USGA name 2021 and 2025 Walker Cup venues

Seminole Golf Club, in Florida, and Cypress Point Club, in California, will host the Walker Cup matches in 2021 and 2025, respectively, the USGA announced today.

The 2025 event at Cypress Point Club will be the second time the competition has been held at the hallowed course. The first was in 1981. Both clubs are among the most exclusive in the world.

Stuart Francis, the USGA's championship committee chairman, said in a press release that the new venues were "emblematic" of what the competition's founder, George Herbert Walker, intended in helping to create the Walker Cup.

"To have two of the United States' greatest courses as host sites will not only produce memorable competitions but reinforces the stature of amateur golf in this country," he said.

The Walker Cup dates back to 1922 and consists of two teams of 10 amateur players, one team representing the United States and one from Great Britain and Ireland.

 Ian Smith, Keir McNicoll and Nicolas Colsaerts receive PGA Awards in Glasgow

             Ian D Smith, with his PGA Award. Picture by courtesy of Andy Forman

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Nicolas Colsaerts, the first Belgian to play in the Ryder Cup, received a PGA Recognition Award for his outstanding contribution to golf at the PGA in Scotland luncheon in Glasgow.

The 34-year-old, who helped Europe pull off the 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012, was the guest of honour at the annual event in the Hilton Hotel, where he entertained 700 guests during an on-stage interview with Dougie Donnelly. 

"My first reaction was being pretty flattered," said Colsaerts of his appearance in the Home of Golf. 

"To get one of the most knowledgeable crowds' attention for a little bit for a sport that you guys invented is very satisfying for me. 

"To be recognised is very nice. I’ve always had a bit of a connection with Scotland. I always loved coming here. I played in a bunch of amateur events when I was young and it was a good schooling. 

"For many reasons, the Scots and the Belgians are similar. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are also the little sister of another country in a way."

It was at Gleneagles, in the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship, where Colsaerts sealed one of Jose Maria Olazabal's wild cards for the Ryder Cup in Chicago. 

"I’ve always got on well with the Scots, either in golf or outside of it," added the two-time European Tour winner. "The first guy I used to hang around with was Barry Hume, who was very promising when he was young. 

"I still remember most of the Scots from that team. Marc Warren, Lee Harper, David Inglis, Jack Doherty and Big G [Gordon Sherry], of course. 

"I’ve known the guys for a long time and they were always very nice to me. I was travelling on my own when I was young and I was quickly attracted to the UK boys and in particular the Scots because they were the guys I would get on easier with. I quickly understood the lingo. 

"It’s good schooling. You see the guys now from Continental Europe coming out on tour, they do these team things and they maybe don’t realise how important it is, socially, to understand the different nationalities. 

"I understood the UK boys very quickly and it’s helped me with my travelling and my social behaviour."

The two awards handed out at the event went to former Hazlehead professional Ian Smith and Gullane's Keir McNicoll.

Dundee-born Smith, who spent 43 years as City of Aberdeen professional at the Hazlehead municipal course before his retiral, received the John Panton Award for his long and outstanding service to the game and said it was "a memorable day and one I will never forget".
Ian, who started his pro career at Hesketh Golf Club, Lancashire, finished seventh in the Centenary Open won by Kel Nagle over the Old Course, St Andrews.

McNicoll, meanwhile, picked up the Stewart Thom Salver, which is awarded to the Year 3 PGA in Scotland Trainee of the Year.

Legendary comedian Andy Cameron was also presented with a special award by PGA chief executive Sandy Jones after entertaining the audience in his customary fashion.