Association's 2011 schedule now available

Manufacturers G&CC will host the Association's 111th Amateur Championship.

GAP Team Matches–The 2011 season begins with the Team Matches — a tradition since 1897. More than 310 squads from 130 clubs will engage in three days of competition: April 10, 17 and May 1. The Playoffs and Challenges will be held May 7.

  Huntingdon Valley CC captured its record 32nd GAP Team Matches title in 2010, defeating Glenmaura National GC, Mercer Oaks GC and Merion GC in a gusty Playoff.

Championships–The Middle-Amateur Championship, set for May 25-26, marks the season’s first Major. Laurel Creek CC in Mt. Laurel, N.J. hosts the tournament’s 28th edition. The club last welcomed a Major in 2004, when Tavistock CC’s Michael Tash claimed the Patterson Cup.

  Huntingdon Valley CC and Manufacturers G&CC aren’t strangers to hosting GAP Majors either and both will do so again in 2011. The first welcomes the Open Championship July 20 for the sixth time. Qualifiers for the Championship proper will take place at Riverton CC (June 21) and Radley Run CC (June 22). Lookaway GC’s Michael Brown made par on the 41st hole to become only the seventh Amateur to win the Open Championship, last year at Philmont CC.

  Manufacturers G&CC in Dresher, Pa. hosts its seventh GAP Amateur Championship June 14-16 & 18, with nearby North Hills CC acting as a match play qualifying site on the first day. Justin Martinson became the first Hartefeld National member to hoist the J. Wood Platt Trophy when he stopped Overbrook GC’s Michael Kania, 2&1, at Saucon Valley CC in 2010.

  White Manor CC is poised to stage the 108th Joseph H. Patterson Cup Aug. 11-12. Llanerch CC’s Jeff Osberg captured last year’s crown at RiverCrest GC & Preserve with a 6-under-par 136.

  From a group standpoint, the Philadelphia Team Championship is scheduled for June 30 at Philmont CC. Squads must first qualify for the Championship proper at Trump National GC — Philadelphia on June 6. The Team Championship pits four teams of eight players in a foursome match and singles competition. Overbrook GC looks to earn its 14th solo title.

USGA Events–The Association will conduct six USGA Qualifiers. The campaign for Congressional CC for the U.S. Open commences at either Hidden Creek GC (May 10) or Applebrook GC (May 12). Younger players can qualify at Whitemarsh Valley CC June 21 for the U.S. Junior Amateur while seniors can make their bids for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship Aug. 15 at Commonwealth National GC.

Senior–Whitemarsh Valley is an Association hot-spot in 2011 as it hosts the 41st Senior Amateur Championship Sept. 6-7. The two-day, 36-hole event is open to golfers 55 years of age and older with a handicap index of 7.0 or lower (12.0 for super seniors). Overbrook GC’s Chris Lange earned his first Senior Division title with a 2010 victory at Sunnybrook GC.

  Players begin their quest for the Senior Silver Cross at Lu Lu CC May 5 for the Francis B. Warner Cup (Gross). Newly-born Applecross CC welcomes the Senior Four-Man Team July 14, and the Senior 27-Hole Challenge returns for a fourth year Sept. 12 at St. Davids GC.

  Other highlights of the senior schedule include: the Warner Cup (Net) on May 31 at Whitford CC; the Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play on June 1 at Back Creek GC; the Brewer Cup at Bellewood GC on July 11-13; the Chapman Memorial (Gross) on July 25 at Little Mill CC and its Net counterpart on Aug. 22 at Hershey’s Mill GC.

Junior –Running Deer GC is the venue for the 97th Junior Boys’ Championship, set for June 27-29. Players will look to secure one of 32 available match play berths in the tournament’s Championship Flight and First Flight, respectively. Torresdale-Frankford CC’s Vince Boyle edged Lu Lu CC’s Benjamin Cooley, 1-up, at Whitford CC to win last year’s tournament.

