100 Years of Amateur Golf History: Inside the New Year's Invitational with Richard Hope

Few amateur golf tournaments can match the history and tradition of the New Year's Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club in Florida.

In this episode of the AmateurGolf.com Podcast, founder Pete Wlodkowski sits down with longtime tournament chairman Richard Hope to discuss one of the most storied events in competitive amateur golf.

First played in 1927, the New Year's Invitational has welcomed generations of talented golfers, including future PGA Tour stars Brandt Snedeker, J.B. Holmes, Bob Goalby, and Johnny Revolta.

Hope, who first competed in the tournament as an 18-year-old in 1969 and became chairman in 1991, shares stories from decades of tournament history, the evolution of St. Petersburg Country Club, and what makes this January tradition so special.

The conversation covers the tournament's legendary champions, its transition from match play to stroke play, the growing presence of elite junior golfers, and the opportunity for the champion to earn a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour's LECOM Suncoast Classic.

With nearly a century of uninterrupted competition, the New Year's Invitational remains one of the premier events on the amateur golf calendar.

In this episode:

• The history of the New Year's Invitational, dating back to 1927
• Legendary champions who went on to PGA Tour success
• Richard Hope's decades of involvement with the tournament
• How St. Petersburg Country Club has evolved to challenge modern players
• The rise of elite junior and collegiate competitors
• How players are selected for the prestigious field
• The Korn Ferry Tour exemption awarded to the champion

Learn more about the New Year's Invitational and find competitive golf tournaments at AmateurGolf.com.

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