FORT WORTH – Shady Oaks Country Club's trump card for landing the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship was Ben Hogan.

For 39 years, until his death in July 1997, Hogan was a dues-paying member at Shady Oaks.

Colonial Country Club, Shady Oaks' more famous neighbor six miles to the southeast, gained the nickname "Hogan's Alley."

Shady Oaks was more like Hogan's living room.

Hogan was involved in the design of the course. He practiced and played at Shady Oaks and was a fixture in the grillroom.

What was good enough for Hogan should be good enough for the U.S. Senior Amateur, the U.S. Golf Association decided.

"The tournament is another way to promote the Hogan legacy," said tournament general chairman Denny Alexander, a Shady Oaks member. "People remain fascinated with the Hogan story. We want to preserve his part in our history."

It's fitting that players age 55 and over were deemed appropriate for an event at Shady Oaks.

"Being an older, traditional course, we're well-suited for this tournament," Alexander said. "The Hogan connection with Shady Oaks will mean more to the older guys."

It's a departure for the club to host the event, but the time is right, director of golf Mike Wright said.

"We have a membership that wants to give back to the game because we're proud of our facility," Wright said. "Because of the club's connection to Mr. Hogan, the course is in the international spotlight."

Wright anticipates a building of camaraderie among club members while putting on the tournament. Alexander said as many as 200 of the 440 members could be directly involved.

Shrines to Hogan abound. Outside the clubhouse is a statue of a hawk (Hogan's nickname). His locker, encased in glass, is preserved and on display in the clubhouse. The walls are rich with Hogan memorabilia.

Twist an arm and you might get a Hogan story.

When Wright, at 23, interviewed for his job, Hogan loaned him his sport coat, edited his letter of application and prepped him for interviewers' questions.

"I tell the story not to brag on myself," Wright said, "but to show the other side of Mr. Hogan. That's a side of him that isn't publicized too much."

A lot has changed about Shady Oaks since Hogan's death.

There's a new clubhouse, built after fire damaged the old one.

Subtle changes are made to the course year by year to maintain pace with improvements in equipment while keeping it playable for the members.

"Our course is different from the modern ones," Wright said. "But it is challenging. When you mix in Southern hospitality, we think we have something special.

"We want to have a tournament that would make Mr. Hogan proud."

Location: Fort Worth

Opened: 1958

Cost to build: $4 million

Architect: Robert Trent Jones

Founding owner: Marvin Leonard (sold club to members in 1969)

Par, yardage: Par 71, 6,804 yards

Current membership: 440

Did you know? Among the countless Hogan artifacts in the clubhouse is a framed scorecard from a round in 1977 when Hogan shot his age, 64. He birdied five of his last six holes to shoot 30 on the second nine. ... The club submitted its bid to host a USGA championship four years ago and was told it would have to wait until 2009. However, problems arose at The Beverly CC in Chicago, the USGA's first choice for the Senior Amateur this year.