Brookline, The Country Club Eye Ways To Make The Most Of US Open

BROOKLINE, MA — It's no secret that Brookline's The Country Club is set to host the U.S. Open next year and tickets have already gone on sale. But what will the event, which is set to draw thousands to Brookline for a week next June, mean for the town?

Enter a special joint committee between The Country Club and the town.

The Select Board has authorized the formation of a Community Partnership Committee, which will begin work to plan community initiatives and programs reflecting the Town’s diversity and values, according to a release Friday.

The Committee will also work to identify ways in which the U.S. Open can benefit the community, including local nonprofits and small businesses over the yearlong planning period.

The U.S. Open will be played at The Country Club from June 13-19, 2022. It will be the fourth time the U.S. Open has been held in town. The championship was last played in Brookline back in 1988.

The first U.S. Open at The Country Club remains one of the most significant events in golf, when Brookline amateur golfer Francis Ouimet upset two of the game’s well-known stars, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, to win the 1913 edition.

“This event is an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate Brookline for the special place that it is, and puts our community on the world’s stage for one of golf’s most significant annual events,” Town Administrator Mel Kleckner said. “All of Brookline should take pride in hosting this event, which recognizes both Brookline’s important place in the game’s history and everything it has to offer in welcoming tourism that will provide vital support for our economy.”

The committee, led jointly by Brookline residents Ken Goldstein and Kate Leness, will feature five additional appointees representing the Town and five from The Country Club.

The group will research and come up with recommendations for policies for the week "reflective of community values," suggest ways local businesses can benefit from the event, plan events promoting it, build enthusiasm and enhance the goodwill around the championship, "ensuring it’s a community-focused event," according to a release from the town.

The committee will also administer fundraising revenue to local philanthropic and charitable groups and find ways to connect job and volunteer opportunities to locals.

“The Country Club looks forward to continuing our long partnership with the Town of Brookline and working together to make the U.S. Open a fantastic event for the community,“ The Country Club General Manager Kristen LaCount said in a statement.

“This group will be an important part of the overall effort to ensure that the 2022 U.S. Open provides not only a historic golf tournament, but also leaves behind an enduring positive impact to the Town of Brookline,” Kleckner said.

The town did not say how people could join the committee. Contact the select board's office for more information.