Somerset Hills Celebrates 100 Years
For Somerset Hills Country Club in Bernardsville, N.J., 2017 marks 100 years of existence for its renowned A.W. Tillinghast course. To commemorate the milestone year, the club has held a number of special events throughout the season and in September, more than 30 Met Area competitors were welcomed to take part in the Somerset Hills Invitational.
“The key purpose of holding the event was to showcase our magnificent A.W. Tillinghast design by sharing it with the best Mid-Am and Senior Amateur players in the Met Area,” said JM Walton, Jr., Tournament Chairman for the event.
The Mid-Ams competed over 36 holes, but it took extra holes to decide a champion. Steve Zychowski of Mendham Golf and Tennis claimed victory on the second playoff hole, knocking a wedge to within inches on the 18th hole. Billy Hackett of Siwanoy came out on top among the Senior Amateurs.
A Ladies Pro-Am was also held as part of the celebrations. Invited teams all had a connection to Somerset Hills, including professionals from other Tillinghast courses in the Met Area, and members of the Curtis Cup team that played at Somerset Hills in 1990. Brigid Lamb of Somerset Hills, who is a USGA Rules Official, served as chair of the Ladies Pro-Am. The team of Kevin Syring and Renate Green from Alpine CC won the gross competition.
“We received many notes and emails from the competitors all raving about the course and the event,” said Walton. “I don’t think it could have been any better.”
Tournament Chair JM Walton with Mid-Am champ Steve Zychowski