In 1949, the first Hudson Cup was held at the Portland Golf Club

In 1949, two PGA Professionals from Oregon, Larry Lamberger and Al Zimmerman, thought the Pacific Northwest Section PGA should pay tribute to Robert A. Hudson, Sr., a successful businessman from Portland. Hudson is renowned in the golf world as the savior of the Ryder Cup matches after resurrecting it just two years removed from World War II. Because of Hudson’s generosity, the Ryder Cup was restored in 1947 at Portland Golf Club after Hudson came forward and covered most of the expenses of conducting the competition, including the cost of transporting the British team to the United States.

The first Hudson Cup matches were held at Portland Golf Club in 1949. The format was patterned after the Ryder Cup, with 36-hole foursome matches the first day and 36-hole singles the second day. The professionals, led by Bud Ward, Stan Leonard and Chuck Congdon, posted a 12.5 to 2.5 victory. When Hudson learned of the matches, he immediately insisted on footing the bill, and continued to do so through 1972. Today, the Pacific Northwest Section PGA is assisted by funds contributed by Washington Golf, the Oregon Golf Association and the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.

The format was changed in 1966 when the foursome matches were shortened to 18-holes and four-ball competition was added for the first afternoon. Second-day singles, at 18 holes, complete the event, with a total of 20 points available. In 1992, the Senior Hudson Cup matches were added.

Professionals take care of business at the Hudson Cup

The 72nd edition of the Hudson Cup Matches was held October 22-23 at Meadow Springs CC in Richland, WA. The Matches ended with the Professionals winning with a two day point total of 13 ½ to 6 ½ points in the 72nd Hudson Cup Matches. In the 29th edition of the Senior Hudson Cup, the Professionals won the Matches with a two day point total of 11 to 9. The Hudson Cup is patterned after the Ryder Cup with the top 10 Northwest professionals competing against the 10 top Northwest amateurs. The 29th Senior Hudson Cup were being played at the same time. The Senior matches for those 50 and over also feature 10 professionals against 10 amateurs.