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Alex Elias  Courtesy of The Monroe Invitational Designed by Golden Age architect Donald Ross in 1924, Monroe Golf Club was restored by Gil Hanse in 2008. Following the restoration, Hanse said, “With this history, tradition, and the chance to study some of the finest golf course architecture on the planet, the Monroe Invitational is an opportunity no amateur golfer should pass up.” With the top amateur golfers set to descend on Monroe Golf Club, Head Golf Professional Joe Merlin said, “The Invitational holds great meaning for me both personally and professionally. On a personal level, I cherish the purity of the amateur game, and the chance to spend time with the world’s best amateurs is truly exciting. I enjoy getting to know each of them—their diverse backgrounds and unique stories—while also connecting through our shared passion for the game and the drive to compete at the highest level.” “Professionally, I love giving back and creating lasting memories through the game of golf. Working at a club that opens its doors to share its unique culture, championship-level course, and first-class membership with a field of this caliber each year is something I’m very proud of. Few clubs host an event of this magnitude annually, and I feel fortunate to play even a small role in carrying on the great tradition Monroe has celebrated since 1937,” said Merlin. As The Monroe Invitational boasts a rich tradition, with distinguished champions such as Fred Ridley (1976), Dustin Johnson (2007), Thomas Pieters (2012), among many others, the tournament’s impact extends far beyond its past champions. Reflecting on the lasting impact, Brad McCluski, Director of Golf at Dedham Country & Polo Club, said, “The Monroe played a huge role in my golf life. For seven or eight years, we hosted college players from schools like SMU and Georgia, and two of them went on to become champions. Being around them taught me so much about competitive golf, and I always found myself playing better afterward, inspired by trying to be just like them.” As the Monroe Invitational continues to gain recognition, Monroe Golf Club does as well—and rightfully so. Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, the course has earned high praise from architects. Tom Doak once remarked, “It’s the best piece of ground for golf in Rochester,” while Brian Silva called Monroe “surely one of the greatest Ross courses I have ever seen.”
Speaking to Ross’ masterful design, Merlin said, “The beauty of Monroe is that you get this sense of safety off the tee with generous fairways, but with our sandy loam soil, the course typically plays firm and fast. It’s easy to find yourself out of position off the tee, leaving a difficult angle into our traditional Ross green complexes. A poor angle or the wrong distance into the tricky pins players will face often leads to short-sided misses. And being short-sided to a tucked Ross pin from thick rough or sand will leave even the best players struggling to get up and down.”
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