Renowned Olympia Fields looking forward to hosting Junior Ryder Cup

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. -- Olympia Fields Country Club is no stranger to hosting prestigious events in golf. The renowned club, which opened its doors in 1915, has hosted two PGA Championships two U.S. Open Championships and the 1997 U.S. Senior Open.

It will add to that glowing resume when a group of 12 junior golfers from the United States host their European counterparts in the 8th Junior Ryder Cup, Sept. 24-25, on the club’s South Course.

“Our staff and members of the club could not be happier and more proud that we are able to host the Junior Ryder Cup this year,” said Brian Morrison, the PGA Director of Golf at Olympia Fields. “It will be exciting to watch these boys and girls from the United States and Europe, who represent the future of our great game.”

Morrison, the 2009 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities, and his club also have taken a special interest in hosting amateur events.

Olympia Fields hosted the 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship; hosts a collegiate event, the Olympia Fields/Illini Invitational, each year; and in 2015 will host the U.S. Amateur Championship.

“We at Olympia Fields want to be good golf citizens and love to host amateur events,” said Morrison. “We want the best of the best in the amateur game to play at our club and to get to host this event is really special.”

As a 32-year member of The PGA of America, Morrison takes great pride in hosting one of The PGA’s premier championships at his facility.

“Hosting a PGA of America flagship event is a huge honor for me as a member,” said Morrison. “As an Association we are trying to get more people to play the game, and this type of event and the exposure it brings is great for golf.”

The Junior Ryder Cup competition features one day of six foursome matches (three boys’ matches and three girls’ matches) in the morning, same day of six mixed four-ball matches in the afternoon and one final day of singles matches involving all 12 members of each team.

Participants in the 2012 Junior Ryder Cup will also play a Friendship Match on Sept. 26, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, site of the 39th Ryder Cup.

The match will feature a combined mixed four-ball, with six groupings of four players that includes one girl and one boy from both Europe and the United States. The teams will play a composite course of ten total holes, blending both front-nine and back-nine holes.