A Crowded Summer Awaits:
Several Pro Tour Events Stacked On Each Other
By Tom Lang
The recent announcement by LIV Golf to hold a new pro tournament in August at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth further demonstrates that the Michigan golf calendar is jam packed with options and crowded schedules for golf fans to navigate.
In the month of June alone, there’s the now-traditional Meijer LPGA Classic scheduled for Father’s Day weekend as usual, followed by the Dow Championship LPGA event the final week of June. Okay. But for the second consecutive year, the PGA Tour scheduled the Rocket Mortgage Classic the same week as the Dow.
Now with the LIV event in Plymouth added near the end of August, it’s parked right on top of the well-established Ally Challenge on the PGA Tour Champions played in Grand Blanc.
Due to this new tournament traffic, we went to Facebook and other connections to get fan reactions to such scheduling challenges.
Tom Hemminger, a 50-plus year golfer, supporter of golf charity events in metro Detroit and former instructor for kids learning the game, shared this perspective:
“While I am not a fan of LIV, and the fracture in professional golf is deeply disappointing, I do feel the tournament in Plymouth will be a good thing for southeast Michigan and for golf fans in general. I love that it gives families another chance to see professional golf played in our backyard.
“I hope a ton of kids will be able to attend an event that is played on a public golf course that is available to them. To me, this tournament is less about LIV, and more about introducing a new generation (our youth) to this great game where they can play with friends, feel the thrill of competition, experience nature in beautiful settings, and learn about etiquette, sportsmanship, and integrity. While this tournament joins a list of several tournaments in Michigan this summer, I believe there is a slice of the pie for everyone as Michigan’s love affair with golf is insatiable.”
Facebook user John E Rheinhardt had a different take: “This is frustrating that there are two events scheduled at the same time on both occasions. Hopefully the number of patrons at these events does not decline from their previous numbers or the tours will remove the event. Local economies and local charities will be the big losers if that happens.”
Another Facebook user, Kevin Geisler, shared this viewpoint: “Everything should have been tried to be scheduled on different weekends. I can see how LIV wouldn't care since they aren't part of the PGA but you would think maybe the LPGA and PGA (Tour) would coordinate with each other.”
It’s not surprising that golfers’ opinions on this topic are wide ranging. Several expressed their lack of support for LIV Golf, and others embraced the new league’s approach. Many were disappointed that the schedule makers don’t seem to communicate, but agree that since all events are multiple days, fans can still see both events that are held the same week if they really wanted to.
Jeff Roth, a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and renowned instructor at Boyne whose hometown is Plymouth, shared this: “Season is too short, tournaments too plentiful. Pick and choose the golf you want to visit that week. A golf fan can do both. Michigan is blessed with great courses, many many courses, many great knowledgeable fans, and TOUR and LPGA events.”
Another Facebook user, Doug Hammond, shared this reaction: “We didn’t have anything (pro tournaments) for like a decade…..now we are complaining we have too much golf? Up north tournaments would be cool but the infrastructure is not there to accommodate such large tourneys.”
He wasn’t the only golfer hoping that a large pro tournament would be played Up North – so maybe neither know that the LPGA Tour’s feeder, the EPSON tour, is coming to Boyne, also in June – right on top of the Meijer LPGA. And by the way, there are two more EPSON events in Michigan, in June marking three consecutive weeks; the FireKeepers in Battle Creek and in the U.P. at Island Resort and Casino.
Almost everyone made their Tour allegiances known, like Facebook user Denis Mohr, while a nice segment agreed fans could go to multiple venues if they chose.
“I think it’s great but do a better job scheduling,” Mohr wrote. “They are at the mercy of each tour. Dow event is fantastic, and well executed. And the format is very entertaining. The others are same old stuff…smash and wedge. Rather watch the LPGA.”
Another, Yvonne Ramona, commented on their love for the Ally Challenge by sharing: “I wouldn’t pass up the Ally weekend, they have amazing concerts, I hung out with Bubba and we were offered free veterans passes.”
A few people remarked about how professional tournaments benefit the local hosting communities economically, and of course the charity aspect of proceeds supporting non-profits.
Facebook user Brian Dilworth: “I understand that coordinating schedules of multiple different tours is a challenge, but ultimately the fans and the charities that typically benefit from these events, are the losers. The tours have all become tone deaf to everyone but the sponsors and the players. Not a sustainable approach in my opinion.”
The bottom line seems to be if you love all golf tours, make an effort to support them all and pick various days that week to see the pros in person. If you prefer one Tour over the others, show that too.
In the end, it’s clear that local communities and local charities are the ultimate winners.
