CT Amateur Golf Championship : simplebooklet.com

CONNECTICUT AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP is the oldest event conducted by the CSGA and is one of the nation’s oldest state amateur golf championships. The format challenges the 120-132 amateur golfers over two rounds of stroke play to determine the low thirty-two match play qualiers. Two rounds of match play each day culminate in a thirty-six-hole nal to crown 2021’s top amateur player in Connecticut.We will follow and communicate all COVID-19 protocols as directed by the State of Connecticut and the CDC at the time of the event.

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31“The rottenest course I’ve ever played!”Harry Vardon, six time British Open and US Open Champion, commenting in 1901 on the original Hartford Golf Club course, a cow pasture. Schedule of EventsMonday, June 14 First round, stroke play First tee time 7:30amTuesday, June 15 Second round, stroke play First tee time 7:30amWednesday, June 16 Round of 32, match playRound of 16, match playFirst tee time 7:30amImmediately follows at 12:30pmThursday, June 17 Quarternals, match play Seminals, match playFirst tee time 7:30amImmediately follows at 12:30pmFriday, June 18 Championship match 36 holesAWARDS CEREMONYTee times 7:30am and 12:30pm

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2On behalf of the membership of the Hartford Golf Club, it is my great pleasure to welcome all of the players, ocials, volunteers, and spectators to the 2021 Connecticut Amateur Championship. We are celebrating our 125th anniversary at HGC this year, and what better way to kick o the celebration than by inviting the best amateurs in the state to play this challenging and historic golf course.The Hartford Golf Club has a long history of supporting competitive golf. HGC has hosted the Connecticut Amateur ten times with the last being held in 1990. In addition, we have hosted many CSGA, Regional and USGA Championship golf events including the US Mid-Amateur, US Junior Girls, New England Amateur and Connecticut Open to name a few.It would be impossible to host such a prestigious event without the generous support of our sponsors and the tremendous eort by our entire Connecticut Amateur Tournament Committee chaired by Peter Cerrato. Thank you to everyone involved. Have a great time this week and enjoy our hospitality.Good luck competitors!David E. Polk PresidentDavid E. PolkPresidentHartford Golf Club

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3It is my pleasure to welcome all 2021 Connecticut Amateur Championship competitors and visitors to the Hartford Golf Club. The team is excited to show o our beautiful golf course and club to such an elite group of players. You will notice from the rst moment you arrive that every detail has been carefully designed to assure your experience while on property is memorable.I especially want to thank the team of 100 member-volunteers and 270 HGC sta who each play a vital role in the success of the week.Our food and beverage professionals led by Chef Ryan Calvo and Kris Story have wonderful culinary surprises in store for you during your visit. Players’ lunches will be delicious and served with the absolute highest level of attention. Non-players will also be able to enjoy the oerings that only the Hartford Golf Club can provide. It goes without saying, the golf course will be a true test for our competitors. I look forward to welcoming everyone to HGC and good luck to the eld of Amateurs!Nicholas E. Graczyk General Manager/COONicholas E. GraczykGeneral Manager/COOHartford Golf Club

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4Dear Hartford Golf Club Members and Participants in the Connecticut Amateur,It is both humbling and thrilling to conduct the 119th playing of the Connecticut Amateur Championship at such a prestigious site as Hartford Golf Club, especially as the club celebrates its 125th anniversary. The histories of HGC and CSGA are happily intertwined. The club was still in its infancy when its members joined with others in Connecticut to form what we proudly recall as the nation’s rst state golf association, and for generations we have walked stride for stride in advancing the game, celebrating golf, and crowning champions. And so it will be from June 14 through 18 as many will test their skill upon Hartford Golf Club’s immaculate grounds before one most worthy champion emerges.This is a championship that many look forward to each year, and truthfully, even more so in 2021. From the time it was announced that Hartford Golf Club would host the Connecticut Amateur there has been a buzz among our state’s best players and among those who aspire to be among the best. Thus, it was no surprise that our total number of entries for the 2021 championship is the highest it has been in nearly ten years. To the members, it is with much appreciation that we thank you for again welcoming us into your wonderful club. To the players, best of luck as you enjoy the distinct privilege of competing at such an exceptional venue as Hartford Golf Club. Sincerely,Michael MoraghanExecutive Director, Connecticut State Golf AssociationCT State Golf AssociationMichael MoraghanExecutive DirectorCT State Golf Association

