USGA expected to announce 2019 U.S. Women’s Open will be played in Charleston

Golf fans on the Grand Strand were able to drive just 2 ½ hours to see the best female players in the world in the most prestigious women’s tournament last year when Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., hosted the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

The tournament may be even closer in the near future.

The United States Golf Association is holding a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Country Club of Charleston “to discuss important championship news,” and the next logical tournament for the venerable course to host would be the U.S. Women’s Open. The tournament’s next available date is 2019.

The quirky Seth Raynor layout, a 6,776-yard par-71 that was built in 1925, hosted the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, and the USGA and club officials were reportedly negotiating the hosting of the 2019 Women’s Open earlier this year.

Following the 2013 Women’s Am, Shannon Rouillard, the USGA’s director of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship and Curtis Cup, said of the course and event:

“This course has risen to the occasion. We were able to get green speeds where we wanted them to be throughout the week and they've just rolled really well and they're really championship greens. … This host committee has gone above and beyond what's expected for a women's amateur. They've really showcased this club well and welcomed these players into their family and this community.”

The USGA has announced just the next three sites for the Women’s Open: CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif., in 2016, Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., in 2017, and Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club in Shoal Creek, Ala., in 2018.

The Country Club of Charleston annually hosts three significant amateur events — the men’s Azalea Invitational which dates to 1946, the men’s Senior Azalea and the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea.

Those scheduled to take part in the press conference include USGA president Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., CC of Charleston president Cordes Ford and Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.

The Carolinas have become a hotbed for major championships, as the 2017 PGA Championship will be held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., the PGA Championship is scheduled to return to the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in 2021, and the U.S. Open will return to Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024 for the fourth time in 25 years. No. 2 hosted both the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens in 2014.

More specifically, the USGA has brought six of its national championships to the South Carolina coast since 2003. The 2003 Women's Mid-Amateur was held at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, the 2005 men's and women's state team championships were held at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur was contested at Kiawah Island Club in 2009, and this year’s U.S. Junior was held at Colleton River Plantation in Bluffton. The 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball will be played at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 9:40 PM with the headline "USGA expected to announce 2019 U.S. Women’s Open will be played in Charleston."