The 2020 U.S. Mid-Amateur was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now the talented field of amateur golfers have made their way to Nantucket, Massachusetts, for the 2021 edition at Sankaty Head Golf Club.
Back in 2019, Lukas Michel became the first international player to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Michel described that triumph as “massive,” and now he’s back in the field to defend and maybe once again claim the title for Australia.
All players in the field this week are 25 years or older and with a handicap index not exceeding 3.4. Players earned their way into the tournament by local qualifying or through a series of exemption categories.
Schedule
Participants will play two stoke-play rounds Sept. 25-26, one each at Sankaty Head and nearby Miacomet Golf Club.
The top 64 will then advance to a match-play bracket and all matches will be played at Sankaty Head. The final match is scheduled for Sept. 30 and will consist of 36 holes.
Golf courses
Miacomet Golf Club is Nantucket Island’s only public 18-hole golf course. It will be set up as a par 70, measuring in at 6,765 yards. Many of the fairways are generous off the tee, but a countless amount of bunkers and tall fescue await any off-target drive.
Much like Miacomet, Sankaty Head offers generous landing areas while fescue sits just a few steps off the short grass. Sankaty Head will measure in a shade shorter at 6,652 yards, but will also play as a par 70.
Sankaty light house behind the eighth green at Sankaty golf course. Jim Preston /Cape Cod Times
The views around this track are breathtaking, highlighted by the walk up 18 where the incredible clubhouse, American flag and Sankaty Head lighthouse are all visible. The ocean can also be seen through much of the routing, making this a perfect venue for the final 64.
Both courses are featured among Golfweek’s Best Courses in Massachusetts. Miacomet ranked second in best courses you can play, while Sankaty ranked 10th on the best private courses list.
Weather
The island of Nantucket has little protection from the wind. Combine that with a consistent tide crashing on shore and players will battle heavy gusts all week long.
| Day | Conditions | Percent chance of rain | Wind & Direction |
| Saturday | Scattered Thunderstorms | 54% | 9 MPH (E) |
| Sunday | Mostly Sunny | 24% | 17 MPH (W) |
| Monday | Mostly Sunny | 8% | 20 MPH (W |
| Tuesday | Partly Cloudy | 18% | 16 MPH (WSW) |
| Wednesday | Scattered Thunderstorms | 40% | 15 MPH (NE) |
| Thursday | Partly Cloudy | 24% | 18 MPH (NNE) |
Tee times
Stroke-play tee times will begin at 6:50 a.m. ET at both venues, with the last group teeing off at 1:30 p.m.
Sankaty light house behind the eighth green of Sankaty golf course. Jim Preston /Cape Cod Times
What’s at stake
The winner of next week’s U.S. Mid-Amateur will automatically receive an invitation to both the 2022 U.S. Open, and perhaps even better, the 2022 Masters.
Golfweek will have boots on the ground in Nantucket, so look forward to detailed coverage throughout next week.