The tournament was devised as a championship for golfers who played on public courses, as members of private clubs were barred from entry.
[1] The 2005 edition, held in Lebanon, Ohio, drew an unusually large amount of media attention due to Michelle Wie's presence.
She had stated on several occasions that she wished to one day play in the Masters, and this event was generally considered to be her best chance to qualify.
Wie advanced to the match play rounds, losing in the quarterfinals to Clay Ogden, who went on to win the tournament.
When the USGA announced the demise of the Publinx, it specifically stated that "the APL [Amateur Public Links] and WAPL [Women's Amateur Public Links] championships no longer serve their original mission because of the widespread accessibility public-course golfers today enjoy in USGA championships.
Golfers must follow the USGA's guidelines for amateur status, which, in general, exclude anyone who has ever played or taught golf for money.