Former Buick Open May Go to Greenbrier Resort
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 29, 2009 6:04 PM EDT
Email
PrintGolfweek Magazine - who has been on top of the Buick Open story - is reporting that the former Buick Open may well be moving from Grand Blanc, Michigan, to the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
Golfweek has learned that The Greenbrier, the venerable mountain retreat recently rescued from financial straits, is awaiting confirmation from the Tour to join the schedule for 2010. The West Virginia resort would replace the Buick Open, which this week will end a 51-year run on Tour, according to two sources familiar with The Greenbrier’s operations who requested anonymity.
Left unclear is the status of the Fall Series events, at least two of which – Turning Stone Resort Championship and Frys.com Open – are lobbying the Tour for better dates.
The Greenbrier is not a stranger to competition of the team kind. The '79 Ryder Cup and '94 Solheim Cup were played there.
You may remember seeing Greenbrier a lot in the last two weeks. That is because Tom Watson is the professional emertius there. He replaced Sam Snead in that position.
I'm not really certain that this would be the best move considering that West Virginia is not exactly either a population center or easy to travel to for players and fans. More as the saga of the Buick Open develops.
21 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
oh admit it – you just don’t like West Virginny :-)
I’m interested in an explanation of how this site could just walk in and take over the date with the fall series events in line in front of them…unless they were just willing to take such an awkward date in between the British and PGA with a WGC the week after. Maybe they would switch dates with The Bridgestone and the big names who don’t usually play the week before a major could take that week off ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
That’s part of the intrigue in this, particularly if Greenbrier were to get the date before the Turning Stone event. Effectively, they’re played at the same time of place except that Turning Stone has a casino, has more people near it, and is already a very secure event.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 30, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
at this point – the Tour doesn’t do sponsorships with casinos – Turning Stone is advertised as a resort – not a casino. There must be something around The Greenbriar to draw 20,000 to 30,000 each day for the tournament.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Greenbrier is looking to get a casino too
Part of the rejuvination plan for Greenbrier is a new casino as well.
I will gamble a little on the golf course to make things interesting, but I control my own ball (usually) and feel a lot more comfortable putting down a friendly wager in the form of a Nassau. Casinos, on the other hand, are designed to make you lose, otherwise they wouldn’t be building billion dollar buildings in Vegas.
by Charles Boyer on Jul 30, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Huh?
“I’m not really certain that this would be the best move considering that West Virginia is not exactly either a population center or easy to travel to for players and fans.”
Really, Ryan, you are missing the boat completely here. Have you ever been there? I thought it incredibly easy to get to and find, all the way from Raleigh, NC.
Greenbrier Resort has its own airport. Player travel, check.
It is off of US 60 and is less than one mile from Interstate 64, which runs to Richmond to the east and ends at I-77 to the west — giving easy access to many population centers in both the east and the midwest.
It is also a destination resort with other surrounding resorts. There are plenty of places to stay besides the 721 room main hotel.
It’s location and access availability is why the US government decided to use the resort as a secret bunker for the US Congress in the event of a nuclear war. That;’s the entire Congress, logistics and all. Not all of that could possibly be flown in.
Bottom line is that it is no harder to get to than Pinehurst, and has many of the same amenities.
Not missing the point at all, OMP. You actually make the point for me. You just described a place that is great for (a) a major championship or (b) a one-off, every once in a while event. People are not going to flock in droves to a five star resort to stay to watch pros play golf. Not in this economy or any economy. PGA Tour fans just don’t do that for a normal stop, much less one that will likely not have Tiger Woods in attendance.
Most players don’t fly to small airports. They fly to major metropolitan airports and then get a rental/usually get a tournament car.
I know there are roads of significance to Greenbrier and I know its history. (It was actually a million dollar question on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire like 8 eight years ago.)
If you’re likening it to Pinehurst, then you’re likening it to a major championship destination. You’re not likening it to a regular PGA Tour stop that is generally found in a major metropolitan area – not in a resort town. It is extremely difficult to sell hospitality for an annual event at a place that is far away from the corporations buying the tents.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 30, 2009 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Good Points, Except Pinehurst is a Raleigh Exurb Now
Good points regarding the attendance habits of typical tour stops, Ryan. It’s hard to argue with those.
