Earlier this month, the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced long-term agreements with Merion Golf Club and Oakmont Country Club (near Pittsburgh) to play nine tournaments over the next 26 years. These include the 2030 U.S. Open at Merion, as well as the 2050 U.S. Open (if you can make it), also at Merion.
Previously, the USGA had announced that the 2022 Curtis Cup and the 2026 U.S. Amateur would be played at Merion.
The USGA’s decision to bring their prestigious tournaments back to the two Pennsylvania clubs was at least partially influenced by what are being described as “handshake deals” with Pennsylvania legislative leaders and the Wolf Administration, which according to Pennlive.com,
Legislative leaders and the Wolf Administration have dangled the promise of millions of dollars of future economic assistance to the USGA and/or its partners to help make the magic happen.
One conservative policy group views the “handshake deal” as unnecessary corporate welfare.
PennLive spoke to Nathan Benefield, chief operating officer of the Commonwealth Foundation. He said, “I don’t think taxpayers want to see their money going to subsidize elite country clubs and PGA professional golfers. That’s not who needs the money, and I think a lot of this most likely would have happened without state money at all.”