink Golf Club in the Philadelphia suburbs will be the temporary home for the AT&T National golf tournament in 2010 and 2011 if a majority of the club's membership approves a proposal to host Tiger Woods's signature event on the PGA Tour. The event will return to Congressional Country Club for at least three years starting in 2012.

Congressional has hosted the tournament since its inception in 2007 and will be the venue again in 2009. But the Bethesda club will be the site for the 2011 U.S. Open and the championship Blue Course will undergo a major renovation of the green complexes in the summer of 2010 that will make it unavailable for Woods's event those two years.

Aronimink, in Newtown Square, Pa., was the site for the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player and the 2003 Senior PGA Championship won by John Jacobs. The course was designed by renowned architect Donald Ross and opened for play in 1928. It is annually listed among the top 100 golf courses in the United States, playing at 7,206 yards to a par of 70.

I know very little about Aroninmink other than what is stated in the last paragraph above and one other thing. Aroninmink was originally chosen by the PGA of America to host the 1993 PGA Championship. That year's PGA was instead played at Inverness outside of Toledo Ohio.

Why? Most golf fans will remember the controversy over Shoal Creek hosting the 1990 PGA because of its restrictive membership policies. What is forgotten today, is that other major championship sites had similar policies in place. Oak Tree was another, and it had the 1994 PGA taken away from it and given to Southern Hills instead.

Aronimink GC now has minority members. As does Shoal Creek the last I heard. Just thought I'd share some of the club's history.

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why not ?

it’s the Philadelphia area on July 4th weekend. Pretty patriotic. At least it’s a Donald Ross course with a couple of major championships under its belt. Only 6,955 yards long right now – they’ll probably add a few hundred over the next couple of years.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2008 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

This was expected

I don’t think Tiger would’ve taken it anywhere else on the East Coast, to be honest. Glad to hear this is likely to go through. Philly really does deserve a long-term tour stop of some kind.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 7, 2008 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

"deserve" ???

Hmm – apparently you haven’t been to a Phillies or Eagles game to see how fans behave there !!! :-)

I agree with keeping this tournament on the east coast – especially on July 4th.

The ones I wish they would move around are the FEC playoffs – New York, Boston, and Chicago/St Louis are fine – but there are some great courses in other parts of the country. If the St Jude weren’t already in Memphis, I’d be wondering why they don’t have the finals there.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I wrote an article

last year saying that the venues for these events should change to more “major caliber” ones. I meant staying in the same locale, but new courses. Just the same could be moving things around geographically and treating their site selection like majors.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 7, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I just get tired of these tournaments being focused solely in easy access for the media. I would love to see other parts of the country – not just an easy drive for these media people.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions