The South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California, and the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, New York, are set to host the US Open Championship in 2008 and 2009 respectively, the United States Golf Association has announced.
Torrey Pines has been offered to host the 2008 US Open Championship, pending the approval of San Diego City Council and is scheduled from June 12-15, 2008.
The following year the US Open Championship will return to The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, venue of this year’s US Open won by Tiger Woods, pending the finalisation of parking and hotel arrangements, and is scheduled for June 18-21
Torrey Pines is home to the Buick Invitational on the US PGA Tour, won in 2002 by José Maria Olazábal. Designed by Willaim Bell Sr in 1957, Torrey Pines will be the second public golf course to host the US Open Championship following the Black Course at Bethpage State Park earlier this year.
The US Open Championship has been played in California nine times, most recently at Pebble Beach in 2000, but the last time it was played in southern California was in 1948 at Riviera Country Clunb in Pacific Palisades.
The US Open Championship returns to The Black Course at Bethpage State Park following the success of the 2002 Championship in which Woods was the only player to break par. The largest public golf facility in the world, with five 18 hole courses centered at one clubhouse. For the 2002 US Open Bethapge was set up at par 70 over a record length of 7,214 yards. The longest par four in US Open history was the 499 yards 12th hole.
Prior to 2009, the US Open Championship will be played from June 12-15, 2003, at Olympia Fields Country Club, Illinois; from June 17-20, 2004, at Shinnecock Hills Country Club, New York; from June 16-19, 2005, at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club (No. 2 Course), North Caarolina; from June 15-19, 2006, at Winged Foot Country Club, New York; from June 14-17, 2007, at Oakmont Country Club (Pennsylvania), and from June 12-15, 2008, at Torrey Pines Golf Course, California.
