Pro Tournaments here in TV
 

I see Lakewood Ranch (a fast-growing retirement community), here in Florida is hosting a PGA tournament. Why in the golf capital of the world are we not hosting PGA events?

I don't know, but if it were put to a vote, I would vote no. Too much traffic and too many people. I hate people, they are the worst (just kidding).

Given all the threads about the conditions of Village courses, you will probably find your answer there!

Hmmm, quick thoughts come to mind. Courses aren’t set up for walking, course conditions don’t meet standards, courses aren’t conducive to large galleries, even from tips courses are generally too short for professionals, not located near major metropolitan area with a large younger population (the target market), who would sponsor it, lack of adequate parking or mass transit, etc…. Highly unlikely, but would be interesting.

No thank you. We can do without the traffic, for one.

The Villages is already known by just about everyone when it comes to golf or the retirement scene. They don't need the publicity to sell properties or the lifestyle that we enjoy.

The Villages is the Golf Capital of the World??

FLORIDA is the Golf Capital of the World. Says so on the license plates.

I thought way back when the villages did have LPGA tournament at terra del sol? :shrug:

The courses here are not up to PGA standards, and the original construction were not to USGA Standards. Just take a trip to Juliette Falls in Ocala that had an LPGA Tour stop there for three years. No comparison to The Villages courses, which in most cases do not stack up to Private Country Club layouts, which themselves have only a minimal amount that could host a PGA tournament.

Right! Smh

Yeah...Myrtle Beach may have something today about that

It’s a Korn Ferry Tour event.

Why would The Villages host an event? Doesn’t need the name recognition, do you want to lose one of the courses for a week, they were not laid out for the hospitality, etc

Given the size of the parking lots, plan to lose a few larg rec center lots and golf course lots that week too.

We are concerned about El Niño and course conditions.

A lot of valid reasons on why there will never be a PGA event here. But, parking is not one of them. This is a challenge at most events. Patrons park far away and bussed to the course.

Quality of golf courses not up to PGA standards

The quality of our courses do not measure up. Plus several tournament in orlando. Plus occasionally at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto

This can be mitigated by the Tour as it has been many times at other tournaments, there is always an investment in that area...if this was a destination. But I agree with prior posts, that is not the reason. Too many logistical challenges to overcome to make it a worthwhile stop

None of our courses could be made long enough with today's equipment and athletes to accommodate a pro tournament. Most PGA events are being held on courses that can be lengthened to 7800+ yards. Most of our courses are like hospital food, very little flavor to them that would challenge today's players.
Now add to the lack of length, the number of complaints from the locals as the rough would need to be taller and the greens significantly faster leading up to the tournament.

These are not country clubs in the conventional sense. Never going to happen.

I'm curious what is the cash income of a PGA course?
Money usually determines what is being built or invested in.

A very simple reason- traffic-look at the congestion the little festivals in the town squares cause so that people can walk about like cattle looking at the same old booths.

They did. It was held in October 1998 and was the Samsung Tournament. As I recall it was comprised of the 16 top female money winners on tour. We got to see and meet a good share of them.

That’s LPGA...not PGA. Smaller courses, more remote locales and historically lower attendance make said venues a better fit

Myrtle Beach area has 90 courses. Florida has 1330. No contest there.

I VOTE NO - DON'T NEED IT AND CREATES ISSUES. Watch them on TV!

So quantity over quality....got it.

I’ve got a few threads you may want to look over to see if your neighbors agree on the quality side of it. However, you can just believe the license plate if that’s your standard

The LPGA played at Golden Ocala, not Juliette Falls. JF is a very nice course, but has not held LPGA or PGA tournaments. :icon_wink:

If you count Executive Courses as "golf courses", The Villages is by far, the #1 "metro-area" for golf courses (holes).

If you were only to consider real golf courses on a per capita basis, The Villages makes it into the Top 5 in the USA.

Just a moment...

On a state by state basis, N. Dakota clocks in at most golf courses per capita.

Just a moment...

When did you get out?! ;)

Welcome back sir

Only 3 courses with driving ranges and most are shorter than the pros need(300+ yards) Courses are much shorter than pro set up courses. Does anyone feel that a village course would be up to PGA standards? Best question is why.

Lpga
 

We had an LPGA event here in 1999, at Tiera Del Sol, ,the developer built some houses for the gals to stay in but they said they would not come back, no driving range.
We also had a shoot your age tournament at Palmer with some named pros, like Gary Player, but that was the last of any talk about that

This site slays me! The post is about holding a golf tournament in The Villages and over half of the comments are about “who has the most golf courses”. My reply is who cares! Let’s focus!

Does The Villages have a course and infrastructure to hold a PGA event? Yes. Playing Palmer from the tips could be a good test. It would be better suited to an LPGA event. Is there room for bleachers, corporate tents, merchandise test, parking? No, that could be an issue. Another point no one has mentioned is when would it be held? Who wants to play in Florida in the summer? Not many pros. The Villages will not close a course during its most profitable time in the late winter early spring.

It would be fun to have a tournament and I would probably volunteer to work, but it’s not going to happen.

I dont see it happening for reasons I and others have previously stated. You're incorrect that there would be a loss in revenue from peak 'lost rounds' though. Negotiated mitigation for course upgrades, post event repairs and more importantly lost rounds are standard Tour practices ....all venues/cities that host see a huge economic boost that has a ripple effect to a whole region. That is why selection is so competitive to be awarded a Tour date. But again, other than an amateur or celebrity event, the PGA has better options in state.

A couple of days ago.


But now I know who's untouchable and protected by a SWAT team.

lmao

My late parents had a Condo in North Myrtle Beach and in my younger days I took many golf vacations there with my buddies. The sheer number of courses in a relatively small area, many of which are Excellent courses with a wide variety of layouts, totally blows away anything I have come across in Florida. That being said, in my older years I prefer the courses in the Villages for the following reasons. 1) I can load my cart at our home and take it golfing with all the creature comforts included 2) The Villages courses are designed to be playable for Seniors, which I would have found as a negative when younger but very much enjoy now (many of the courses at Myrtle would kick my a$$ these days) 3) Myrtle isn’t far enough south during the winter months, too cold, occasional ice/snow, and many of the area attractions are closed.

Most folks don't understand how the PGA Tournament process works.

If you want a tournament, you have 2 choices. Find a date on the calendar that they'll be sufficient players available for an "alternate field event" or ... buy someone else's place on the schedule when they don't renew.

There are currently 4 alternate field events: Puerto Rico Open, Corales Puntacana Championship, Myrtle Beach Classic & Barracuda Championship

Cost to sponsor an event varies, depending on the time of the year and if the event is televised. I suspect Barracuda pays somewhere between $6,000,000 - $8,000,000/year to sponsor that opposite field event (the Open Championship is that week).

If you want to hold a real 1st Class PGA Tour Event, the sponsorship cost is likely in the $12,000,000 - $15,000,000 range.

The RBC Heritage that was held this past weekend, is packaged together with the RBC Canadian Open. Royal Bank of Canada paid $25,000,000 to be the Title Sponsor.

If one wanted to throw their money away, they could probably buy a spot on the LPGA Tour, for around $5,000,000. ((How much does it cost to sponsor a LPGA golf tournament? - The Brassie)

So for a PGA Tour event in The Villages, you'd first need a $15,000,000 Title Sponsor and would probably spend $5M - $6M, to bring a course up to tournament standards.

Probably not going to happen.

See you at The Country Club in 2038 for The Open

Used to live next to Lakewood Ranch and played their courses. They are so much better than any course in the Villages.