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low Oaks Country Club for 2024 , allowing for more Mid-Am preparation .
The biggest push right now for both clubs is to find approximately 350 volunteers to fill numerous roles at the venues — including walking scorers , spotters , transportation , registration , hospitality , and more . Expect collaboration between the agronomy staffs at both clubs , led by Dan Taylor ( Independence ) and Trevor Hedgepeth ( Kinloch ). The clubs will collaborate in other ways as well . For instance , Kinloch doesn ’ t have the space to accommodate a large player dinner on Thursday in advance of the championship . Independence , which features a large event space and hosts everything from weddings to Virginia Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremonies , will handle that function .
There is also a major common tie between the two clubs — legendary amateur and Virginia Golf Hall of Famer Vinny Giles , who was involved in design / renovations at both courses .
“ Vinny Giles is one of our patriarchs ,” Rule said . “ To have a high-level amateur golf event here with someone like Vinny involved , there ’ s a lot of pride there .”
Kinloch was the site of the 2011 U . S . Senior Amateur Championship , and
Evan Beck reached the championship match of the 2023 U . S . Mid-Amateur and is exempt from qualifying for the 2024 championship .
Rule is no stranger to big championships . During his time at Hazeltine , the club hosted the U . S . Open , PGA Championship , U . S . Amateur , Ryder Cup , and more .
Independence has hosted the last three State Opens , which feature fields of 144 players , along with the inaugural Women ’ s Open of Virginia in 2023 . It
will host the State Open of Virginia again in July .
“ To me it ’ s 100 percent about the betterment of golf in Virginia ,” Breed said . “ Second , for me , Vinny has been a partner and mentor for me for a long time . I ’ m not sure there ’ s a better tribute than having the Mid-Am in his hometown .”
CHRIS LANG vsga . org M ARCH / A PRIL 2024 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 7