Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship is a Big Step For Golf

Andrew Gombert/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
Andrew Gombert/Epa/REX/Shutterstock

The game of golf, particularly on the women’s side, has continued to grow and take major steps forward with the recent announcement of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.

The 54-hole, stroke-play tournament, to be held the week before the 2019 Masters Tournament, will feature an international field of 72 players. The first two rounds will be held at nearby Champions Retreat Golf Club, while the final round will be played Saturday, April 6, at Augusta National.

“While the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship will do wonders for honoring and advancing today’s women’s amateur game, it is also a signature event that will undoubtedly help grow the game of golf globally,” said Cameron Wiebe, general manager at Champions Retreat. “It is one of the most important initiatives undertaken in the history of Augusta National.”

Champions Retreat

The tournament is a major advancement toward inclusion and gender equality at Augusta National, home to the Masters since 1934. Founded in 1932, the private golf club had only permitted male members until 2012, finally admitting Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members on August 20.

“I just felt that there was an opportunity and a platform to make a statement as to how we feel about this part of the game,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley told Reuters. “I just felt it was time to do that. I happen to have three daughters, and they all love golf… and I know they’re going to be really excited about this.”

Invitees to the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship will be determined by awarding winners of other recognized championships and using the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. The first 36 holes will be played at nearby Champions Retreat with the lowest 30 scores advancing to the third and final round at Augusta.


According to the Masters website, provided the winner remain an amateur, she will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championships, the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2019 Women’s British Open, and any USGA, R&A, and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.
“The invited players will be the world’s greatest women’s amateur golfers and they will represent the future of the women’s game very well,” Wiebe said. “They are deserving of their own moment on the world’s greatest stage in golf. Champions Retreat is honored to work with Chairman Ridley and Augusta National Golf Club to help host the first 36 holes. It will be an incredibly significant event for the game of golf, as well as our property.”

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article