WGA MOVES 2013 WESTERN AM TO ALOTIAN CLUB
WARREN STEPHENS ANNOUNCES THE 2013 WESTERN AMATEUR WILL BE
PLAYED AT HIS ROLAND ARKANSAS ALOTIAN CLUB. (Seated L-R back left are
WGA President & CEO John Kaczkowski, 2011 WGA-Amateur Champion Ethan
Tracy and WGA VP of Tournaments Vince Pellegrino.)
When the Western Golf Association (WGA) announced in 2008 that the
Western Amateur Championship was leaving the Point O'Woods CC in
Michigan, it announced a rotation that included seven Chicago area clubs
as tournament hosts through 2015.
Last year the WGA then added another Chicago area club. The Lake
Forest based Knollwood as the eighth club in that rotation, as Knollwood
was awarded the Western Amateur for 2016.
But the eight year Chicago area rotation was officially scrapped this past
week, when the WGA made it official that the 2013 Western Amateur was
headed to the Alotian Club in Arkansas.
Rumors of this move first surfaced after this summers Western Amateur
was played at Northshore CC, in a recap of the event by the Global Golf
Post.
The 2013 Western Amateur had been scheduled to be held at Olympia
Fields Country Club (OFCC).
THE WGA AND OLYMPIA FIELDS MADE A JOINT DECISION TO MOVE THE 2013 WESTERN
AMATEUR TO THE ALOTIAN CLUB IN ARKANSAS.THE MOVE WAS NOT MADE SO OFCC
COULD HOST THE 2013 BMW CHAMPIONSHIP IN IT'S PLACE.
"We're very fortunate to be able to bring our world-class amateur championship
to such a highly regarded facility, " said Vince Pellegrino, vice president of
tournaments for the Western Golf Association. "The Alotian Club has received
accolades since the day it opened. We expect our field of top-ranked amateurs
will be thrilled to have an opportunity to compete on such a prestigious course."
Prestigious is actually what the Tom Fazio designed club is all about. The club
owned by Little Rock businessman Warren Stephens (who also belongs at
Augusta National), opened in 2004 after Stephens reported investment of between
6.5 and 10 million to purchase the property and build the course.
It didn't take long for the club to gain recognition. In 2005 Golf Digest Magazine
voted the course as it's Best New Private Club. The course is currently #14
on Golf Digests list of "America's Greatest 100 Golf Courses". However the
club has not reached a similar level with Golfweek Magazine, regarded by
many as the golf industries top golf course rating service.
The Alotian Club has already developed a strong caddy program, and has
two current Evans Scholars, brothers Joe and Kevin Evans. Both are attending
Northwestern University in Evanston and are majoring in economics.
"Caddies are an integral part of the history and tradition of golf. That's why I
wanted a caddie program at the Alotian Club, " said Stephens. "Hosting a
first class competition and supporting scholarships for caddies made the
decision to welcome the Western Amateur to Arkansas and easy one."
The decision to move the 2013 Western Amateur to Arkansas was a joint
decision by the WGA and OFCC.
"Moving the 2013 Western Amateur from Olympia Fields Country Club to
Arkansas is a win-win for both organizations, " said Jeff Goldman club
president of Olympia Fields. "This collective decision by the WGA and
Olympia Fields, allows Olympia Fields to focus solely on the 2015 USGA
Amateur Championship. In terms of preparing both courses and logistical
planning. This will also help the WGA broaden it's reach into other markets."
Goldman was asked if this meant the club would be hosting the 2013
BMW Championship in place of the Western Amateur. Goldman would
only say his statement (above) "says it all."
The GOG Blog has since obtained a copy of the letter sent out by OFCC
to it's membership regarding the change of venue for the Western Amateur,
and what that meant for the club in 2013.
It explains that the WGA and OFCC reached this win-win agreement for
several reasons. Including the preparation time needed by OFCC to be
ready for the 2015 US Amateur, and the "strategic desire" of the WGA
broaden it's reach to other markets outside of Chicago. In addition for
the opportunity have the Western Amateur played at a unique venue
like the Alotian Club.
The letter also quotes Pellegrino saying the WGA appreciates OFCC's
flexibility in agreeing to the move. Pellegrino also called the move a
"win-win" situation for both organizations.
The OFCC membership was also informed that the club "would not"
be hosting the 2013 BMW Championship instead. But the club would
have an interest in talking with the WGA after the completion of the
2015 US Amateur, in possibly hosting a future WGA professional event
or a Western Amateur Championship.
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