SECURING A SITE
A committee led by VSGA Director of Competitions and Golf Operations Josh Coates has been planning the 100th anniversary celebration for more than a year. The first task? Finding the perfect venue.
The search began with The Omni Homestead Resort’ s Cascades Course, which has hosted the event 50 times, but that option didn’ t work out. The Country Club of Virginia, a six-time host, was also unavailable.
“ The next thought was Keswick because of Rob McNamara and their support of the VSGA in everything they do,” Coates said.“ It’ s usually a quick conversation. I started with,‘ We are celebrating our Women’ s 100th anniversary next year. Would you be—’ and before I could even get it out of my mouth he said,‘ Yes, let’ s talk about dates, let’ s talk about how we want to make this something special.’”
Coates added,“ Rob is so good to work with. He jokes that wherever he’ s been— whether Farmington or Keswick— that’ s VSGA headquarters west because we visit them so often. It’ s a great fit. Keswick is a first-class, five-star golf facility. Everything they have going on there, they are going to do it right.”
The finishing hole at Keswick Club.
McNamara notes that Keswick owners Molly and Robert Hardie share a strong commitment to amateur golf.“ When we had the chance to host such a prestigious event, we jumped on it without hesitation.”
Defending champion Lauren Greenlief, a non-resident member at Keswick and chair of the VSGA Women’ s competitions Committee, has been deeply involved in the planning.“ Many people have worked hard to make this a memorable week,” she
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“ I’ m inspired by the great champions and camaraderie created by the VSGA Women’ s Amateur. As you flip the history books, there are many names that are in the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame and who have competed at the highest levels. I think each of them played a role in advancing women’ s golf in Virginia, and I am proud to be a part of that.”
– Three-time winner Lauren Greenlief
CHRIS LANG( 2)
18 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J U LY / A UGUST 2025 vsga. org