Champions Golf Club in Houston has solidified its position as one of America's premier championship venues, earning the rights to host three major USGA championships over the next two decades in a move that extends the historic club's relationship with golf's governing body well into the 2040s.
The United States Golf Association announced that the storied Texas facility will host the 2029 U.S. Senior Women's Open, 2034 U.S. Mid-Amateur, and 2040 U.S. Senior Open. This trio of championships will bring the club's total USGA event count to eight, making it the most championship-tested course in the entire state of Texas.
"We are proud to return to Champions Golf Club," said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of Championships. "The club's rich history and commitment to excellence give us great confidence in extending our decades-long relationship into the 2040s. We look forward to Champions once again delivering an exceptional experience for our players, loyal fans and the Houston community."
"We are proud to return to Champions Golf Club,"
Championship Implications
Championship Implications
Championship Implications
The announcement represents a significant milestone for a club whose championship pedigree runs deep through golf history. Founded in 1957 by an unlikely but legendary partnership between three-time Masters champion Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke Jr.—fresh off his remarkable 1956 season that saw him capture both the Masters Tournament and PGA Championship—Champions Golf Club was built with championship aspirations from the start.
Championship Implications
Championship Implications
The founders recruited Ralph Plummer to design the Cypress Creek Course, which opened for play in 1959 and has since become synonymous with championship golf. The course underwent a major restoration led by Chet Williams, completed in 2018 just ahead of hosting the COVID-19-delayed 2020 U.S. Women's Open.
Impact and Legacy
The club's ownership story reads like a golf dynasty narrative. Following Demaret's passing in 1983, Burke remained the club's majority owner and president until 2021, when he transitioned control to his son Mike Burke and grandson Dean Burke. Jack Burke Jr., who passed away in 2024 just days before his 101st birthday, left behind an extraordinary legacy that included 16 PGA Tour victories, five U.S. Ryder Cup team appearances, and induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. The USGA recognized his contributions to the game with its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in 2004.
"Champions Golf Club is honored to host these future USGA championships," said Mike Burke. "Our club takes pride in offering a true championship test while honoring the game's traditions. We are grateful for the USGA's continued trust in the Burke family and look forward to celebrating Jack's legacy by providing the championship experience and hospitality that define Champions."
"Champions Golf Club is honored to host these future USGA championships,"
The upcoming championships will add new chapters to an already rich tournament history at Champions. The club's most recent USGA championship produced one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory when A Lim Kim of South Korea captured the 2020 U.S. Women's Open. After COVID-19 forced the championship's unprecedented move from June to December, Kim authored a stunning comeback, overcoming a five-stroke final-round deficit by birdieing her final three holes to claim the Harton S. Semple Trophy.
Champions Golf Club's championship legacy stretches back more than five decades. The 1969 U.S. Open saw Orville Moody record a one-stroke victory over Deane Beman, Al Geiberger, and Bob Rosburg to win the lone major championship of his career. That victory remains one of golf's most surprising major championship triumphs.
The 1993 U.S. Amateur at Champions produced another memorable moment when 41-year-old John Harris defeated Danny Ellis, 5 and 3, to claim the Havemeyer Trophy. Harris, who remains the last mid-amateur to win the U.S. Amateur, was a four-time USA Walker Cup Team member from Minnesota who passed away last September after battling acute myeloid leukemia.
The club has also hosted two U.S. Women's Mid-Amateurs, in 1998 and 2017. The 2017 championship showcased the unpredictable nature of match play when Kelsey Chugg rebounded from an opening-round 85 to earn the No. 50 seed in match play before defeating Mary Jane Hiestand, 3 and 1, in the championship match. Virginia Derby Grimes captured the 1998 edition, defeating Robin Weiss, 4 and 3, for her lone USGA title.
Beyond USGA championships, the Cypress Creek Course has established itself as a venue capable of hosting golf's biggest events. It served as the site of the 1967 Ryder Cup and welcomed the PGA Tour Championship five times between 1990 and 2003. The course also hosted five Houston Opens from 1966-71, further cementing its reputation as a championship-caliber test.
The announcement holds special significance for Texas golf, as the state will have hosted 35 overall USGA championships once these events conclude. Notably, both the 2029 U.S. Senior Women's Open and 2040 U.S. Senior Open will mark the first time each championship will be contested in the Lone Star State, while the 2034 U.S. Mid-Amateur will be the fourth held in Texas.
With these three championships secured, Champions Golf Club continues to honor the vision of its founders while ensuring that future generations will witness world-class golf competition on the course where legends were made.