One thing, however, Pinehurst sits on the fringes of a million-plus population center and is part of a top-30 television market. It is rapidly becoming part of the Raleigh-Cary MSA, which is expected to add another million people (there are already over one million now) in the next ten years. That said, if it is a one-off now, it won’t be for long. Since the city already successfully supports a Senior Tour and a Nationwide event, it’s conceivable as tournaments shift around that one could come to Pinehurst if not the local TPC course in the next ten years.
I suspect that if the ever-struggling Greensboro event was to move, it would be here. The choice of golf courses would be interesting and I suspect that Pinehurst/Southern Pines would make a run at it if it didn’t go to the TPC on the other side of town by default.
by Charles Boyer on Jul 30, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t disagree at all about Raleigh’s growth. Have a friend down there for grad school so I get to see the area a couple of times per year at least. It’s growing rapidly like you said. How far away from downtown Raleigh is Pinehurst? Next time I’m down there, I’ll be sure to bring the sticks!
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 30, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
ummm – isn’t “once a year” a once in a while event ?
OMP – don’t forget – RB is a “hater” for all things West Virginy – he’s a sophisticated Maryland man. (lol)
RB – the players will go to where the tournament is – that’s where they keep the checks – even in WV.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
RB *IS* A Terp, I Forgot
He should check out Heather Dinich of ESPN fame and the Fridge at the ACC football meetings. My friend Joe posted it over on his radio station’s blog:
http://www.850thebuzz.com/blog/?p=10730
Fridge is basically a good guy and has a great sense of humor. Comedy gold between the two of them.
by Charles Boyer on Jul 30, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Dinich used to write for the Baltimore Sun before she went to ESPN. She was railed a LOT by UMD fans for how she covered UMD football. But, I think Fridge has a better sense of humor about her than some Terp fans!
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 30, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
It's A Rite of College Sports To Gripe About the Press
There’s an column in the Raleigh paper today penned by Caulton Tudor, who’s covered the ACC for nearly forty years, grousing about Roy Williams getting no respect.
That will certainly be fodder for the Duke and State fans…they’ll start with the “N&O is biased” act and head straight towards the “Tudor is just another Tar Heel fan” coda.
Sports radio will make hay out of it all.
Rinse, lather, repeat. That’s the life in a city with three major college sports programs within 20 miles of each other.
by Charles Boyer on Jul 30, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
An annual event is different than something like a Ryder Cup or non-Masters major – the course doesn’t see the event every year. That’s what I meant there.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 30, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
well DUH – every two years IS different than every year – should we schedule the tournament for every solar eclipse that passes over West Virginia ? That’s different than every two years, too.
Once a year isn’t a regular event that players have to attend. A baseball season is a regular event. Even football where you might have to skip a week or two between home games. They won’t be travelling to The Greenbriar once a month.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
And, on top of all of that, Greenbrier came out of being bankrupt and losing its 5 star rating that it held for 33 years. Justice is looking to get the tournament for the same reason that Bobby Ginn got involved with golf – real estate/resort promotion. That’s an awfully dangerous and usually temporary kind of host course and/or sponsor.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
About 45-60 minutes...
I’ve left my office here and been on the tee at Pine Needles in 35 minutes, but that was disregarding the speed limit a wee bit.
Honestly, it take a little longer than 35 minutes, but it is one of those easy drives unlike going to East Lake in Atlanta or any number of other courses should you live in a major urban area.
And if you happen to be in Raleigh, look me up and I will happily take you around my little course. It’s only fault is having houses aside the fairways, but as far as the golf goes, you would find nearly every element of your game challenged. Heck, Tom Kite took a 6 on the 18th hole last time he played here.
I will remember that the next time I head down your way!
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 30, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Have a golf story tip? Contact editor Charles Boyer and he will follow the story! Thanks!
Related FanPosts on Waggle Room
Related FanShots on Waggle Room
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
