LACC will be the home base for Walker Cup prep, but
with plenty of excursions thrown in (USGA photo)
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 3, 2017) - Walker Cup preparations are underway as the U.S. team looks ahead to the start of the matches Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10.
Team camaraderie has been proven to be an essential component of success at professional team events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, but the pros have the advantage of seeing each other and playing with one another throughout the year. Further, many of them have represented their country together before in previous Ryder or Presidents Cup matches.
Related: Meet the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup Team
Related: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: The Walker Cup
It's different for the amateurs. True, many of the college-aged guys have seen each other as they have grown up playing junior tournaments, and maybe have played together a handful of times in college or amateur circles. But they cross paths far more infrequently than the pros, and someone like
Stewart Hagestad might have never even met someone like
Doc Redman before they were both named to the team two weeks ago.
Maverick McNealy is the only player on the squad to have played in a Walker Cup before.
It's a unique challenge for the USGA and
Captain John "Spider" Miller. Their solution is to put together a whirlwind of golf and social activities leading up to the Walker Cup to serve as a crash course in team bonding that they hope will carry over into the Match itself and help bring the U.S. a much-need victory after a disappointing defeat two years ago in England.
“During these days, we’re getting the guys to know each other and sorting through who we’re going to pair in foursomes,” Miller said.
The preparation started a few days ago in Los Angeles. If the team had any doubt about how it might be treated as representatives of the USA, it was surely erased when they checked into the Beverly Hills Hilton and were outfitted with Polo Golf team uniforms.
Here is the schedule of activities for the U.S. team, from arrival in L.A. to the start of the Walker Cup Match:
Thu Aug 31
Arrival in Los Angeles, practice at Los Angeles Country Club
Fri Sep 1
Arrival in Los Angeles, practice at Los Angeles Country Club
Sat Sep 2
Visit to Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour; Practice round at Bel-Air Country Club in west L.A.
Sun Sep 3
Practice round at Los Angeles Country Club; Visit to Universal Studios in Hollywood
Mon Sep 4
Visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley; Practice round at the Valley Club of Montecito in Santa Barbara
Tue Sep 5
Practice and play at Los Angeles Country Club
Wed Sep 6
Practice and play at Los Angeles Country Club
Thu Sep 7
Lunch with former President George W. Bush; Practice and play at Los Angeles Country Club
Fri Sep 8
Official Practice Rounds at Los Angeles Country Club; Walker Cup Opening Ceremony
Sat Sep 9
The 46th Walker Cup matches begin
Related: Walker Cup: TV Times, Schedule of Play from Los Angeles CC
- Golfweek contributed to this report
ABOUT THE
The Walker Cup
The Walker Cup Match is a biennial 10-man
amateur
team competition between the USA and a team
composed of players from Great Britain and
Ireland
and selected by The R&A. It is played over two
days
with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes
(alternate-shot) matches.
The first United States Walker Cup Team, which
in
1922 defeated the GB&I side, 8-4, at the
National Golf
Links of America, is considered among the best
teams
ever and included Francis Ouimet, Bob Jones,
Charles
“Chick” Evans and Jess Sweetser. Many of the
game’s
greatest players have taken part in Walker Cup
competition, including U.S. Open champions
Jack
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth for
the
USA
and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Justin
Rose
for Great Britain and Ireland.
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