Barclays Classic (August 21-24, 2008) leaves Westchester for Ridgewood CC in New Jersey
The first event in the FedExCup playoffs is moving to Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey, leaving Westchester Country Club in New York. It will be the first time in 40 years that New York will not host a PGA TOUR event.
Under an amended agreement, The Barclays will return to Westchester at least once before between 2010 and 2012.
“As we have said before, we believe it is in the best interest of The Barclays to rotate among various venues in the New York area,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.
The Barclays had been played at Westchester since 1967, but it moved from June to late August last year as the first of four PGA TOUR playoff events. It was the only playoff event that Tiger Woods did not play. The 2008 Tournamen dates are August 21-24.
The TOUR previously had said the 2009 tournament would be held at Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J.
Ridgewood, a 27-hole complex designed by A.W. Tillinghast in Paramus, N.J., previously hosted the 2001 Senior PGA Championship and the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, as well as the Ryder Cup in 1935.
Ticket and tournament information will be available on www.barclaysgolf.com.
What is going on in Westchester County? First Winged Foot refuses the United States golf Association request to host the United States Open Championship in 2015 and now the Barclay’s leaves Westchester Country Club. Is it something in the water?
Both these venues have created some of golf’s most spectacular moments. At Winged Foot, who will ever forget:
Phil Michelson’s epic collapse
Davis Love’s rainbow in the PGA Championship
Hal Irwin winning at seven over par
The infamous “Massacre at Winged Foot”
Westchester Country Club has also been the stage to fantastic golf memories. Even though the golf tournament kept on changing its name and it was traditionally played the week before the U.S. Open, the greats in golf almost always played.
Westchester was regarded as having some of the toughest par fours on tour and a good warm up for the Open. Champions include Jack Nicklaus, Johny Miller, Lee Janzen, Sergio Garcia, VJ Singh, Ray Floyd, Etc..
Who will ever forget Bob Gilder’s double eagle on the 18th hole to win his classic?
It is hard for any membership to give up their golf course for tournament golf during the golf season.
Hopefully, some of the new clubs will step up and hosts these events in our area.
Liberty National, Trump are you listening?
Comment by BCGolf — January 31, 2008 @ 2:57 pm