The United States Golf Association has chosen Old Barnwell in Aiken, South Carolina, as the host venue for the 2031 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship, marking the first USGA championship for the young golf club that opened just two years ago.
The announcement represents a significant milestone for Old Barnwell, which will become the latest South Carolina venue to join the prestigious roster of USGA championship hosts. The selection also continues the championship's strong connection to the Palmetto State, with South Carolina hosting the event three times in a 15-year span.
"We're thrilled to bring this championship back to South Carolina and to initiate this partnership with Old Barnwell," said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. "Old Barnwell's commitment to thoughtful course design, player development and growing the game aligns perfectly with the values of this championship, and we're confident it will provide an outstanding test for the competitors."
"We're thrilled to bring this championship back to South Carolina and to initiate this partnership with Old Barnwell,"
Championship Implications
Team Dynamics
Team Dynamics
The par-73 layout at Old Barnwell presents a modern take on golf course architecture, designed by Brian Schneider and Blake Conant across 575 acres of sandy soil and rolling hills. The design team emphasized blending strategic, contemporary elements with classical golf course architecture principles, creating what promises to be a challenging venue for the nation's top female amateur golfers.
Team Dynamics
Team Dynamics
Despite its recent opening in 2023, Old Barnwell has quickly established itself as a significant player in competitive golf. The club has already hosted multiple NCAA events, including the Derby Matchplay hosted by the University of South Carolina, which features eight of the top women's college teams in the country. The venue also stages the More Than Golf Invitational, a collaboration with the ANNIKA Foundation that annually brings together mid-major conference champions.
Championship Implications
The club's rapid ascent in the championship hosting ranks will continue in the years leading up to the 2031 USGA event. Old Barnwell is scheduled to host NCAA Regionals in 2027 and the Western Women's Junior Amateur in 2028, providing valuable experience in conducting major amateur competitions.
"Hosting a USGA championship is a tremendous honor for Old Barnwell, and one that aligns closely with our mission," said Nick Schreiber, founder of Old Barnwell. "We are proud to welcome this group of players to Aiken and to partner with the USGA in delivering a championship that reflects our values, our community and our commitment to the future of the game."
"Hosting a USGA championship is a tremendous honor for Old Barnwell, and one that aligns closely with our mission,"
The selection of Old Barnwell also reflects the USGA's emphasis on partnering with facilities that demonstrate commitment to growing golf's diversity and accessibility. The club has established partnerships with organizations including the ANNIKA Foundation, the Evans Scholars Foundation, and local historically Black colleges and universities. These initiatives focus on creating programs that empower and celebrate communities historically underrepresented in golf.
Old Barnwell's facilities extend beyond the championship course, featuring a 15-hole kids' course that emphasizes youth development. The club plans to expand further with a third course, The Gilroy, scheduled to open in 2027, just four years before hosting the USGA championship.
The 2031 championship will mark the 22nd USGA championship contested in South Carolina. The state has a rich history of hosting prestigious amateur events, most recently when Bryan Kim of Brookeville, Maryland, defeated New Zealand's Joshua Bai 2 up in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Daniel Island Club in Charleston.
Interestingly, Daniel Island Club will serve as the immediate predecessor to Old Barnwell in the Four-Ball rotation, hosting the 2026 championship from May 2-6. This creates a unique situation where South Carolina venues will bookend a five-year period in the championship's hosting schedule.
The U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball last visited South Carolina in 2017, when Alice Chen and Taylor Totland defeated Sammi Lee and Mary Ellen Shuman 4 and 3 at Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach. That championship showcased the state's ability to provide challenging conditions and excellent hospitality for USGA events.
First conducted in 2015, the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball is open to female amateur golfers with handicaps not exceeding 14.4. The championship format begins with 64 sides (128 players) competing in two rounds of stroke play, with the low 32 sides advancing to match play. Five rounds of 18-hole match play determine the champions.
The winning team receives significant benefits, including exemption into that year's U.S. Women's Amateur, which in 2031 will be held at Baltimore Country Club in Maryland. Champions also earn exemptions into other USGA amateur competitions for which they're eligible that year.
The USGA has mapped out an ambitious schedule for the championship through 2037, with venues spanning from Farmington Country Club in Virginia (2027) to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon (2037). This geographic diversity ensures the championship will test players across various architectural styles and playing conditions.
For Old Barnwell, the 2031 championship represents validation of its rapid development as a premier golf destination and its commitment to advancing the game at all levels.