  Bidermann GC hosts its first GAP event since the 1975 Open Championship when the Christman Cup arrives July 14. The 27th Jock MacKenzie Memorial at Sandy Run CC will be held July 18. The qualifying round of the Junior, the one round of the Jock MacKenzie Memorial and the two rounds of the Christman Cup, account for the Harry Hammond Award — the Junior version of the Silver Cross. Other events on the junior schedule include: the Pre-Junior Event at Philadelphia Cricket Club (St. Martins Course, July 6); the 26th Francis X. Hussey Memorial at Rolling Green GC (July 11); the Junior-Junior Boys' Championship (ages 11-13) at Moorestown Field Club (July 25-27) and the 9th Deeg Sezna Four-Ball at Hartefeld National (Aug. 2).

  The Association will also be represented in the Williamson Cup, set for Aug. 7-8 at Columbia CC in Bethesda, Md. The Williamson Cup features teams of four juniors from 10 regional and state associations competing in a two-day, 36-hole stroke play competition.

Father & Son Tournaments–The Association continues to promote father-son golf through its Middle, Younger and Older tournaments. The Father & Son (Middle), now in its fourth year, comes to Bala GC June 2. Doylestown CC’s David and Zach Smith will look to win their third consecutive title. The select drive/alternate shot tournament is open to teams with sons 18 to 29 years of age. The Father & Son (Younger), open to teams with sons 17 years of age and under, will be contested at Concord CC June 30. Huntingdon Valley CC’s Michael and R. Morgan Dougherty captured last year’s event at The Bucks Club. Last, the Father & Son (Older), open to teams with sons 30 years and over, will be held Aug. 31 at Woodcrest CC. Martin Klagholz of Aronimink GC and his son Marty of Rolling Green GC knocked off Huntingdon Valley’s David and Jesse Brookreson to take the 2010 title at Blue Bell CC.

Handicap Championships–Perhaps its destiny as the Spring Net Championship heads to The Springhaven Club June 9. Wildwood G&CC’s Bruce Foster fired a 6-under-par 66 (net) on his home course to win last year’s tournament. Two months later, the Fall Net Championship will be played at Woodstone CC on Aug. 24. Spring Ford CC’s Carmen Caruso looks to defend his title at the Danielsville, Pa. venue.

  In both tournaments, an overall low net champion is crowned and four flight champions are recognized as well. In addition, the low senior in each flight will earn honors.

Meetings–Four meetings remain on the Association calendar: the Chairmen's Meeting, the Pro-President, Golf & Green, the Players Dinner and the Annual Meeting.

  Whitemarsh Valley welcomes the Chairmen's Meeting April 16. The event will brief club chairmen on USGA handicap topics. The Pro-President, Golf & Green will take place at both Cedarbrook CC and Talamore CC May 18. The 7th Annual Player’s Dinner comes to Huntingdon Valley on Oct. 11. The event recognizes the top players from each championship division – amateur, junior and senior – as well as flight winners from each tournament.

  The Annual Meeting concludes the GAP schedule. It will be held Oct. 19 at Chester Valley GC and Stonewall (North).

Honorary teams–The Association will again send representatives to the Williamson Cup, Compher Cup, the Senior Challenge Matches, the Philadelphia Challenge Matches and the Mason-Dixon Matches.

  The Compher Cup will be held April 27 at Trump National GC — Colts Neck in Colts Neck, N.J. The event pits the GAP against the New Jersey State Golf Association with 12-man teams from each organization competing in an individual and four-ball match. GAP leads the annual series, 32-12-4. Last year, GAP reclaimed the title with an 11.5-6.5 victory at Gulph Mills GC.

  Eight-man teams representing four associations - Delaware, GAP, New Jersey and Maryland – will participate in the Senior Challenge Matches. Team GAP will defend its title Oct. 5 at Wilmington CC’s South Course.

  The Philadelphia Challenge Matches pit 12-man teams from the Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Section of the PGA against each other in an individual and four-ball match. Team GAP will look for its first victory since 1994. The PGA leads the all-time series, 15-1-3. Applebrook GC will host the event Oct. 13.

  The Mason-Dixon Matches, a competition of 12-man teams from the Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Middle Atlantic Golf Association, will be held Oct. 8-9 at LedgeRock GC. The Middle Atlantic Golf Association took last year’s title, 14-4, at Woodmont CC. GAP leads the series overall, 33-22-4.

  To view the complete 2011 schedule, click here.