Park District of Highland Park issued the following announcement on July 16.
Golfers will get their swing at making history at the 52nd Annual North Shore Amateur Golf Tournament Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, at Sunset Valley Golf Club. The North Shore Amateur is one of the longest-running amateur golf tournaments on the north shore and is expected to attract over 100 golfers from around the Midwest. This year is also the 100th Anniversary year of the Sunset Valley Golf Club. The Highland Park East Park District, now known as the Park District of Highland Park, opened Sunset Valley in 1920 a nine-hole course on what had been 80 acres of farmland belonging to the Mooney family. With the increased popularity in the game, the course expanded to 18-holes shortly after that.
By 1928, Sunset Valley quickly established a specialized niche hosting the North Shore Open, an annual tournament that attracted top golfers of its era. PGA Champions and World Golf Hall of Famers including Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Jock Hutchinson, Harry Cooper, Archie Compston, and Horton Smith, even the amateur great Chick Evans played in the Open. In 1930, the British Ryders Cup team made their way around the North Shore area playing courses and played at the North Shore Tournament at Sunset Valley.
The tournament took a hiatus until 1955 when the Sunset Valley Tee Club launched the North Shore Amateur. The tournament is open to all amateur golfers and remains one of the most prestigious amateur competitions in the area. The tournament on hiatus from 2017 – 2018 for the Park District to complete a renovation of the course and clubhouse. Famous golfers who have participated in the North Shore Amateur include Joel Hirsch, Highland Park resident & Illinois Golf Hall of Famer; Hank Haney, professional golf instructor best known for coaching Tiger Woods; and PGA golfer, Luke Donald.
“This year’s tournament is very special to Sunset Valley. Not only is it the club’s 100th Anniversary year, but we are pleased to offer a safe competitive tournament during a time when so many other sports cannot,” said Cole Sangern, Facility Supervisor and PGA Associate at Sunset Valley Golf Club. “This year the North Shore Amateur is featuring a new format as well as a new women’s division. Golfers are starved for tournament play, so we are expecting a full field this year.”
The 2020 North Shore Tournament is a 36-hole stroke play event and is limited to 200 players. The field is divided into three separate divisions. The Championship Division is open to men and women with a recommended handicap index of 8 or less. The Open/Senior Division is open to men and women with a recommended handicap index of 8 or higher. The Women’s Division is open to women only at all ability levels. Pro shop credits and trophies will be awarded to first-place winners in each division. Second and third place winners will also receive pro shop credit awards. The lowest gross score over 36 holes in the Championship Division wins the tournament.
Tee times begin at 7:00 a.m. both days. All entries must be received no later than Monday, Jul 20, 2020, and must include an updated 2020 USGA Handicap Index. Entry Fee for the tournament is $150 (consists of two rounds of tournament play, lunch both days, and a tee gift). For more information and to register for the tournament, go to http://www.sunsetvalleygolfclub.org/.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Park District of Highland Park
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