Association releases 2014 schedule

  Do you sigh when you see the snow outside?

  Cheer instead by checking out the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 2014 tournament schedule — the 118th in the organization’s history. It features more than 60 events for players of all age groups (Junior, Amateur and Senior) and ability levels (Championship and Handicap). The season formally begins in April with the GAP Team Matches and concludes in October.

GAP Team Matches (April 13, 27, May 4; Playoff & Challenges, May 10)

  A tradition since the Association’s inception in 1897, the GAP Team Matches is the longest-running golf competition of its kind. A total of 332 clubs from 135 clubs will compete this year. Philadelphia Cricket Club defeated Back Creek Club, Little Mill Country Club and Overbrook Golf Club to win the GAP Team Matches a year ago.

Middle-Amateur Championship (May 21-22 at Gulph Mills Golf Club)

  For players 25 years of age and over, it is one of four Majors on the GAP calendar. Gulph Mills last hosted the Middle-Amateur Championship in 2004, when Michael McDermott carded rounds of 69 and 70 to prevail. He enters this year’s affair as defending champion.

Amateur Championship (June 9-11 & 14, White Manor Country Club)

  The Association’s grandest championship, now in its 114th year, is open to all amateurs with a 7.0 handicap index or less. White Manor hosts the event for the first time; it served as a qualifying-only site in 2007. McDermott is the defending champion.

Open Championship (July 23, Applebrook Golf Club)

  This Major is a one-day, 36-hole affair open to amateurs and professionals alike. Applebrook hosts for the first time in the club’s 13-year history. Qualifiers will take place June 16 at Makefield Highlands Golf Club and June 18 at Greate Bay Country Club.

Joseph H. Patterson Cup (Aug. 6-7, Tavistock Country Club)

  The Association’s premier stroke-play features 36 holes of competition. This marks the Tavistock’s third time as host. Qualifiers will take place July 22 at Indian Valley Country Club and July 24 at Hartefeld National. Brandon Matthews is the tournament’s defending champion.

USGA events

  The Golf Association of Philadelphia will administer eight USGA qualifying events. They include the U.S. Open (May 5 at Hidden Creek Golf Club and May 15 at Laurel Creek Country Club), U.S. Senior Open (June 19 at Back Creek), U.S. Mid-Amateur (July 21 at Huntingdon Valley Country Club and July 28 at Bidermann Golf Club), USGA Senior Amateur (Aug. 18 at Galloway National Golf Club) and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (Oct. 13).

Senior

  Players 55 years of age & over can compete in an abundance of events. The division’s Majors include the Warner Cup (Gross) at Talamore Country Club (May 8); the Chapman Cup (Gross) at The Springhaven Club (June 23); the Brewer Cup at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club (July 7-9) and the Senior Amateur Championship at Philmont Country Club (Sept. 2-3).

Junior

  Players 18 years of age or younger who haven’t started their college education can take advantage of the Association’s Junior schedule. Events include the 100th Junior Boys’ Championship (June 24-26 at Riverton Country Club); Francis X. Hussey Memorial (July 7 at Rolling Green Golf Club); Christman Cup (July 10 at St. Davids Golf Club; 30th Jock MacKenzie Memorial (July 14 at Sandy Run Country Club) and The Deeg Sezna (July 31 at Whitford Country Club). Kids looking to learn more about golf can participate in the Pre-Junior Event at Philadelphia Cricket Club (St. Martins) July 2. The Junior-Junior Boys’ Championship, set for July 28-30 at Flourtown Country Club, welcomes players ages 11-13.

Father & Son Tournaments

  Enjoy family golf at its finest by playing in one of the Association’s Father & Son tournaments. The Middle event, open to teams with sons 18 to 29 years of age, heads to Burlington Country Club May 29. The Father & Son (Younger), open to teams with sons 17 years of age and under, will be held June 26 at Blue Bell Country Club. The Older event, open to teams with sons 30 years of age and over, travels to Glenmaura National Golf Club Sept. 8.

Handicap championships

  The Association implements the parameters of the TEE IT FORWARD initiative for its Spring and Fall Net Championships. Three sets of tee options will be provided for those who drive the ball between 200 and 250 yards. Plymouth Country Club hosts the TEE IT FORWARD – Spring Net Championship June 3, and Brookside Country Club the TEE IT FORWARD – Fall Net Championship Aug. 21.

Meetings

  The Pro-Pres., Golf & Green, set for May 14 at Llanerch Country Club and Philadelphia Country Club, features golf, cocktails, dinner and presentations and is open to golf professionals, presidents, golf and green chairmen at GAP Member Clubs. The 10th Player’s Dinner will take place Oct. 22 at Philmont. The top players from each championship division — amateur, junior and senior — as well as flight winners from each tournament are awarded.

Honorary teams

  The Association will be represented in the five honorary team events, beginning with the Compher Cup April 30 at Aronimink Golf Club. It pits the GAP against the New Jersey State Golf Association with 12-man teams competing in an individual and four-ball match. The Williamson Cup, set for Aug. 11-12 at Club Laval-sur-le-Lac, features teams of four juniors from 10 regional and state associations engaging in a 36-hole stroke play competition. Eight-man teams representing four associations — Delaware, GAP, New Jersey and Maryland — will participate in the Senior Challenge Matches, set for Oct. 2 at Manasquan River Golf Club. The Philadelphia Challenge Matches pit 12-man teams from the Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Section of the PGA against one another in an individual and four-ball match. Applebrook again hosts the event on Oct. 8. The Mason-Dixon Matches, a competition of 12-man teams from the GAP and the Middle Atlantic Golf Association, will take place at Fountain Head Country Club in Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, Md.

  Click here to view the full 2014 schedule.

  Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 149 Member Clubs and 55,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.