Toftrees to Host 2012 U.S. Open Qualifier

The Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center has been selected to host a local golf qualifying tournament for the 2012 U.S. Open Championship on May 10, according to Jeff Ranck, the USGA Regional Affairs Committee representative for the area.

“As the USGA official in charge of this qualifier, I ask clubs to host local qualifying for this qualifier and make that decision based on where I can find a fair and challenging course that is willing to give us their course for the day,” Ranck said.

“Since I first got this qualifier in 1998, I have moved the qualifier between Northeast and North Central Pa. Last year we had it at Huntsville and prior to that the USGA used Williamsport Country Club, Bucknell, CC of Scranton, Glen Maura, Glen Oaks. I have never come this far west with it because the Western Pennsylvania chapter usually runs an open local at Altoona’s Scotch Valley.”

Toftrees, located just outside of State College, will be hosting the Open qualifier for the first time. Last year’s local qualifying tournament was held at Huntsville Golf Club near Wilkes-Barre.

“Last fall, Toftrees was kind enough to let us use their course after the flooding had rendered Williamsport Country Club unplayable for the Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur,” Ranck said. “I thought Toftrees did a great job in a pinch and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Golf Association I decided to ask them if they were interested and they were.

“I also wanted to host an event here (Centre Region) since the North Central PA Golf Association has some member clubs here, with Toftrees being a new one. I also thought that perhaps we could attract some former Penn State players. My decision to have another qualifier in this area in the future will in large part depend on how many entries we get. Good amateurs in the area with a handicap of under 1.4 and pros in the area should play in this one.

‘Don’t be surprised if you see some players from Florida, Canada, Oklahoma at Tofrees.”

Officials from the North Central Pennsylvania Golf Association will assist with the conduct the tournament that will be played over 18 holes.

Another factor in choosing Toftrees is the length which the USGA requires a minimum of 7,000 yards.

“The USGA would like local qualifying to be played over 7,000 yards,” Ranck said. “While we can and have made courses like Bucknell and Williamsport Country Club very challenging and resistant to scoring, neither course comes close to 7,000 yards long.”

Established in 197 1and carved out of 1,500 scenic wooded acres that comprises the Toftrees Resort, the 7,107-yard, par-72 course was designed by renowned golf course architect Ed Ault. It is consistently rated as one of Pennsylvania’s top places to play and one of Pennsylvania’s Best Resort/Public Golf Courses. The course played host to the Mid-Amateur Championship last September and has hosted numerous pro-am tournaments. Marriott operates Toftrees.

“We are excited to be hosting this event for the first time,” said Tom Katancik, Director of Golf at Toftrees. “Everyone is hard at work preparing the golf course and the facilities.”

Toftrees recently became a member of the North Central Pennsylvania Golf Association, which also includes local golf clubs Nittany CC, Mingoville, Belles Springs GC, Mackeyville and Clinton CC, Mill Hall. There are currently 25 members within the NCPGA.

“We joined the NCPGA as our USGA affiliation this year for the first time,” Katancik said. “The NCPGA quickly asked us to host their open qualifier for this region.

“We will have some changes to normal course preparation, including allowing roughs to grow. If all goes well, and getting greens rolling to an 11 on the Stimpmeter. These are our hopes and can not promise either depending on weather. I have been having daily emails with Jeff Ranck from the USGA in regards to course prep, hotel rooms and food and beverage needs.

‘Although this is only a local qualifier, it is a great opportunity to showcase the golf course and our ability to change the challenge,” Katancik continued. “With deeper roughs and faster greens, even our long-time members will feel like they are playing a different course. The subtleties of the greens become accented when rolling at 11 or above and the reads are extremely difficult. If the greens can be firm and the roughs thicken up, scoring will be difficult.”

The U.S. Open is open to all golf professionals and amateur golfers with a certified USGA handicap index of 1.4 or better. Entries closed on April 25. Toftrees is one of 109 local qualifying sites from which over 8,000 non-exempt players will attempt to advance on to one of 13 Sectional Qualifying sites located throughout the United States, Japan and Great Britain. Successful qualifiers there will fill available spots in the 112th U.S. Open Championship.

That will be played June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.