Gearing up for Women’s Open

Final touches to Cordevalle are being made ahead of next week’s U.S. Women’s Open set to begin July 7 marking the first time the prestigious  golf tournament in the Bay Area.
It has been three years since the USGA officially announced Cordevalle would receive the tournament with preparations going even before then.
USGA Director Matt Sawicki said he is very excited for the lead up to the Women’s Open, noting that there is a lot going on still ahead of next week’s tee off.
But he said the work is already paying off.
“The golf course, I think, is in the best shape I’ve seen it in five years of coming here,” Sawicki said.
Although delayed by El Niño rains, work on the course to get it ready has gone on in earnest through the winter and all of spring.
The course will boast higher than normal rough and tough greens to challenge a field of more than 160 golfers. That includes nine former U.S. Open champions on top of former (and current) major tournament champions as well as amateur champions.
Among them is 15-year-old Julia Engstrom of Sweden who earned her exemption into the U.S. Women’s Open by winning the 2016 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship this past week.
Sawicki said there are still five spots open that will be filled by Monday once the final round of exemptions are formally claimed.
Already committed to playing are World No. 1 Women’s golfer Lydia Ko leading 14 of the top 15 golfers in the world who will be on hand.
No. 3 golfer Inbee Park had to withdraw due to an injury.
Other golfers of note include Michelle Wei, former Stanford standout and past U.S. Women’s Open winner.
“The U.S. Women’s Open is the most prestigious championship in all of golf—not just for us, but world wide,” Sawicki said. “This is the championship the golfers want  to not just play in, but they want to win. It’s a dream come true for the players to play in U.S. Women’s Championship.”
With the best-of-the-best in women’s golf on hand for the tournament, expect San Martin—and Gilroy and Morgan Hill by extension—to be featured prominently around the world.
“It is an honor to host such a prestigious golf championship,” said CordeValle President Luca Rutigliano in a press release. “With media from more than 100 countries covering the championship, including four days of live coverage on FOX Sports, the eyes of the world will be upon us.”
Among the Fox Sports crew will be former U.S. Women’s Open champion and Bay Area native Juli Inkster.
She made it very clear last month that she is committed to her role as an analyst for the tournament and said she would not enter.
Sawicki said he Inkster has great history with the tournament but supported her decision to move on from her playing days.
“We knew for some time that Pinehurst (in 2014) would be her last Women’s Open,” Sawicki said. “We wish her all the success in the world.”
Tickets range in price from $20 for a practice round daily ticket and $45 for a championship daily ticket, to $75 for a CordeValle, reserve one-day ticket and $250 for the weekend long CordeValle Reserve Package.
The Reserve tickets include access to the lofty vistas at the on-site winery with locally inspired menu items and premium wines from the on-site winery and nearby wineries.
Public parking is free with dedicated shuttles running all day everyday.
The public will park located at 380 Day Road in Gilroy, approximately 4 miles from the championship grounds. Parking is free and complimentary shuttle service will commence a half-hour prior to the opening of the Grand Entrance
each day.
Spectators can walk the course or watch the action from grandstands that will be set up near the clubhouse.
The main grandstands will look out over the No. 9 and No. 18 holes. The course order has been slightly altered for the Open, with golfers starting at what is normally the 10th hole.
The ninth-hole turn will be the traditional No. 3 hole, which will butt right up against the picturesque No. 18 hole (which remains the same).
Bleachers will also be spread out across the course.
There will be plenty of concessions around the golf course for spectators, Sawicki said.
He said in anticipation of high temperatures during the tournament, there will be air conditioned first aid tents with water available to those who are feeling the effects of the heat.
He said there will already be value pricing on water to make sure the public are hydrated.
“We will continue to watch weather through out the week,” Sawicki said. “Spectator comfort is a priority for us. We might make adjustments to some of our policies with respect to the heat, but we’re not prepared to announce those just yet.”
He said there will also be areas set up to give ample shade for spectators.
Sawicki said there will be water at every hole for the golfers and caddies, but said part of the challenge for golfers is going to be how they adjust to the conditions of not just the course but to the environment.
“Heat is elemental part of the game. We want a mental and physical test on the golf course,” Sawicki said “That doesn’t always mean playing in a 72 degree day.”
A full list of amenities, events and tickets for the tournament are available at 2016uswomensopen.com/.
Youth 17 and younger are free.
Finding hotels this week will be next to impossible thanks to the international fans and media as well as a lacrosse tournament with more than 100 teams being hosted at the Morgan Hill Sports Complex.
“It demonstrates economic impact the U.S. Women’s Open brings to the community,” Sawicki said. “The spotlight will be on this community. There are going to be 20 hours of live broadcast coverage world wide.”
And the staff of the USGA is already staking out their favorite local spots. Sawicki said it seems like everyone makes a point to head down to Lawsons Bakery for a breakfast burrito.
He personally also has fallen in love with Trail Dust Barbecue in downtown Morgan Hill.