Category: USGA

Which state has the toughest bogey and course ranking? The USGA has revealed an unlikely leader

Golf is a game of patience and depending on what course you play on, it can require more tolerance.

Golf is a game of patience and depending on what course you play on, it can require more tolerance.

A study from the United States Golf Association on more than 14,000 golf courses across America, revealed the average difficulty of the courses in every state.

According to the association’s methodology, the average “bogey rating” was calculated for all courses in each state, with states ranked from highest to lowest difficulty based on this rating.

The bogey rating indicates the course difficulty for a player with a handicap of around 20 for men or 24 for women, making it a good measure for amateur, hobby golfers. Additionally, the average “course rating” for each state was calculated, which measures difficulty for a scratch player — an elite-level golfer with a handicap of zero, a status achieved by less than 1% of golfers.

States with the toughest golf courses

Rank State Average bogey rating Average course rating
1 Montana 97.42 70.68
2 Hawaii 96.35 70.65
3 Texas 96.22 70.36
4 New Jersey 95.82 69.73
5 Utah 95.14 69.28
6 Illinois 94.85 69.53
7 Washington 94.76 69.33
8 California 94.74 69.33
9 Nevada 94.59 68.95
10 Louisiana 94.45 69.67
11 Arkansas 94.22 69.25
12 Pennsylvania 94.17 68.85
13 North Carolina 93.97 68.63
14 Michigan 93.88 68.59
15 South Dakota 93.85 69.23
16 New Mexico 93.85 68.77
17 South Carolina 93.84 68.54
18 Maryland 93.74 68.78
19 Georgia 93.58 68.43
20 Indiana 93.57 68.98
21 Tennessee 93.42 68.89
21 Wyoming 93.36 68.52
23 Nebraska 93.27 69.20
24 Colorado 93.19 67.68
25 Oklahoma 93.15 68.72
26 Massachusetts 93.15 68.24
27 Arizona 93.12 68.40
28 Iowa 93.10 68.95
29 Deleware 93.08 68.01
30 Oregon 93.01 68.04
31 Virginia 92.93 67.72
32 Vermont 92.90 67.85
33 New Hampshire 92.88 68.19
34 Alabama 92.70 68.27
35 Kansas 92.67 68.14
36 Florida 92.67 67.86
37 Alaska 92.67 68.32
38 Kentucky 92.60 67.76
39 New York 92.59 67.96
40 Minnesota 92.30 67.51
41 North Dakota 92.24 68.55
42 West Virginia 91.75 68.15
43 Ohio 91.23 67.13
44 Connecticut 91.06 66.70
45 Idaho 90.97 66.61
46 Missouri 89.97 66.61
47 Rhode Island 89.85 66.18
48 Wisconsin 89.80 66.14
49 Maine 89.71 66.18
50 Mississippi 89.24 66.09

Watch: Bryson DeChambeau partied at the SMU football game in the student section with his U.S. Open trophy

Man of the people.

Bryson DeChambeau. A man of the people.

The 2024 U.S. Open champion has been busy since his victory at Pinehurst No. 2 in June. Whether it’s playing on the LIV Golf League, various media appearances or recording content for his YouTube channel, DeChambeau has been everywhere, and the U.S. Open trophy has accompanied him for many of the journeys.

On Saturday, DeChambeau took the U.S. Open trophy to the SMU football game against Pittsburgh, a ranked matchup featuring two of the top teams in the ACC this season. He was honored during the game, but the highlight came when DeChambeau was shown with the trophy in the student section.

Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau rides onto the field in a Mustang car with two SMU cheerleaders and the US Open trophy before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Imagine going to a football game with your friends, and all of the sudden you look up and it’s one of the best golfers in the world holding a major championship trophy while celebrating a touchdown.

SMU picked up a big win, topping Pitt 48-25, and DeChambeau had yet another viral moment since his second major victory.

Susie Maxwell Berning, a 3-time U.S. Women’s Open champion, dies at 83

She is survived by her two daughters, Robin Doctor and Cindy Molchany.

This story has been edited for clarity.

