Following last week’s announcement that CordeValle landed the 2016 Women’s Open, Alan Campey, president of CordeValle, expressed his excitement of the news and attributed the USGA’s decision to the dedication shown by the golf club’s members.
“It is an honor to host a national championship and the privilege of being the home of the Frys.com Open all these years has introduced CordeValle and the community we live in and to golfers around the world,” Campey said in an email.
For the last month, speculation grew that CordeValle would get the Women’s Open. This will be just the third time the tournament is played in California, and in 2016, it will be 34 years after the last time it was hosted in the Golden State.
“It definitely had to come back to California,” Campey stated. “Northern California has such a long and rich history of amazing golf courses, it was only a matter of time before the U.S. Women’s Open returned. At CordeValle, we have a unique opportunity to host the world’s best in 2016. “
Campey said there has been an ongoing mission to make CordeValle Golf Club a destination for high-profile tournaments.
“You earn the opportunity to host these types of events with the support of your members,” Campey said. “We have built a long-term relationship with the USGA and we feel a lot of self-imposed pressure to honor our selection by the USGA and host a memorable event.”
It already hosts the Frys.com Open — which is gaining prestige on the tour with the tournament now counting toward Fed Ex Cup points.
“It has always been a goal of CordeValle’s to host events that bring together the best of the best,” Campey said.
Campey also pointed out there are other major events that have come or will come to the golf club.
“Starting with the Gifford Collegiate, which hosts the top college teams in America, to the PGA Cup, which puts the best of American club professionals up against Great Britain and Ireland in a Ryder Cup format, to last year’s USA/China Youth Match hosted by the USGA, which introduced the world to Guan Tian Lang, who was center stage at this year’s Masters,” Campey said. “This year we host the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur – all of these events we have viewed with a pride and provide an opportunity to showcase CordeValle.”
So now the push is on to make sure CordeValle shines in three years.
“Fortunately, CordeValle has been tested over time and the events such as the Frys.com Open have given us insight into the level of conditioning and playability, that combined with the amazing design that Robert Trent Jones II has given us, to continue on a path of improvement that benefits our members everyday,” Campey said.
He said he will work with the USGS to make sure preparations go smoothly.
“The USGA has a deeply rooted commitment to the game and we look forward to their team providing the guidance we want, to ensure that the course is ready,” Campey said. “When the U.S. Women’s Open comes to CordeValle in 2016, it is coming to Morgan Hill and the rest of our community — we are committed to doing it proud.”
