The first U.S. national junior team was introduced last week as the United States Golf Association took a big step in building its National Development Program.
The 18 juniors – 10 girls and eight boys – are ages 14-17 and represent nine states. A team-high six members are from Florida, led by No. 1-ranked junior Miles Russell, 15, of Jacksonville, the 2023 AJGA player of the year, and No. 2 Gianna Clemente, 16, the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior runner-up from Estero.
The team members will receive year-round support and participate at biannual camps, beginning May 8-11 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia, and compete internationally under the U.S. flag. The USGA intends to expand the national junior team to 30 boys and 30 girls within three years. READ MORE
Rachel Heck, one of the most accomplished female golfers in recent years, attracted some attention last week not so much for what she did but rather what she won’t do: turn professional.
Heck, 22, a Stanford senior and former junior prodigy from Memphis, Tennessee, announced she will remain an amateur after her anticipated graduation with a degree in political science and a commission out of ROTC training as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. She has a private-equity internship lined up this summer.
As a freshman, she posted one of the most remarkable years in college golf, winning five times, capped by a sweep of the Pac-12, NCAA regional and NCAA Championship titles in her last three events en route to receiving the 2021 Annika Award as player of the year. The ensuing seasons were riddled with injury and illness, notably thoracic outlet syndrome.
Competing as an individual last weekend at the Ping ASU Invitational, she tied for 37th in only her second tournament of the spring.
In a letter posted to the NoLayingUp.com blog, Heck noted simply: “I do not want a life on the road and in the public eye.” READ MORE
TAP-INS
Aided by a mild winter across America’s northern tier, U.S. rounds played increased 5 percent in February compared with the same month in 2023, Golf Datatech reported, citing research from the National Golf Foundation. The increase cut into the early season deficit as rounds played were down 5.4 percent for the first two months of the year. READ MORE
In response to an “unprecedented” stretch of rain and a storm of social-media criticism about conditions on its original course, Bandon Dunes has offered discounts and a vow to improve this spring. The seven-course resort in coastal Oregon has discounted green fees by 25 percent on the Bandon Dunes layout because of what spokesman Michael Chupka called green conditions that “are not up to our standards,” Brian Giuffra reported for Sports Illustrated. Chupka, the director of communications, called the 40 inches of rain that inundated the resort this winter “unprecedented,” adding: “We’ll get them back to what our guests have come to expect for the past 25 years.” READ MORE
Susan Pikitch, the chief financial officer at the U.S. Golf Association, has been named chair of the LPGA Foundation Board of Directors. READ MORE
Gregg Grost, the former executive director and CEO of the Golf Coaches Association of America who coached the Oklahoma Sooners to an NCAA title, will receive the Eddie Merrins Award, the Ben Hogan Foundation and Friends of Golf announced. READ MORE
Gwladys Nocera will return as captain of Europe’s Junior Solheim Cup team after leading her squad to victory last year against the American. Nocera, of France, will be assisted by Dewi Claire Schreefel. The matches will be played September 9-10 at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, and precede the Solheim Cup later that week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. READ MORE
Visitors to Pinehurst, North Carolina, will be greeted with the message “The Home of American Golf” after the trademarked phrase was added to signs on U.S. Highway 1 entering the northern and southern borders of Moore County, The Pilot newspaper of Southern Pines reported. Pinehurst’s No. 2 course will be the site of the U.S. Open on June 13-16. READ MORE
The PGA Team Golf Championship will be held September 7-8 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 240-player amateur event will feature teams of two competing in better-ball and scramble formats on Grayhawk’s Raptor and Talon courses. READ MORE
The R&A’s One Club, which debuted in 2017 as a free membership platform, has added benefits that include the new streaming service R&A TV. READ MORE
Compiled by Steve Harmon