Susie Maxwell Berning, a 2021 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee who won three U.S. Women’s Opens, died Wednesday. She was 83.

Maxwell Berning won 11 times on the LPGA during her career, and she’s one of six women to win the U.S. Women’s Open at least three times, capturing the trophy in 1968, 1972 and 1973. She also won the Women’s Western Open in 1965 when it was considered a major championship.

The USGA confirmed Maxwell Berning’s passing in a release.

“Susie was a true trailblazer from the moment she picked up a golf club,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said in the release. “When I reflect on the incredibly short list of golfers – male or female – who have claimed three U.S. (Women’s) Open titles, alongside four major championships, it puts into perspective just how extraordinary her achievements were. Even more inspiring is the decision she made to step away from the competitive game to prioritize her family, a choice that resonates deeply with so many of us. Her legacy will forever be a source of admiration and respect.”

Susie Maxwell Berning

Born in Pasadena, California, on July 22, 1941, she spent her teenage years in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where her family rented a house across the street from a municipal golf facility, Lincoln Park, which remains open to this day.

In 1946, U.S. Women’s Open champion Patty Berg came to the course for a clinic, and that sparked Maxwell Berning’s interest in golf. She would go on to earn scholarship to Oklahoma City University, where she played on the men’s golf team. Two of her amateur rivals in Oklahoma, Beth Stone and Betsy Cullen, later joined the LPGA, and that inspired Maxwell Berning to turn pro.

In 1964, she was named LPGA’s Rookie of the Year. Four years later, she earned the first of her three U.S. Women’s Open titles. Her other two USWO wins came at Winged Foot Golf Club and the Country Club of Rochester.

In 1989, at the Konica San Jose Classic in California, Maxwell Berning and her daughter, Robin, became the first mother and daughter to compete in the same LPGA event. They did it again five years later at the Wegmans Rochester LPGA tourrnament.

After retiring from the LPGA in 1996, Maxwell Berning spent more than 20 years at The Reserve Club in Indian Wells, California, where she was made an honorary member.

She is survived by her two daughters, Robin Doctor and Cindy Molchany.

Evan Beck wins 43rd U.S. Mid-Amateur in dominating fashion, makes Walker Cup case

What a week for Evan Beck.

Last year, Evan Beck made it into the championship match of the U.S. Mid-Amateur but lost. This year, there was no doubt.

Beck, the 34-year-old from Virginia Beach, Virginia, topped Bobby Massa 9 and 8 on Thursday at Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. He became the first medalist or co-medalist since 2014 to take home the title, and the victory comes with plenty of perks.

With the win, Beck earns an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and a likely invitation to the 2025 Masters. He also has an excellent opportunity to make the Walker Cup team for the 50th edition at Cypress Point in California, as well, as the top-ranked American mid-amateur in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“It’s pretty sweet,” Beck said. “I’ve always dreamt of winning one of these. It’s incredible that it happened so close to home. To get all the way there and come up short (twice) is gut-wrenching. To be able to push through and prove that you can do it to yourself, more than anything, it’s pretty awesome.”

Beck took an 8-up lead into the 18-hole break over Massa, a quarterfinalist at last month’s U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National in Minnesota. He won nine holes in the morning session, and then won the 19th hole to go 9 up.

Evan Beck as seen with the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy after winning the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Va. on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Logan Whitton/USGA)

Massa, a 36-year-old from Dallas who serves as the personal trainer for USGA president Fred Perpall, has ball speeds that reach into the 190s at points and is one of the longest hitters in the game.

However, Thursday belonged to Beck, who with his victory Thursday set up what’s bound to be an incredible year of golf in 2025.

Erin Hills set to host five USGA amateur championships over the next 15 years

Four previous USGA championship have been hosted at Erin Hills.

The U.S. Golf Association announced Wisconsin’s Erin Hills will host five USGA amateur championships over the next 15 years. This in addition to the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, scheduled for May 28-June 1.

The new slate of championships includes the following: 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2030 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, 2033 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 2035 U.S. Amateur and 2039 U.S. Junior Amateur.

