After making his fortune in a chocolate enterprise that is world renown, Milton Hersey founded Hershey Country Club in 1930, giving up the first floor in his High Point Mansion to serve as the clubhouse. Maurice McCarthy designed the original course, which now is the West Course and the venue for the 2012 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur. The course’s par-3 fifth hole features Hershey’s former home as a backdrop.

Thirty-nine years later, George Fazio designed the East Course, which was the site of a Nationwide Tour event.

The facility also includes Hershey Links, a par-72 layout with five sets of tees to accomodate all skill levels. And in 1932, Hershey created Spring Creek Golf Course, a nine-hole layout that was the first in the U.S. open to players under the age of 18. It was completely renovated in 2006, but is still dedicated to beginning players.

All four courses are part of the Hershey Golf Collection and reside not far from the chocolate factory.

While this will be the first USGA championship for Hershey C.C., the semi-private facility did host the 1940 PGA Championship won by Byron Nelson. The course also hosted the Hershey Open from 1933-37 and again in 1939 and 1941 as well as the LPGA Tour’s Lady Keystone Open from 1978-84. In addition, Hershey C.C. hosted 16 Pennsylvania Opens. Last year, the PGA Professional National Championship was contested on both the East and West courses.

Two Hall of Famers also served Hershey C.C. as golf professionals. Henry Picard, who won the 1938 Masters and 1939 PGA Championship, served as the professional at Hershey from 1934-41. He was succeeded by Ben Hogan, who represented Hershey C.C. until 1951. Hogan claimed four U.S. Open titles among his nine major titles.