Glorious weekend weather has been readily welcomed by a veritable army of people putting the finishing touches on one of the most dynamic events to ever arrive on the shores of Lake Michigan. Full-tilt training sessions have been underway for specific teams of volunteers, the PGA of America has work crews scattered from one end of Harbor Shores to another, and the beauty of a well-oiled machine is evident across the landscape as the community of Michigan's Great Southwest prepares to play the consummate host to the 2016 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid.
A whole lot of numbers will be thrown around in the week ahead, but here are some key numbers you might like to know. The winning purse totals $2.8-million for the cream of the crop from the Champions Tour, with the winner's check clocking in at $504,000 one week from today.
Some 40,000 to 50,000 spectators are expected to march through the gates along Graham Avenue just across the railroad tracks from the city of Benton Harbor's renowned Arts District. An army of 1,700 volunteers trained in everything from leader boards to contest shuttles, from hospitality roles to evacuation teams in case of severe weather, will man their posts for thousands of hours over the course of the week, and be treated to some of the finest perks of the job in the history of the game thanks to a dynamic new Volunteer Hospitality Center at the former M-Tec building now owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The team at the law firm of Foster Swift is helping host the newly expanded Volunteer Headquarters. Attorney Scott Dienes is pretty pumped about that, saying, "Local volunteers are a key to success for an event like this and what it does for our community." He notes, "Most Senior PGA volunteers commit to at lest four, 4-hour shifts, so it is important that we support them so they can focus on their role in the tournament."
The field of 156 players will begin arriving tomorrow, with Pro-Am tournaments slated this week, practice round opportunities on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the formal start to the Championship on Thursday morning. They will play 72 holes of stroke play in four rounds of 18 holes each. Following the first 36 holes of play, the field will be reduced to the low 70 scorers plus ties, and those players will advance to complete the final two rounds on the Memorial Day weekend.
The oldest and most prestigious major championship in senior golf, the Senior PGA Championship was born in 1937 at Augusta National in Georgia, now home to the Masters Tournament.
For the past six weeks or better, work has been underway to craft a veritable golf village alongside the driving range at Harbor Shores where the destination attractions of the region of Southwest Michigan will be on display and demonstrated in the first ever Community Showcase Tent which shares half of the major entry building with the new Championship Merchandise Shop where fans can acquire golf apparel and memorabilia all week long.
The renowned KitchenAid Stand Mixer Stadium inside the gates will showcase every color of stand mixer in the KitchenAid color spectrum before visitors advance next to the Mercedes Benz Experience pavilion. A main-gate concession stand overlooking the driving range will also welcome spectators alongside the amazing KitchenAid Fairway Club where all week long special demonstrations, products displays, and performances by Celebrity Chefs will entertain spectators and fans alike.
Another great new perk this year is the inclusion of local cuisine on the Harbor Shores course with a collection of Food Trucks in Jean Klock Park's concession area where holes 7, 8 and 9 converge. Included there are Lark's Bar-B-Que and the Baja Gringo Taco Truck.
An upgraded ticket option for spectators is offered through an elevated experience called The 19th Hole, which is actually located between the 16th green and the 17th tee. It's an open air pavilion featuring upgraded seating and TV's for live coverage of the Championship, as well as a private bar with beverage options available for purchase.
A new set of bleachers awaits eager fans behind the 17th green to get a closer look at your favorite player as he nears the end of his round, and bleachers at 18 are constructed of stadium-style, fold down seats for back support and comfort alongside the KitchenAid Hospitality pavilion.
Being Memorial Day weekend, the American flag will be proudly displayed in an Avenue of Flags at the entrance to the clubhouse and a Field of Flags in Jean Klock Park's 7, 8, and 9 area near the food trucks will honor those who gave their lives for our country. The flags are in concert with Lest We Forget, the non-profit military team that produces summer time reenactments on the beaches of the area and at the SW Michigan Regional Airport.
Ryan Ogle is Championship Director, and he has been working with the community for months to put all the special touches on the event this year saying, "We're dedicated to providing the best possible spectator experience for golf fans and local residents that showcases the beauty of Benton Harbor and Southwest Michigan." He adds, "Thanks to the hep of our community partners and presenting sponsor, KitchenAid, we're introducing a variety of new elements to this year's Championship for fans to enjoy."
Also new this year were Saturday morning's Community Waffle Breakfast which was a virtual sell out, and their Family Fun Golf Zone sponsored by State Senator John Proos across the street from the Waffle Breakfast. It was great to watch young kids really get the swing of things at that event.
Tickets are still available beginning at just $15 apiece and can be purchased right now by clicking this link:
