This venerable tradition takes center stage this year as Boonsboro celebrates its centennial by hosting several outstanding championships . In June , Boonsboro will be the venue for the VSGA Amateur and in late April , the club will mark another milestone when it hosts the Fox Puss Invitational that started 50 years ago . The Fox Puss pays homage to the contributions of two prestigious members of Boonsboro : H . M . “ Bunny ” Blankenship , the first Executive Director of the VSGA and a member of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame , and Charlie Hancock , a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the VSGA , who also served as the Association ’ s president in 1969-70 .

Apart from these championships , along with serving as the venue for Virginias-Carolinas Junior Boys ’ Matches in August , Boonsboro will also host the fifth annual playing of the Donna Andrews Invitational that is dedicated to creating a premier tournament experience for women amateurs of all ages . Donna , who grew up at Boonsboro and who was known to play

golf with joy , won five VSGA Women ’ s Amateur titles and the North and South Amateur before enjoying a marvelous professional career that included six wins and one major . She is a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and was the first female to be inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame .

Beautifully situated in the rolling hills of Bedford County just outside of Lynchburg , Boonsboro is a classic course that flows naturally with the lay of the land . Initially routed by renowned Willie Park , Jr . ( twice-winner of The Open Championship and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame ) and subsequently designed by Fred Findlay , Boonsboro will be an outstanding test for the state ’ s finest golfers and it will surely crown a deserving champion at this year ’ s Amateur .

Boonsboro is famous for its wonderful collection of short holes and certainly one of the best is the extremely challenging par-3 , 17th , that demands a superb long iron shot to reach the triangularly shaped green ( only 14 yards wide at its widest point ). While the edges of the putting surface are subtly angled to help tee shots collect onto the green , these same slopes — together with the deep , flanking bunkers and the narrow putting surface — make recovery for a par highly challenging , particularly from any miss to the right of the green . As is true with all Findlay courses , missing over the green is very dangerous

Black : 227 yards

Blue : 212 yards

Green : 176 yards

YARDAGES

White : 176 yards

Gold : 176 yards

Silver : 105 yards

and this is especially true on the 17th as the severe pitch of the fast putting surface requires a deft touch to finish near the hole from anywhere beyond the flag .

Par is always an excellent score at the 17th , and this hole will no doubt prove to be a pivotal turning point in many matches at this year ’ s Amateur . This is true , just as there is no doubt Boonsboro will be a magnificent host for the state championship . The VSGA is proud to bring the Amateur back to Boonsboro at its centennial , and the association salutes the club at this historic milestone .

A five-time VSGA Player of the Year , David Partridge was elected to the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame in 2020 . He lives in the Richmond area and works as a mortgage banker .

JON HOOD