A general view of the 15th green during previews for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills Golf Course on September 10, 2024 in Erin, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Four previous USGA championship have been hosted at Erin Hills, including the 2017 U.S. Open won by Brooks Koepka.

Erin Hills, located in Erin, Wisconsin, 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee, was designed by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten and opened in 2006. The daily-fee course joins a list of 13 others that have hosted or will host the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The upcoming Four-Ball Championships and U.S. Women’s Amateur mark the first time these championships will be held in the Badger State.

Alexandra Austin, six months pregnant, advances to Round of 32 at U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that she’s playing well and hitting the ball well.”

Sabrina Coffman of Toledo, Ohio, and Jacqueline Setas of East Lansing, Michigan, each finished the stroke-play portion of the 37th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at 3 over to tie for medalist honors.

They’re two of the 64 golfers who advanced to the match-play drama at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Massachusetts.

Among those who made the Round of 64 is Alexandra Austin of Fairfax, Virginia, who is six months pregnant. She tied for third in stroke play and was the fourth seed for match play, where she won her Monday match against Olivia Herrick of Hugo, Minnesota, 4 and 3.

Austin was a quarterfinalist at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, earning her an exemption this year, and now she’s moving on to the Round of 32 in the 14th of 16 USGA championships in 2024.

“I’m not surprised that she’s playing well. When I was pregnant, I found it to be some of the best ballstriking I’ve ever had because of how your body is, and you have a good idea of where your center of gravity is. I wasn’t hitting it as far, but it was some of the best ballstriking, so it doesn’t surprise me at all that she’s playing well and hitting the ball well, and this is a course where you really need to do that,” said two-time champion Julia Potter-Bobb on Austin’s success in this year’s event.

The championship concludes Thursday with an 18-hole final.

With 15-year-old Asterisk Talley shining, U.S. started strong, but GB&I rallied to even Curtis Cup Match

Nothing about the Curtis Cup Match will be easy for the U.S., even with three straight victories in the rear-view mirror.

Nothing about the Curtis Cup Match will be easy for the United States, even with three straight victories in the rear-view mirror.

And that message rang true during Friday’s opening day of play at Sunningdale in England.

The U.S. side ran out to an early edge, but the team from Great Britain and Ireland rallied to pull things even before the day’s end.

More: Everything to know about the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale

U.S. captain Meghan Stasi’s side led 2-1 after the morning foursomes, but a chip-in from Sara Byrne on the 17th hole sealed a 2-and-1 win over Catherine Park and Zoe Campos in the afternoon session, pulling things even. Byrne, from Ireland, was paired with Lottie Woad.

https://twitter.com/CurtisCup/status/1829617587698688153

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said GB&I captain Catriona Matthew. “At one point this morning it looked like we were going to be beaten three-nil, but then we had a good comeback. The standard of golf has been pretty amazing. The Americans have made a lot of birdies, we’ve made a lot of birdies, and it was exciting out there in the four-balls. I can see in the team that their confidence is growing just from that finish there this afternoon.”

One of the shining stars for the Americans was 15-year-old Asterisk Talley, who paired with Jasmine Koo for nine birdies in 14 holes during a convincing 5-and-4 win over Lorna McClymont and Mimi Rhodes.

Talley made a name for herself earlier this year when she won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, leading wire-to-wire. Then she made her Augusta National Women’s Amateur debut before dominating the USGA circuit this summer.

In the afternoon session, Talley made birdies on holes No. 10, 11 and 13 to clinch the victory.

“I think both teams played extremely well,” said Stasi. “It was a really good start for us in the morning. We had a couple all-square matches that we came back and fought for. I think they’re going to learn a lot from today. It’s a long day out there for most of them.

“I think they’re going to learn a little bit more about each other’s games and just take that into tomorrow.”

Play resumes on Saturday.

Saturday, Aug. 31 

1:45-2:05 a.m. – Foursomes (three matches)

7:05-7:35 a.m. – Four-Ball (three matches)

Sunday, June 10 

4:05-5:15 a.m. – Singles (eight matches)

Louis Brown defeats Dan Sullivan to win 69th U.S. Senior Amateur

Both finalists are exempt into the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2025 U.S. Senior Open and 2025 U.S. Amateur.

