How did Cypress Level Membership come to safe this fiftieth Walker Cup?
The ball was put in movement 9 years in the past when the membership’s president on the time, Peter Ok. Barker, invited Mike Davis, then the USGA’s govt director, to play in a membership event. With Los Angeles Nation Membership and Seminole already on the docket as future hosts, the membership was eyeing that subsequent opening on American soil, virtually a decade away – loads of time to construct a case. And so, on the primary tee, Barker turned to Davis and stated, “As we play as we speak, take into consideration how Cypress would possibly match into your plans for a future Walker Cup.” There could be only one predicate: No change to the course.
Maybe it helped that Davis performed effectively that day, however after ending Cypress Level’s risk-reward stretch of Nos. 5-9, Davis was already satisfied. He tapped Barker’s shoulder on the best way to the tenth tee and stated, “We’re in.”
The Walker Cup makes it return to the enduring Alister MacKenzie gem this week, greater than three many years after the match was first contested there, in 1981. The sport has modified considerably since then, and but, Cypress Level has remained frozen in time.
When Alister MacKenzie and his accomplice, Robert Hunter, took the reins of the Cypress Level mission after Seth Raynor died in January 1926, lower than a 12 months after trailblazing novice Marion Hollins secured the breathtaking piece of land alongside 17-Mile Drive and the Monterey Peninsula coast, he promised to assemble “the perfect golf hyperlinks in existence.” The completed mission, accomplished in April 2028, was what MacKenzie known as an “intoxicating pure journey via sea, sand and forest.”
“I don’t anticipate anybody will ever have the chance of establishing one other course like Cypress Level,” stated MacKenzie, who constructed Cypress between different famed northern California tasks Meadow Membership and Pasatiempo, “as I don’t suppose anyplace on this planet is there such a wonderful mixture of rocky coast, sand dunes, pine woods and cypress bushes.”
To protect Cypress Level’s timelessness, the USGA has taken a minimalist method. No renovations have been completed in preparation for this biennial occasion. Along with limiting ticket gross sales and infrastructure that would detract from Cypress’ pure magnificence, the USGA will play this Walker Cup at 6,620 yards, simply 114 yards longer than the listed yardage in 1981 – quick by as we speak’s requirements, although because of wind, chilly air, and strategic routing and bunkering, decidedly lower than the feels-like distance. Maybe the one adjustment to the structure shall be changing two par-5s, Nos. 5 and 10, into lengthy par-4s – what was a Par 72 for the twenty eighth version shall be a Par 70 this week – although in match play, this issues little.
“I don’t know if we set it up or if Cypress units it up for us,” stated Ben Kimball, the USGA’s setup man for the Walker Cup.
Kimball’s employees has dictated solely the green traces, tough top (round 3 inches), velocity of the greens, and gap and teeing areas. There are alternatives for alternate tees on the world-famous par-3 sixteenth, in addition to a number of quick par-4s, Nos. 8, 9, 17, and the polarizing 18th, which winds from the cliffs, via the cypresses and again as much as the clubhouse.
Almost 90% of matches in Walker Cup historical past have gone to at the least the sixteenth gap, so most, if not all, of this weekend’s matches will attain what is perhaps probably the most photographed gap on this planet – per capita, after all – the place Hollins legendarily satisfied Raynor that the opening may very well be a par-3 by teeing up a ball and clearing the 200-plus-yard carry with ease. Kimball expects No. 16 to be performed round its listed yardage of 233 yards for 3 of the 4 classes, although relying on the wind, there’s an opportunity for the up tee, about 210 yards, to be employed.
We’ll be seeing views like this in just a bit over a month.
The place does No. 16 at Cypress Level rank amongst the world’s finest par 3s? pic.twitter.com/68CNgcljXD
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) August 3, 2025
Cypress Level will not be about brute energy however extra precision and creativity, Kimball says, whereas including, “MacKenzie wished to tempt you to do one thing harmful.”
Nathan Smith, a three-time Walker Cupper who will captain his first of two consecutive U.S. groups this week, had excessive reward for Cypress Level, significantly the “off-the-charts” stretch of Nos. 15-17.
“It’s the best membership on this planet,” Smith stated.
Simply as MacKenzie meant.
“For years I’ve been contending that in our technology, no different golf course might presumably compete with the strategic issues, the thrills, pleasure, selection and lasting curiosity of the Previous Course,” MacKenzie stated himself, “however the completion of Cypress Level has made me change my thoughts.”
