NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Despite the jokes about the cold weather, the Unites States Golf Association and the University of Notre Dames Warren Golf Course are almost ready to host the U.S. Senior Open June 27 to 30.

While cold and wet conditions have hampered some of the preparation for the first USGA major championship to be hosted on a college campus, the grounds crew at both Warren Woods and the USGA have put together a spectacular layout that will challenge for the U.S. Senior Open Championship next month.

The USGA has accepted 2,796 entries for its 40th U.S. Senior Open, including 79 players who have earned exemptions. That number also includes 12 past champions who have compiled quite a professional golf resume.

Among them are defending champion David Toms, who was scheduled to take part in the media day, but was delayed because of the Traditions Champions Tour event in Georgia was wrapping up after being delayed by rain on Sunday.

Also on that list are Roger Chapman, who many southwest Michigan fans know following his win at Harbor Shores in the Senior PGA Championship a few years back. There was also Fred Funk, Hale Irwin, Peter Jacobson, Bernhard Langer, another who both the U.S. Senior Open and Senior PGA Championship, Jeff Jaggert and Colin Montgomerie, the third golfer who has won a U.S. Senior Open and won at Harbor Shores.

“Very excited to be a USGA champion, and certainly defending the Senior Open title at Notre Dame,” Toms said via a video presentation. “You know, I haven’t seen the venue yet, but I’m excited to get there and just to be around the university. A lot of history there, and just to be a part of what I know will be a great event.”

Everyone involved with bringing the event to Notre Dame is excited for the next 41 days to pass and for play to get under way.

Technically, the road to the U.S. Senior Open began Monday with sectional qualifiers, including one at Bedford Falls in Battle Creek. Players can earn their way into the championship despite not being a professional golfer if they met certain criteria in order to play in the sectionals.

Ben Kimball, USGA senior director of championships, said 6,943-yard championship course will play a par 70 and will challenge even the best golfers in the world.

“It’s going to be intimidating,” he said. “Fair yet intimidating. Let’s face it, when you play in the USGA national championship, it should be a little intimidating. We want them to have butterflies in their stomach. We want them to be worried about that first tee shot. We want nervous fans. And I think we’ll see it when we come back here in June.”