Louis Brown, 61, of Marietta, Georgia, defeated Dan Sullivan, 57, of Pasadena, California, to claim the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur title.

By virtue of reaching the final, both golfers earned entries into the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Kinloch Golf Club, in Virginia, the 2025 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Brown is the fifth player from Georgia to win the Frederick L. Dold Trophy. He took the final 4 and 3 in the 18-hole match. He first played a USGA event in the 1981 U.S. Junior Amateur.

“I haven’t done everything I wanted to do in golf, but I’ve won some tournaments,” said Brown, who was the Australian Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 1989. “I’ve won some stuff in Georgia that’s pretty meaningful but the one thing that I thought would be huge for me would be to win a USGA event, and this was the only one.”

What the U.S. Senior Amateur champion gets:

  • A gold medal
  • Possession of the Frederick L. Dold Trophy for one year
  • Exemptions into the next 10 U.S. Senior Amateur Championships
  • Exemption into the 2025 U.S. Senior Open Championship
  • Exemptions into the 2024 and 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships
  • Exemptions into the 2025 and 2026 U.S. Amateur Championships
  • Exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont  Country Club

The 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur will be held at Biltmore Forest Country Club, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Best photos from the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale

The Americans own a 31-8-3 lead in the biennial competition.

The 43rd Curtis Cup is in the books.

Great Britain & Ireland won for the first time in eight years, topping the Americans 10.5-9.5 on Sunday at Sunningdale in England. Mimi Rhodes was clutch down the stretch, earning the deciding half point to win the cup back for GB&I.

The Curtis Cup, an eight-woman competition between the best amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland, began Friday at Sunningdale’s Old Course in England. This is the first Curtis Cup contested at Sunningdale and the 10th in England.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the 2024 Curtis Cup.

Highly ranked Royal Dornoch in Scottish Highlands lands 2028 Curtis Cup Match

The 2028 Curtis Cup Match is headed to one of the best courses in the world.

Competitive women’s amateur golf has scored another victory, landing one of the top golf courses in the world as host of the 2028 Curtis Cup Match at Royal Dornoch in northern Scotland.

The Championship Course at Royal Dornoch is ranked by Golfweek’s Best as the No. 3 course outside the United States. Opened in 1877 as a nine-hole layout in the Scottish Highlands, the links course was extended to 18 holes in 1886 by Old Tom Morris. Other designers have contributed over the decades to the hilly seaside layout, including John Sutherland, George Duncan and most recently the team of Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert.

This year’s Curtis Cup Match, a biennial team event featuring top female amateurs representing the U.S. and Europe, is August 30-Sept. 1 at Sunningdale Golf Club’s Old Course in England, which Golfweek’s Best has tied for No. 9 among courses outside the United States. The 2026 match will be held from June 12-14 at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, which ties for No. 57 among all classic courses in the U.S.

The dates for the 2028 match are to be determined.

“We look forward to staging the Curtis Cup at such a historic venue in 2028,” Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of championships for the R&A, said in a media release announcing the selection of Royal Dornoch in the run-up to this year’s staging of the event. “We want to give elite amateur golfers world-class platforms to show us how well they can perform, and that will certainly be the case at Royal Dornoch. The Championship Course has earned worldwide acclaim and it promises to be a wonderful occasion in the rich history of the Curtis Cup.”

Royal Dornoch Championship Course
Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course in the Scottish Highlands (Courtesy of Royal Dornoch Golf Club)

Royal Dornoch has a track record of hosting top amateur events, including the 1985 British Amateur Championship and four Scottish Men’s Amateur Championships, most recently in 2023.

“The Curtis Cup is also going to be a tremendous occasion for the local area,” Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, said in the media release. “With the Championship Course consistently ranked highly in global standings and the investment in our infrastructure as we build a new clubhouse, a match of this standing and stature will only enhance the reputation of Royal Dornoch, the town and the local area.”