The course has wide fairways, but no intermediate rough, so the main rough will be very high and difficult, making it crucial for players to keep it straight. It will also be hot and humid there, so physical endurance will come into play as well. BY JUNIOR GOLF STAFF Fresh off three years in the south, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship is coming to America’s heartland. This year’s edition, scheduled for July 17-22, will be staged at Flint Hills National, in Andover, Kansas. USGA officials are clearly excited about holding the event at this challenging Tom Fazio-designed layout, which also hosted the 2001 U.S. Wom- en’s Amateur and the 2007 Senior Amateur. “This will be a true test for the world’s best young male golfers,” noted Greg Sanfilippo, Director, U.S. Junior Amateur and USGA Senior Amateur Championships. “The course has wide fairways, but no intermediate rough, so the main rough will be very high and dif- ficult, making it crucial for players to keep it straight. It will also be hot and humid there, so physical endurance will come into play as well.” The par-71 course will play at just over 7,000 yards, which is not particularly long for a Ju- nior Amateur. South to southwest winds, typi- cal for the Wichita area in July, along with un- dulating greens with a lot of different contours, will more than compensate for any shortages in length, however. According to the USGA course selection team, there is plenty of risk/ reward in the holes. FINDINGTHE PERFECTFIT Sanfilippo says that many different elements go into choosing just the right course for this event. “We take into consideration such things as put- ting surfaces and contours, the types of grass, even the geography as it pertains to weather,” Sanfilippo stated. “Of course, we always look at rough heights and course lengths, and we study the flexibility in the teeing grounds. Equally important is the host club’s drive and enthusiasm for staging the event because this is a major undertaking.” Those interested in holding the event at their club send letters of interest, at which point the USGA conducts site surveys. In addition to reviewing the course itself, officials also eval- uate such things as clubhouse and office space, parking, player dining facilities, lodging and even attractions in the local area. With 156 players, their families, multiple volunteers and others involved, that adds up to close to 3,000 people on site for several days. In the end, however, it all comes down to the golf course. Is it championship caliber? “The layout has to be a great test of golf,” said USGA Manager of Competitions Reese Mo- sely. “If we really love it, we will usually find ways to make it work logistically.” QUALIFYING GETS A FACELIFT The window for signing up for qualifying for this year’s event ends on June 7th. Qualifying rounds will be played from June 16-28. New USGA rules have raised the age limit slightly, offering eligibility to anyone who is under 19 years old through the final day of the tourna- ment. So this should lead to an additional 1,500 entries. For that reason – and a desire to align the U.S. Junior Amateur with most of the oth- er USGA events – the qualifying segment has been shortened from 36 holes to 18. This also helps reduce the costs associated with quali- fying and interferes less with a junior’s regular tournament schedule. At the same time, the USGA has toughened the handicap index requirements for boys, lower- ing them from 6.4 to 4.4. “We’ve studied the numbers, and most of the guys who have competed in any kind of con- tending fashion in recent years have had in- dexes of 5 or lower,” noted Sanfilippo. “So this makes it more realistic and competitive for those who qualify.” THE ULTIMATETEST The championship format, which is two days of medal play with the top 64 scores qualifying for match play, makes it important for players to possess a number of key attributes. “Considering that five different match play rounds, including the 36-hole championship finale, will be held over three days, stamina and mental resolve will be extremely import- ant,” said Sanfilippo. “Players also will have to demonstrate shot-making skills such as accura- cy, fade control, distance control and precision around the greens. Finally, course manage- ment will be critical – exercising sound judg- ment and understanding the architect’s intent of each golf hole. The ultimate winner will have truly earned his title.” Clearly, the U.S. Junior Amateur requires great performances from many. That means not only the players, but also USGA officials, volunteers and the host club committee, whose knowledge of the course and surrounding area is vital for detailed preparation. And so it is with Flint Hills National, now just weeks away from staging one of the most prestigious events in junior golf. 26 | June 2017 #juniorgolfmag Visit us at juniorgolfmag.net Countdown Continues for U.S. Junior Amateur Flint Hills National offers a stern test for this year’s event