Springdale GC Set for 98th Women’s Amateur Championship and 10th Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
PRINCETON, N.J. – The New Jersey State Golf Association’s 98th Women’s Amateur Championship and 10th Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is set to be contested at Springdale Golf Club in Princeton from July 31- August 3.
Both events will run simultaneously, however, the 98th Women’s Amateur Champion will be determined after a test of both stroke play and match play formats, while the 10th Women's Mid-Amateur Championship will consist of two rounds of stroke play.
Springdale will be hosting its second New Jersey Women’s Amateur, last welcoming the NJSGA in 1985 when Charlaine Tatz of Ash Brook won over Robin Jervey of Baltusrol.
A staple of Princeton University’s campus, Springdale was founded as the Princeton Golf Club in 1895 by alumni, faculty and undergraduates of Princeton University and was only the 58th golf club recognized by the USGA. It was built on the former Stockton Farm, which today includes both Springdale and Princeton’s Graduate College, which includes the iconic Grover Cleveland Tower. The property was turned over to the university in 1909. The course was expanded from nine to 18 holes in 1915 and the club was renamed Springdale Golf Club in 1922. First designed by Gerard Lambert, world renowned golf course architect William Flynn revised the layout and design in 1926.
“Seventeen of the original 18 William Flynn greens that were built in 1926 are still here,” said General Manager, Anthony Pagliari, PGA. “It’s pretty much the original course that was redesigned in '26 with small and undulating greens, and fairly tight fairways. With our back tees measuring only at 6400 yards, the greens are how we guard against low scores.”
Despite its shortened yardage, Springdale will prove to be a tough test of golf due to its tricky green surfaces.
“Stay below the pin on all of our greens. If you get above the pin, depending on hole location, you can easily four putt,” warned Pagliari.
As a matter of fact, the Cleveland Tower, which is adjacent to the 6th hole adds some challenge to Springdale.
“Everything breaks away from the Cleveland Tower,” Pagliari added. “If you're standing on 8 green, which is just shy of 400 yards away from Cleveland Tower, and you have a cross-green putt, it’s not going to break as much as you would think toward the front of the green. It's going to be fairly straight because the grain. The grain and slope actually pulls towards the clubhouse (downhill) from the Cleveland Tower.”
If played strategically, Springdale has some solid opportunities for birdie, especially during the match play portion of the championship.
“Our par fives are gettable if you put your second shot in good position. If you set yourself up for a fairly easy third shot, there’s a gettable birdie. All three of our par fives, 4,12 and 17 are holes you want to take advantage of.”
Katie Lu, a sophomore at Michigan State University is set to defend her title, winning the 97th edition at Glen Ridge Country Club.
Entries are set to open on Wednesday, March 1 and can be found HERE.
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