U.S. Junior Amateur set for Saucon Valley with Charlie Woods in the field

Families and fans can watch elite junior golfers compete across two courses in Bethlehem, with free admission and a spot in the U.S. Open on the line.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Rob Doone has spent years mapping out yardages for the country’s top junior golfers, but he said Saucon Valley Country Club’s Old Course did most of the work for him this year.

Doone, the USGA’s director of the U.S. Junior Amateur, previewed the 78th edition of the championship, set for July 20-25 at the Bethlehem club. The event will use both the Old Course and the Grace Course, with the Old Course serving as the primary test at 7,082 yards and a par of 71.

This story continues below.

More in Golf

Doone said the championship experience extends well beyond the golfers themselves. “It’s a family package deal type of thing,” he said. “You obviously have these junior golfers that are competing at the highest level. Unbelievable talent. And then mom and dad and grandma and grandpa are coming too to watch them.”

Building that atmosphere for relatives who travel with competitors matters as much as the competition itself, according to Doone. “You’re creating that experience, not only the championship test of golf that they have to endure, but then also creating that off-course experience, not only for the players but their families too,” he said. He called it “a fun balance.”

Doone said he values sending junior competitors to historic Northeast courses they would not otherwise see. 

“I think anytime we can incorporate old school golf, especially old school Northeast golf, to all these junior amateur competitors is great because they’re coming in from all over the country,” he said. “You get kids from Texas and Florida and California coming to new places and being able to test their game on some of those great golf courses of the past.” He added that Saucon Valley’s Old Course, designed by Herbert Strong in 1922, “stands up to the test too.”

“This course is going to play tough for these players,” Doone said.

Any USGA event requires support from the community where it is held. Mike Wood, director of golf at Saucon Valley Country Club, said this event is no different. “We have almost 600 volunteers coming out. The Lehigh Valley, just as a community, is always a golf community. We’re excited to have them all here again, and it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Wood said.

Course setup for junior events typically requires organizers to adjust tee placements based on average driving distances among the field. Doone said Saucon Valley needed little of that adjustment. 

“The variety and hole length out here at Saucon Valley, especially on the old course, they’re getting every club in their bag dirty without me even moving around yardages,” he said. He described it as “a true championship golf course that makes my job easy, to be able to get every club in their bag dirty just the way it’s set up.”

The only player to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur three consecutive times.

One of the greatest amateur resumes of all time is forever enshrined 🐅 pic.twitter.com/iBotSg6k9k

— USGA (@USGA) February 28, 2026

The field includes Charlie Woods, son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, who won three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles from 1991 to 1993. The tournament trophy given to the champion now bears his father’s name. Doone said the elder Woods’ run of victories stands apart from anything likely to happen again. “What Tiger obviously did in the early 90s, I personally don’t think is ever going to get replicated again, just given the age out of the junior, to see him do it three straight times is pretty incredible,” he said. He called Charlie Woods’ presence in the field for the Tiger Woods Trophy something that “doesn’t get much more special than that.”

Doone pointed out that Charlie Woods represents just one storyline among a deep 264-player international field. 

“Yes, we have Charlie Woods, but we had four players who played in the US Open at Shinnecock,” he said. Admission to the championship is free, and Doone said that access matters. “Spectators are welcome to join any day of the championship,” he said. “Not only are you seeing a world-class golf course, but you’re seeing world-class talent.”

Doone said the talent level distinguishes the event, along with the balance between competitive intensity and youth. 

“It’s pretty amazing how competitive they are, how serious they take it, but then you realize they’re kids too, and you get the smiles coming off the greens and hugs with mom and dad,” he said. “It’s a different vibe at this championship, and obviously to see that on a storied course like Saucon Valley is pretty special.”

Stroke-play rounds begin July 20 and 21, with the field cutting to 64 players for match play starting July 22. The championship match, a 36-hole final, is scheduled for July 25.