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5Hartford Golf Club & CT State Golf AssociationA Long and Legendary RelationshipHartford Golf Club has had many signicant connections with the Connecticut State Golf Association over the years. There have been ve CSGA presidents from Hartford Golf Club starting with Francis R. Cooley in 1903-1905 to James Healey, Jr. in 2019-2020, after serving on the CSGA’s board for twenty years. But, two Hartford Golf Club members stand out prominently in the long history with the CSGA: James Healey, Sr. and Jack Bracken.Jim Healey, Sr., a seven-time club champion at the Hartford Golf Club, served for 20 years on the CSGA Executive Committee. He was Connecticut Junior Champion in 1947, two-time Connecticut Amateur Champion, 1951 and 1958, and ve-time Connecticut Four Ball Champion. He twice became a semi-nalist in the New England Amateur, and advanced to match play twice in the USGA Amateur. In 2001 he was elected to the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame. While on the CSGA Executive Committee, Jim Healey, Sr. contributed his considerable legal talents. Jim Sr. had a distinguished career as a trial lawyer, initially in private practice and later as the lawyer responsible for United Technologies’ litigation. Jack Bracken is also an esteemed lawyer and has served on CSGA’s Executive Committee for more than two decades. But it was on Hartford Golf Club’s course that Jack’s most memorable connection with the CSGA occurred. In 1990, Jack, the reigning HGC club champion, a championship he has now held seven times, had not previously qualied for the Connecticut Amateur Championship. He was determined to do so when the event was held on his home course. After garnering medalist honors, he faced and defeated two celebrated veterans and legends in Connecticut golf in the rst two rounds, Dave Szewczul and Fred Kask. His next competitor was Kevin Foster, out of Hopmeadow, whom Jack had never beaten. A 1 up triumph ensued. Next, Jack won the semi-nal match convincingly 7 and 6. Superstitious, Jack did not return any congratulatory phone calls. Indeed, Jack admits he put enormous pressure on himself. During the week of play, unable to eat, Jack dropped 14 pounds from his slight frame. In the nal match against the estimable Reverend Bill Lee, Jack took a three-hole lead with nine holes to play. Alas, it was not to be. Lee came back and ultimately sank a dicult 10-footer on the 36th hole to triumph 1 up. Jack has since won numerous CSGA events, played in seven USGA events, the British Amateur and the British Senior Amateur, but he freely acknowledges, none of that takes away the pain of the loss on his home course.Hopefully the 2021 Connecticut Amateur comes close to the high drama and raw emotion of the 1990 event!Jack BrackenJim Healey, Sr.

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6It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Hartford Golf Club, we are honored to be your host for the 119th Connecticut Amateur Championship. We are currently celebrating our 125th anniversary and can think of no better way to mark the occasion than by allowing the region’s best amateurs the opportunity to compete here at Hartford Golf Club. We have been fortunate to be the frequent host of some great tournaments including state and national events. From the moment you step foot on the property and are greeted by our friendly sta, you will know that you are someplace very special. Set against the backdrop of downtown Hartford, our course provides a rm challenging layout that will test the whole eld. We have 27 holes of golf and for the rst time will be oering a composite golf course to the competitors that will encompass a selection of holes from each course. We expect this to generate excitement from members and competitors alike whilst also adding some challenging holes to the championship course.Please know that my sta and I are committed to providing you with the best possible experience during the event, and please do not hesitate to reach out if we can assist in anyway during your time at Hartford Golf Club. Good Luck,Richard Bray Head Golf ProfessionalRichard BrayHead Golf ProfessionalHartford Golf Club

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7The Men’s and Women’s Golf Committees of the Hartford Golf Club are very excited to present to you the Composite Course. A brand-new routing comprised of some of the most challenging aspects of all three of our nine-hole courses: Red, Blue, and Green. At 6,786 yards par 70, the Composite Course promises to be a challenging test of golf.Members will recognize the front nine of the Composite as hole numbers 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 from the Red Course joined with holes 20, 21, 22, and 23 from the Green Course. The back nine of the Composite consists of all nine holes from our traditional Blue Course. Walking the course will provide the opportunity to see the vast majority of our beautiful grounds. Historically, the rst ve holes and the back nine holes of the Composite were a combi-nation Devereaux Emmet and Donald Ross design from the early part of the twentieth century. The holes used from our Green Course were designed by Donald Ross in 1946, and were amongst his nal renderings. We hope you enjoy your time with us this week and the unique opportunity to play the Composite Course.Jack Barnes, Lisa Patrick, and Patti CheyneMen’s and Women’s Golf CommitteesThe Composite CourseLisa PatrickJack Barnes Patti Cheyne

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10Hartford Golf Club Course HistoryThe 2021 Connecticut Amateur marks the 125th anniversary of the Hartford Golf Club1896 - 2021Almost from its inception in 1896, the club has created a proud history of hosting Connecticut as well as national golng events. As early as 1902, the club entertained the Connecticut League of Golf Clubs’ annual tournament. The 26 clubs at the tournament included the Faireld, Fenwick, Innis Arden, Waterbury, and Wee Burn Golf Clubs and the Brooklawn and New Haven Country Clubs. In addition to what will now be ten Connecticut Amateurs, the club has hosted four Connecticut Opens, two Connecticut Juniors, one Connecticut Mid-Amateur and the rst two Russell C. Palmer Cups in 2004 and 2005. To mark its 100th anniversary, the club hosted the U.S. Mid-Amateur and held the U.S. Junior Girls in 2008.A lookback at 125 years of history reveals a club committed to ensuring the course evolve to be the challenging but fair test it is today. The humble origins of the Hartford Golf Club cannot be exaggerated. Opened on June 13, 1896, almost exactly 125 years before it welcomes the 119th Connecticut Amateur, the club’s rst home was a pasture eld of between 25 and 30 acres in the west end of Hartford. The surface was described as uneven, covered with unmown grass, hilly, with many bushes and even a swamp. The rough was very thick hay. Caddies were rewarded at the end of these early seasons for having lost the fewest balls. In addition to skillfully striking their brassies, mashies, and niblicks, players needed agility and nerve to dodge cows and climb and hop over rail fences. In 1900, the club purchased a 70-acre parcel between Asylum and Albany Avenues in West Hartford, when it Illustration by FourLeafLover, Dreamstime.com

