U.S. Senior Amateur Coming This Fall To Hidden Creek

Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township has for the past three years been gearing up for this fall’s 61st U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

The course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2002.

“In the past three years, Hidden Creek has seen a remarkable amount of preparation. To win at Hidden Creek will require a comprehension of skills,” said Greg Sanfilippo, director of the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship which will take place Sept. 26 through Oct. 1.

“The course is a mix of links and parkland style of golf. It is remarkable, tranquil, fun and challenging. The course will play firm and fast. It will force players to think about the design of each and every hole. There will be a premium on iron play onto the greens and a lot of creativity is needed to win this championship,” Sanfilippo said.

Hidden Creek has hosted qualifying for three USGA championships, the latest being the U.S. Open in 2011. For the U.S. Senior Amateur, the course will play at 6,840 yards and to a par of 36-35-71.

Hidden Creek is allowing the public to participate in a “play-day” at the club on Tuesday, August 25 , at a cost of $205 per player, which includes lunch, golf and cart. Call 609-909-2990, ext. 121 for information.

More than 2,250 entries have been received. Men 55 and over are playing in qualifiers to be among the field of 156. The deadline for applications to be received is 5 p.m. on August 12. Players who make it play 36 holes of medal play, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play.

Philadelphia native Buddy Marruci won the 2008 U.S. Senior Amateur, his first and only USGA championship. He also captained two U.S. Walker Cup teams to a victory, including an emotional triumph at Merion in 2009. He lost in the final of the 1995 U.S. Amateur to a then college-freshman named Tiger Woods. Marucci, 62, will be in the field at Hidden Creek.

“Amateur golf used to be a lot different. It was a businessman’s game. College golf changed all that, but the Senior Amateur really is a businessman’s event,” said Marucci, a member at Merion who now provides analysis on FoxSports golf broadcasts and was on hand for media day at Hidden Creek on Monday, August 10.

“The camaraderie among the golfers will provide a warm, friendly environment. I think everyone will have a great experience.”

Hidden Creek will be the first course to employ hole-by-hole live scoring instead of nine-hole updates as previously employed at U.S. Senior Amateurs. More volunteers are needed (call 609-965-4486 to volunteer).

"This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Hidden Creek to the rest of the world,” said owner Roger Hansen. “When I approached Crenshaw and Coore to design the course two decades ago, they were just coming into their own and I think I picked two of the best golf-course architects in the world.

“Almost every course they have designed is on a Top 100 list,” said Hansen. Golfweek Magazine ranked Hidden Creek 82nd on the list of America's 100 Best Modern Courses in 2011.

"The Hidden Creek site required very little alteration to the landscape," commented Coore during the construction phase of the project. "The holes lay on the ground pretty much the way we found it. We look for projects in which the site lends itself to golf in its natural form." Crenshaw mentioned, "We stand for tradition and old-fashioned values. We tried to work with the land and create balance and variety in the design."

Since joining forces in 1986, Crenshaw and Coore have designed some outstanding layouts around the country. Sand Hills Golf Club (NE), The Plantation Course at Kapalua (HI) and Barton Creek Club (TX) to name a few.

Hansen was certainly pleased. "My vision was turned into reality. We have a really fine private club, nothing too fancy. A really good golf course where guys can have fun and enjoy the camaraderie of the game. And walk with caddies. It turned out about how I envisioned. It's wonderful to see."

“Our members and staff are very pleased and proud that the USGA has selected our club to play host to this prestigious championship," Hansen said "This is a fitting and welcome next step in our relationship with the USGA. We look forward to providing the Senior Amateur participants and spectators with a memorable experience."

Another Hansen-owned course, Blue Heron Pines East in Galloway Township hosted the 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, won by current PGA tour star Brandt Snedeker.

The Senior Amateur is open to men who have reached their 55th birthday by the first day of competition and have a handicap index not exceeding 7.4. It has been contested since 1955.