When dignitaries gathered March 16 at 101 W. Main Street it was more
than a ribbon cutting for the offices. It was one of the first official acts of the 2012 Senior
PGA Championship.
Now that the offices of the the 73rd and 75th Senior PGA
Championships are open, the focus from here will be on all the steps needed to make sure the event comes off smoothly when it takes place at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor. Volunteer administration, corporate hospitality, ticket sales and media relations are some of the tasks ahead.
Senior PGA Championship Director Jeffrey Hintz says community support for the event "in all its facets" is what will take to make the Championship a success.
That includes support from public agencies, corporate support from local and regional companies, individual support from volunteers and ticket purchasers.
It will take more than 1,500 volunteers to bring off the championship game.
"I can't tell you how pleased I am with the optimism from each and every person that I speak to about this Championship," Hintz says. "The support has been overwhelming and we will need it to continue."
Hosting the Senior
PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 should pay dividend to the community for many years to come, Hintz says.
Local officials have said the event could be expected to generate $20 million for the local economy, and Hintz suggests that number may be low. Economic analysis by independent groups for three previous Seniors PGA Championships showed the event brought in $40 million in 2003, $30 million in 2006 and $23.3 million in 2007.
Beyond that, the community gets bragging rights for being the first in Michigan to host a Senior PGA Championship.
"Hosting a Major Championship like this is a very nice feather in the cap for the entire community, not just the
Harbor Shores Development," Hintz says. "Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, and Michigan's Great Southwest will always be able to claim they were the host site for the Senior PGA Championship."
The 2012 and 2014 Senior PGA Championship is sponsored Kitchen Aid.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Jeffery Hintz, Senior PGA Championship
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