2025 Walker Cup
Course information, scorecard
Cypress Level Membership
Pebble Seashore, California
Par 70, 6,620 yards
Designed by Alister MacKenzie, 1928
Entrance 9: Par 36, 3,409 yards
- No. 1 – Par 4, 420 yards
- No. 2 – Par 5, 579 yards
- No. 3 – Par 3, 155 yards
- No. 4 – Par 4, 415 yards
- No. 5 – Par 4, 486 yards
- No. 6 – Par 5, 529 yards
- No. 7 – Par 3, 170 yards
- No. 8 – Par 4, 366 yards
- No. 9 – Par 4, 289 yards
Again 9: Par 34, 3,211 yards
- No. 10 – Par 4, 475 yards
- No. 11 – Par 4, 453 yards
- No. 12 – Par 4, 403 yards
- No. 13 – Par 4, 393 yards
- No. 14 – Par 4, 391 yards
- No. 15 – Par 3, 137 yards
- No. 16 – Par 3, 233 yards
- No. 17 – Par 4, 381 yards
- No. 18 – Par 4, 345 yards
Schedule of play
- Friday, Sept. 5 – Opening ceremony
- Saturday, Sept. 6 – Foursomes (4); Singles (8)
- Sunday, Sept. 7 – Foursomes (4); Singles (10); Closing ceremony
TV schedule
- Saturday, Sept. 6: 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock
- Saturday, Sept. 6: 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
- Sunday, Sept. 7: 12:30-3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock
- Sunday, Sept. 7: 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
Groups
(Gamers are listed so as of World Newbie Golf Rating on Aug. 27)
U.S.
- 1. Jackson Koivun, 21, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- 2. Benjamin James, 21, Milford, Connecticut
- 3. Ethan Fang, 21, Plano, Texas
- 4. Preston Stout, 21, Richardson, Texas
- 5. Jase Summy, 21, Keller, Texas
- 6. Tommy Morrison, 21, Dallas
- 9. Michael La Sasso, 22, Raleigh, North Carolina
- 13. Jacob Modleski, 20, Noblesville, Indiana
- 42. Stewart Hagestad, 34, Newport Seashore, California
- 148. Mason Howell, 18, Thomasville, Georgia
- Captain: Nathan Smith
Nice Britain and Eire
- 10. Tyler Weaver, 20, England
- 17. Cameron Adam, 22, Scotland
- 27. Luke Poulter, 21, England
- 34. Dominic Clemons, 23, England
- 45. Connor Graham, 18, Scotland
- 51. Charlie Forster, 22, England
- 64. Niall Shiels Donegan, 20, Scotland
- 109. Eliot Baker, 22, England
- 149. Stuart Grehan, 32, Eire
- 470. Gavin Tiernan, 19, Eire
- Captain: Dean Robertson
Walker Cup 101
What’s the Walker Cup?
The Walker Cup is a biennial match-play competitors, established in 1922, that’s contested over two days between amateurs representing the U.S., and Nice Britain and Eire.
Match origins
The Walker Cup was named after George Herbert Walker, a previous USGA president and the grandfather of forty first U.S. President George H.W. Bush. Walker was attending a gathering between the USGA and R&A in December 1920 when he steered the idea for a global novice competitors between the U.S. and Nice Britain. The subsequent Could, an off-the-cuff, one-day match was performed forward of the British Newbie, and the U.S., led by Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet, gained, 9-3. The primary official Walker Cup was contested the next 12 months at Royal Liverpool.
Format and scoring
There are 4 classes that span two days – the primary and third classes, performed on the mornings of Saturday and Sunday, every consist of 4 foursomes matches; the third and fourth classes are singles matches contested within the afternoon, with eight singles matches on Saturday and 10 on Sunday.
In all, there are 26 factors accessible, with one level awarded to the profitable aspect of every match and a half-point given to each side when a match is tied. Matches don’t prolong previous 18 holes. To retain the cup, 13 factors are wanted, whereas 13½ are required to win outright.
Historical past, current outcomes
The U.S. leads the all-time collection, 39-9-1, and has gained 4 straight editions. GB&I has not gained on American soil since 2001 at Ocean Forest, the place the guests prevailed, 15-9.
The final time Cypress Level hosted the Walker Cup was 1981, when the U.S. gained, 15-9. Jodie Mudd and Joey Rassett every went 3-0 to steer the Individuals, whereas Roger Chapman joined Philip Walton in securing three factors for GB&I and was the one visiting participant to win his singles match on Sunday.
Here’s a have a look at the previous 10 Walker Cups:
- 2023 – St. Andrews Golf Hyperlinks (Previous), St. Andrews, Scotland ((USA 14½, GB&I 11½)
- 2021 – Seminole GC, Juno Seashore, Florida (USA 14, GB&I 12)
- 2019 – Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, England (USA 15½, GB&I 10½)
- 2017 – The Los Angeles Nation Membership (USA 19, GB&I 7)
- 2015 – Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Lancashire, England (GB&I 16½, USA 9½)
- 2013 – Nationwide Golf Hyperlinks of America, Southampton, New York (USA 17, GB&I 9)
- 2011 – Royal Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland (GB&I 14, USA 12)
- 2009 – Merion GC, Ardmore, Pennsylvania (USA 16½, GB&I 9½)
- 2007 – Royal County Down, Newcastle, Northern Eire (USA 12½, GB&I 11½)
- 2005 – Chicago GC, Wheaton, Illinois (USA 12½, GB&I 11½)
Future websites
- Sept. 5-6, 2026 – Lahinch GC, County Clare, Eire
- 2028 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
- 2030 – Prince’s GC, Kent England
- 2032 – Oakmont CC, Oakmont, Pennsylvania
- 2036 – Chicago GC, Wheaton, Illinois
- 2044 – Pine Valley GC, Pine Hill, New Jersey
