Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento gears up for 2015 U.S. Senior Open
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A dramatic renovation and a strong relationship with the United States Golf Association has put Del Paso Country Club at the forefront of the Champions Tour calendar this summer.
The 2015 U.S. Senior Open will visit California's capital city June 22-28. The event -- only the second U.S. Senior Open in state history -- will allow the private club to celebrate its 100th anniversary in style a year early.
Del Paso was founded in 1916. Del Paso's USGA ties date to the 1957 U.S. Women's Amateur and have remained steady over the years by hosting the 1960 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, the 1976 U.S. Women's Amateur and the 1982 U.S. Women's Open.
In 2006, the club modernized its 6,300-yard layout, bringing in California architect Kyle Phillips, who rerouted almost the entire course. The changes were dramatic, removing hundreds of trees, laying down wall-to-wall rye grass and stretching the par-71 layout to 7,121 yards.
It will play as a 6,994-yard par 70 for the seniors 50 and older. Fred Couples, Paul Goydos, native son Kevin Sutherland, defending champion Colin Montgomerie and others will be challenged by thick rough and firm-and-fast conditions. The 15th hole could play up to 636 yards, the longest par 5 in tournament history. The 18th hole will certainly have a hand in determining who wins. The green sits well above the fairway, guarded by a wall of thick grass and a stream below.
![Del Paso Country Club's 2006 redesign by Kyle Phillips didn't take away its classic look.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57304.jpg)
![The ninth hole at Del Paso Country Club plays just 300 yards from the tips.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57305.jpg)
![A trio of bunkers frame the 10th green at Del Paso Country Club, site of the 2015 U.S. Senior Open.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57306.jpg)
![Don't dare hook it left on the 169-yard 12th hole at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57307.jpg)
![The 218-yard shot to the 14th hole at Del Paso Country Club must find a safe path through the bunkers.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57308.jpg)
![At 636 yards, the 15th hole at Del Paso Country Club ranks among the longest holes in California.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57309.jpg)
![Water, bunkers and length make the 225-yard 17th hole at Del Paso Country Club formidable.](/departments/photo-galleries/images/small/57310.jpg)
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