USGA Championships
Cherry Hills has hosted seven United States Golf Association (USGA) championships, including U.S. Open competitions in 1938, 1960, and 1978. It hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1990, won by Phil Mickelson. The 1993 U.S. Senior Open was won by Jack Nicklaus, and Birdie Kim won the 2005 U.S. Women's Open, holing out from a greenside bunker on the final hole. The U.S. Amateur will return to the club in 2012.
Three U.S. Opens have been played at Cherry Hills, the first won by Ralph Guldahl in 1938. In 1960, Arnold Palmer won the Open with a score of four under par. After three unsuccessful attempts (including a double bogey in the first round), Palmer finally drove the first green (346-yard par four) in the fourth round on his way to victory. Tied for the lead with Palmer as he came to the par-5 17th hole, 47-year old Ben Hogan hit his third shot into the water and bogeyed. He hooked his final tee shot and triple-bogeyed the final hole to finish four strokes back at even par, which ended his chances of a tenth major championship. Playing with Hogan, 20-year old collegian Jack Nicklaus from Ohio State bogeyed the final hole and finished second, two strokes behind Palmer, and was the low amateur. As a result of Palmer's feat, the USGA commissioned construction of a new tee prior to the 1978 U.S. Open, which extended the hole 50 yards. The '78 Open is the most recent Open held at Cherry Hills, won by Andy North by one stroke with a score of one over par. Until 2006, this was the most recent U.S. Open in which the winning score had been over par.
A significant restoration by noted architect Tom Doak was carried out during 2008 and opened for play in spring 2009. The course was extended to over 7,500 yards (6,858 m) and many trees were removed. In addition, several original bunkers that had been removed over the years were restored, bringing the course more in-line with William Flynn's original design.
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