It is operated by the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The tournament was founded in 1955, expanding on a tournament conducted by the U.S. Senior Golf Association (not affiliated with the USGA), which itself had grown from a senior amateur event at the Apawamis Club in 1905.
[1] Membership in this precursor tournament was limited, so the USGA agreed to start a national championship open to all senior golfers.
Senior Amateur contestants have been permitted to ride in carts since 1969.
Winners received exemptions to the following events: next year's U.S. Senior Open provided he still is an amateur; U.S.