Not only is it one of the top sporting events in the United States and one of the most important golf tournaments in the world, but it's also going to provide an economic boom for the area. The 2024 U.S. Women's Open will prove to be a win-win for the Lancaster Country Club, Manheim Township and Lancaster County.

The U.S. Open is coming to - or, more accurately, returning to - the Lancaster Country Club (LCC) in five months. Apparently, the United States Golf Association's (USGA) last trip to Lancaster in 2015 was so successful, everyone involved thought it would be a good idea to do it again.

"It's huge. Huge isn't the proper adjective," said Josh Saunders, Lancaster Country Club's director of grounds. "You don't have to be a golf fan to come out and support your community. People are going to come from all over to witness this event. It's not a feather in (the LCC's) cap. It's a feather in the community's cap. The community has embraced the event."

During the week of May 27, 2024, many of the finest players in the world will descend upon the LCC, 1466 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, and its par-70, 6,600-yard layout to decide the championship of United States women's golf.

Players will play practice rounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. The four-round, 72-hole championship tournament will begin on Thursday, May 30, and conclude on Sunday, June 2.

"With 25 years of experience and the help of my staff, we're going to put on the best show possible," said Saunders. "It's been a lot of planning. We're all excited, and it's exciting for the community. The Lancaster Country Club is committed to championship golf. I think that's appealing to the USGA and one of the reasons they've come back. We're going to be able to hold more people, the players are going to have an extremely different experience and it's going to be a much more exciting venue compared to 2015."

The USGA estimates that the U.S. Women's Open will inject more than $30 million into the local economy for businesses like restaurants, hotels and shops. In 2015, when the 70th U.S. Women's Open was contested at the LCC, more than 134,000 spectators attended, a U.S. Women's Open record total that still stands today.

"It will have a huge economic impact," said Saunders. "Just the number of people coming to town and spending money. It will mean millions and millions of dollars for the local economy. As a club, we really don't get a lot of it. This is our gift back to the community. We want to get people into the community to see what Lancaster is all about."

"Women's golf has taken off over the last nine years," Saunders continued. "Tournament prizes have almost tripled. There are more women playing golf. These players are really good. They hit the ball just as far as the average male, and they're consistent. They don't get off line. The players love the golf course. The players love playing in this atmosphere."