Country Club Of Waterbury To Host The 108th Connecticut Amateur Championship June 21 To June 25

June 7, 2010 - PRLog -- The Country Club of Waterbury (CCW) will host the 108th Connecticut Amateur Championship beginning Monday, June 21, 2010, and running through Friday, June 25th. The Connecticut Amateur is a grueling five-day test of endurance and skill. This will be the tenth year in the history of the Amateur’s organizer, the Connecticut State Golf Association (CSGA), that CCW is host of this popular Connecticut Amateur Championship. It will be played on CCW’s beautiful Donald Ross-designed par-69, 6,556 yard golf course created in 1899.

One of the United States’ oldest state-wide championships, The CSGA’s Connecticut Amateur was first contested in 1899. It was last played at the Country Club of Waterbury in I999 when Brian Ahern defeated Bill Hermanson in the final match. CCW last staged a CSGA Major in 2008, when Phil Perry won the Russell C. Palmer Cup. In 2005, it was the site of golfer Nick Cook’s first Connecticut Open victory, and the year the CSGA recognized the CCW as the Distinguished Club of the Year.

Tom Gleeton, CCW’s Head Golf Pro for the past 19 years, commented, “The Country Club of Waterbury covers 225 acres of spectacular property within the city’s limits. It features one of the most exceptional 18-hole championship golf courses in New England. Our centrally-located Connecticut Donald Ross classical design course is just 30 minutes from Hartford, New Haven and Danbury. It’s ideally located, easily accessed, and greatly admired by most golfers statewide.”

CCW President, William Morris of H.D. Segur, Inc. in Cheshire, commented, “Our 111 year old club offers the very best in golf with a full size practice facility, putting green, chipping green, and 60-cart fleet. We also have four red clay tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, dining on every level of our clubhouse each with a view.  Our beautiful formal banquet dining room overlooks our Donald Ross course to casual dining in several beautifully-appointed rooms on our lower levels all have beautiful views of our stunning course.”

The legendary Donald Ross course is one of the most historic courses in Connecticut, and each year, the CCW hosts 250 events, overseen by Gleeton, a playing member of the PGA Tour. Gleeton joined CCW in 1993, and stated CCW also features a 25-meter, 5-lane outdoor swimming pool. “What continually surprises people who come to play golf, swim or dine, is CCW’s stunningly beautiful course, surroundings, and the countryside pleasures they enjoy here. All within Waterbury’s city limits.’

The format of the 108th Connecticut Amateur June 21 to June 25 will be 36 holes of qualifying for 32 spots on Monday and Tuesday, June 21 and 22. There will be five rounds of match play with a 36-hole final. Qualifying will take place June 7 at the Aspetuck Valley Country Club, June 8 at the Tashua Knolls Golf Club, and June 14 at the Waterbury Golf Club. The non-club-affiliated R.J. Zielinkski is the defending champion.

“We are very much looking forward to this Amateur” stated CCW Golf Course Superintendent, Chase Cameron. “Our 17-man crew maintains over 100 acres of turf with daily mowing geared towards tournament conditioning, so we are aptly prepared for the CT Amateur.” CCW Pro, Tom Gleeton, commented, “Chase Cameron is the best superintendent in the state of Connecticut.  He was an assistant at two U.S. Opens, Pebble Beach and Shinnecock Hills.”

Chase Cameron joined CCW as golf course superintendent in 2005, after being assistant golf course superintendent at one of the most-revered and historically-significant courses in the United States, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.  He supervised the 18 hole championship course for six years, and oversaw maintenance for the 2004 U.S. Open.  Prior to Shinnecock Hills, Cameron was graduate assistant superintendent at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where he helped to prepare the golf course for the 1999 U.S. Amateur, 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the 2000 U.S. Open.  A North Carolina native, Cameron began his illustrious career at Sea Scape Golf Links in Kitty Hawk, NC, followed by North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh, where he went on to graduate from the number one turf school in the United States, North Carolina State University.

Spectators will be welcomed to watch the CT AM and walk the course, carts will not be allowed. For more information on the 108th Connecticut Amateur Championship, visit the Connecticut State Golf Association’s www.csgalinks.org/tournaments/2010/Amateur /Championship. The CSGA can be reached at 860-257-171 in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

To learn more about The Country Club of Waterbury, visit www.ccwaterbury.com. CCW is located immediately off Exit 18, Chase Parkway/Highland Avenue on Interstate 84 in northern Connecticut.