Hoyt Helps Shinnecock Host 1900 Women's Amateur


When the U.S. Open goes to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club next year, it will mark the eighth time a championship will be played at the historic course. In a series of stories leading up to the Open, the USGA will revisit past championships held there and the history behind Shinnecock. This is the second part. Click here for the first installment.



Frances Griscom captured the 1900 U.S. Women's Amateur held at Shinnecock Hills. (T.C. Turner photo/Harper's Bzar)

By David Shefter, USGA
Far Hills, N.J. -- Beatrix Hoyt, the first three-time champion of the Women's Amateur and an instrumental founder of the Women's Metropolitan Golf Association, was a vital point person in Shinnecock landing the third-oldest USGA event, that being the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1900. Hoyt was the granddaughter of Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury under President Abraham Lincoln and later the Chief Justice of the United States.

Part of the credit for her early success was that Shinnecock encouraged juniors and females to play the game. To this day, Hoyt is one of four 16 year olds to win the U.S. Women's Amateur (others are Michiko Hattori of Japan, Vicki Goetze and Laura Baugh). She also is one of five competitors to win three consecutive Women's Amateur titles (Alexa Stirling, Glenna Collet Vare, Virginia Van Wie and Juli Inkster are the others), doing so from 1896-1898. Her bid for a fourth consecutive title was ended by Caleb Fox in the 1899 event at Philadelphia Country Club.

The 1900 Women's Amateur would be Hoyt's last as a competitor. Although the then 21 year old earned medalist honors, an upstart Margaret Curtis ended her title run with a 20-hole victory in the semifinals. Frances Griscom would then beat Curtis in the final, 6 and 5.

While Hoyt gracefully bowed out from competitive golf, so too did Shinnecock Hills. It would be 67 more years before the club hosted another USGA championship.

David Shefter is a staff writer for the USGA. E-mail him at dshefter@usga.org with questions or comments.

Part I: Founding USGA Member Shinnecock Hills Has Carved Place In Golf
Part III: Nation's Top Seniors Invade Southhampton


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