Town Administrator Mel Kleckner and The Country Club’s General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Kristen LaCount, are pleased to welcome the 2022 U.S. Open to Brookline, and announce that a Community Partnership Committee has been established to plan and program community benefits resulting from the championship event coming to 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. The Committee will also work to identify ways in which the U.S. Open — a landmark event that will bring together the world’s best golfers and fans from around the globe — can benefit local nonprofits and other organizations, including 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 U.S. Open in the club’s history and its 17th United States Golf Association championship, second-most all-time. The championship was last played in Brookline during summer 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 contemporary 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,” 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.”
Potential functions of the Community Partnership Committee will include;
Recommend policies reflective of community values. Suggest mechanisms by which local businesses can benefit from the U.S. Open. Plan events promoting the U.S. Open, building enthusiasm and enhancing the goodwill around the Championship, ensuring it’s a community-focused event. Administer the allocation of fundraising revenue to local philanthropic and charitable groups. Highlight the roles Brookline and The Country Club have in the history of golf. Working to identify opportunities for jobs and volunteer opportunities for local residents. The Committee is a joint partnership between the Town of Brookline and The Country Club. It will be led jointly by Brookline residents Ken Goldstein and Kate Leness, and will feature five additional appointees representing the Town and five from The Country Club.
“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,“ LaCount said.
“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.
