Western Amateur Tees Off in Carmel
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowCrooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel is this week hosting the next generation of golf stars. The Western Amateur, which is the third-oldest amateur championship in the world, features a field of superstar collegiate golfers and co-chair Nick Deets says the event adds to central Indiana’s reputation as a sports capital. Past winners of the Western Amateur include Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Deets previewed the event last weekend on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
“Indiana, and especially central Indiana, are known as the amateur sports capital of the world and Crooked Stick has tried to do its part. We’ve hosted several amateur national championships in the past. This is a big national championship to host and we just try to do our part to further the Pete and Alice Dye legacy.”
This year’s event runs through Saturday at the golf club, which was created by legendary course designers Pete and Alice Dye.
Deets says the tournament, which is in its 118th year, features a grueling format.
“We’ll start off at 156 players for 18 holes on Tuesday and Wednesday…they will cut the field from 156 players to 44 players, who will play 36 holes on Thursday. It will then be cut to low 16 for match play and they’ll play two matches each on Friday and Saturday. So the champion will have played 36 holes three days in a row and this is the format that’s known as the toughest in golf.”
The tournament, like every other sporting event, is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no fans at the event this year, but Deets says the Western Golf Association and Crooked Stick have fluid plans for hosting.
“Just like the (PGA) Tour doesn’t now — it has no spectators — this tournament will have no general spectators. It will have the players (and) one member from their family…and that will be the limit that we’re allowed to have.”
You can learn more about this year’s event by clicking here.