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1119141921 1946 20172021was a rural village of 3,000 souls. A new 18-hole golf course was laid out by the club’s Scottish greenskeeper, Jim Brown. All that remains of this course now are street names like Golf, Fairway and Vardon Roads, the latter no doubt commemorating Harry Vardon’s exhibition match at the club in September of 1900 before he ended his United States tour with a victory at the U.S. Open. Vardon commented on the diculty of the fast greens then, something today’s competitors are equally likely to nd challenging.1914 marked the beginning of the golf course that we know today. Seventy acres were purchased north of Albany Avenue in 1913 and the legendary golf course designer Donald Ross laid out seven holes on the newly purchased property. Today what remains of Ross’s work at that time are the 4th, 5th, 6th and 14th and 15th holes.In 1921, the club moved north of Albany Avenue and another renowned architect, Deveraux Emmet, was engaged. Among the scores of courses Emmet designed were Congressional, Wee Burn, Rye, and Leatherstocking; locally he designed Farmington, Keney Park and Manchester. Today six holes--the 7th through the 13th --are products of his work. After World War II, Donald Ross was brought back in 1946 and worked on a 27-hole master plan. Unfortunately, Ross passed away before the plan could be funded. Nonetheless, in accordance with Ross’s design, what are currently the 1st, 2nd, and 16th through 18th holes were constructed in 1955 and the nal nine holes were completed in 1961. This is the 27-hole complex that competitors will play in the 119th Connecticut Amateur.The Hartford Golf Club takes great pride in its golf course. Rarely does much time pass without enhancements being planned and carried out. In recent years, greens have been enlarged back to their original size, irrigation and drainage improved, numerous trees removed, and bunkers added and removed, with a total reworking of 132 bunkers in 2017; all this has been executed with the vision of getting closer to the original nature and feel of the course Ross and Emmet designed. Golfers today will nd rm and fast playing conditions at a very traditional course that truly rewards shot making. 19001961

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12Hello and welcome to the 2021 CT Amateur Championship at the Hartford Golf Club!It has been our pleasure to work closely with the CSGA, tournament committee, and other departments to provide the best possible conditions throughout the tournament. Hartford Golf Club is known for its rm native push-up style greens and approaches which consist of poa annual grass and bentgrass. They will be cut tight and rolled often to provide fast rm conditions throughout the tournament. The newly renovated green and bunker surrounds will be challenging yet fair and cut to a height of around 3 inches. Fairways will also be cut tight, rm and receive shots well. During the week of play, daily pin placements will be challenging and put the most elite golfers to the test. The grounds department will have about 25 employees on hand to ensure conditions are exceptional. Our long-term preparation began months ago and continues to ramp up as the tournament nears. No detail has been overlooked or forgotten about. Our team prides itself on providing one of the best golf courses in Connecticut. We continue to push innovation and implement new ideas to maintain leadership in the industry. We believe that the golf course will speak for itself and you will see this throughout the tournament. On behalf of the grounds department, we are extremely excited to be hosting this event and hope you enjoy all that Hartford Golf Club has to oer.Curtis D’AnnaGolf Course Superintendent Philip Vogel Grounds ChairGrounds DepartmentCurtis D’Anna Philip Vogel

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13I am honored to serve as the tournament chair for the 119th Connecticut Amateur Championship. The Tournament Committee has put together an incredible program for this year’s competition. We are excited to showcase our wonderful facility in conjunction with the 125th anniversary of the Hartford Golf Club. On behalf of the Tournament Committee, I want to thank our generous sponsors, volunteers, HGC sta, and the CSGA. Your commitment and support provide the necessary ingredients to host a successful golf championship.I look forward to the week of the tournament and am excited for the golf action and crowning of this year’s Connecticut Amateur champion.Peter Cerrato2021 Connecticut Amateur Tournament ChairTournament Committee Earthbound and aerial photography by Spencer SloanBooklet designed by Laurel Graphic DesignPrinting by Cricket PressJack BarnesRichard BrayPatti CheyneJohn CostelloAndrew CreedMatt CurrenCurtis D’AnnaDarren DeMartinoKathanne FowlerNicholas Graczyk Drew IacovazziMary MartinBrian McHughJay NolanJohn PapaLisa PatrickDavid PolkSpencer SloanFelix SpringerPhil VogelAnna WebersenPeter Cerrato2021 CT Amateur Tournament ChairHartford Golf Club

CT Amateur Golf Championship

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