New PGAT tournament....2024

[bladehunter]

3 hours ago, dfeldss said:

 

Also pretty crazy how many people they've gotten out the two events at Congaree. It's in the middle of nowhere - probably an hour+ outside of Savannah and maybe a little closer to HHI/Bluffton, but there were great crowds out there. Heritage is always pretty packed too.

 

Obviously this one won't have the big dogs out there playing, but I think they'll manage a solid turnout. 

Yep.  I’ve griped for years that we can’t seem to get a us open unless it’s at pinehurst ( boring ).  Heck even a USga mid am .  And yet we can’t drive 15 minutes in any direction and not run over a golf course.  I can count 17 inside 30 min from my house.  And I live in the middle of nowhere town in the upstate of sC.  It’s worse towards the coast.  This is golf country.  But the national title always goes to rich norther - urban areas.  No respect I tell ya ! 😂
 

they’ll have a great turnout I’m sure.  Harbor town always gets a great crowd and it’s like trying to go see a football game in a bathroom - size wise.  I had a great customer that lived in that  gated neighborhood and I once had to deliver a car to him.  I basically had to thread the needle 300 times to get to his house and unload it on 7 foot wide stretch of sand , that’s all the room there is.  But the people make it out there somehow.  

[billyspan]

54 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Yep.  I’ve griped for years that we can’t seem to get a us open unless it’s at pinehurst ( boring ).  Heck even a USga mid am .  And yet we can’t drive 15 minutes in any direction and not run over a golf course.  I can count 17 inside 30 min from my house.  And I live in the middle of nowhere town in the upstate of sC.  It’s worse towards the coast.  This is golf country.  But the national title always goes to rich norther - urban areas.  No respect I tell ya ! 😂
 

they’ll have a great turnout I’m sure.  Harbor town always gets a great crowd and it’s like trying to go see a football game in a bathroom - size wise.  I had a great customer that lived in that  gated neighborhood and I once had to deliver a car to him.  I basically had to thread the needle 300 times to get to his house and unload it on 7 foot wide stretch of sand , that’s all the room there is.  But the people make it out there somehow.  

@bladehunter the Pinehurst courses definitely do not "show" great on TV as the topography flattens out.  In the Pinehurst area perhaps only Dormie Club has the length to also host an elite event? Mid-Pines, Pine Needles, CCNC are all much too short unfortunately.  What courses in your neck of the woods would you line up for an event? Appreciate you comments as always.

[smashdn]

20 hours ago, bladehunter said:

 And I live in the middle of nowhere town in the upstate of sC.  

 

How far are you from Anderson?

[bladehunter]

19 minutes ago, smashdn said:

 

How far are you from Anderson?

About an hour and a half. I’m up almost on the border.  Above spartanburg in Landrum.  

[billyspan]

49 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

About an hour and a half. I’m up almost on the border.  Above spartanburg in Landrum.  

@bladehunter I've played a bit in your neck of the woods! Got family in the area.  I thought both Thornblade CC and Greenville CC were very nice. Unfortunately, I don't think either could host a top tour event due to length.  The KFT BMW event seems to do well, however!

[billyspan]

I was listening to the latest NLU podcast on the LPGA...I was reminded of a thought.  We sometimes lose sight that PGAT and KFT events exist in somewhat a "vacuum" and TV-ratings are not a primary concern of either the sponsor and host course.  The sponsor is often looking for local/regional marketing exposure AND an opportunity to entertain THEIR clients or prospective clients.  The Pro-Am events are very important in the later regard. 

The PGAT brass and we "concerned" consumers are perhaps the most interested in the TV product and ratings.

[bladehunter]

2 hours ago, billyspan said:

@bladehunter I've played a bit in your neck of the woods! Got family in the area.  I thought both Thornblade CC and Greenville CC were very nice. Unfortunately, I don't think either could host a top tour event due to length.  The KFT BMW event seems to do well, however!

Very true. The terrain around here doesn’t see many 7500 yard courses. It’s hard to get that much straight land. The courses instead tend to step up and down elevation wise to make for playing length.  And they tend to be tighter.  So less drivers on average.  
 

a long time ago in a lane far far away ….. I worked maintenance at Pebble Creek CC. Pre club Corp ownership raping it.  Say 1992-95 And we hosted ( linkside course )  a hooters tour and nationwide tour ( I can’t remember if it was sponsored by nationwide then ,might have been Nike ) and it was plenty long enough and tough enough.  But todays drivers and ball just make it in possible. That and they’ve now ruined that course.  

[jimecherry]

2 hours ago, billyspan said:

I was listening to the latest NLU podcast on the LPGA...I was reminded of a thought.  We sometimes lose sight that PGAT and KFT events exist in somewhat a "vacuum" and TV-ratings are not a primary concern of either the sponsor and host course.  The sponsor is often looking for local/regional marketing exposure AND an opportunity to entertain THEIR clients or prospective clients.  The Pro-Am events are very important in the later regard. 

The PGAT brass and we "concerned" consumers are perhaps the most interested in the TV product and ratings.

did you see the news about NLU owners getting broadcast rights for a kft event in july