Forest Highlands (Ariz.) Golf Club To Host 2006 U.S. Mid-Amateur

September 24, 2003
Far Hills, N.J. - Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz., has been selected as the site of the 2006 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, the United States Golf Association has announced. The Championship will be conducted from Sept. 9-14.

The original course at Forest Highlands was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1988. Now called the Canyon course, it will be exclusively used for the match play portion of the Championship. The Canyon course and the Meadow course, designed by Weiskopf and opened in 1999, will be used for the beginning 36-hole stroke play portion of the Championship.

Forest Highlands previously hosted the 1996 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Shane McMenamy in a playoff over Charles Howell. In all, 12 other USGA championships have been contested in Arizona.

The Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually be the USGA. First played in 1981, it is held for those at least 25 years old. Notable previous winners have been Jim Holtgrieve (1981), Jay Sigel (1985 and 1987) and David Eger (1988), all now playing on the Champions Tour. Recent winners Danny Green (1999), Tim Jackson (1994 and 2001) and George Zahringer (2002) have been members of the USA Walker Cup team since 1999.

"We are delighted that Forest Highlands will host this prestigious event and look forward to working with the USGA to make this another memorable competition," said Jack Grehan, general manager. "A championship like this charges up the staff. The membership is excited to welcome the USGA and all these outstanding players."

Prior to 2006, the U.S. Mid-Amateur will be played at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club, from Oct. 11-16, 2003; at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga., from Oct. 2-7, 2004; and at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., from Sept. 10-15, 2005.

For more information, contact the USGA Championships department at (908) 234-2300 or visit the club's website at www.fhgc.com.

E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org