I won’t be able to play because of my designation, but the move of the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada to Arizona is a good one. You can read more about that here.
By saying that, I mean no disrespect to the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Financially, they treated the PGA of Canada just great and it’s a beautiful facility with three great golf courses.
The two golf courses that we played for the event were outstanding and the staff was unbelievable, so it made sense for the PGA of Canada to hold it there.
In the past, there has been talk about moving the championship out west and now that it has, I think you’ll see numbers from British Columbia, Alberta and probably Saskatchewan jump up. From a western perspective, Florida was a challenge to get to and it was expensive.
I tried flying on points a couple of times and I’d go from Vancouver to Toronto to Philadelphia to West Palm Beach in getting there. Coming home, I’d go West Palm to Washington to Chicago to Vancouver.
It was always a challenge to get there, but once you were there, like I said, it was a great place and I loved it. However, I think the trip scared a few people off from the west.
Going to Arizona is a shorter flight from the west and it’s simple with the option of four or five airlines. That makes is a lot more attractive for guys from the west.
The usual suspects are always going to play and it has the reputation of being such a great event. The PGA of Canada and Titleist/FootJoy go all-out and it’s such a great week.
I would love to play the event after winning it in 200, but even though I’m not eligible to go this year, I’m really looking forward to seeing how it goes in Arizona.
Having saying that, you might see participation rates fall from the East. Being located in the Atlantic Zone, we only have 4 spots available and with the move West, this will all but eliminate the guys who want to go, but cannot qualify.
If you take a compass and scribe a circle onto a map of North America you will find Houston Texas to be equidistant for all parties across Canada. End of the debate.
mike, why did I need to know that about Houston?
Hello Gary;
Long time no see!
Houston as a site for the Club Pro is in response to the controversy as to whether the event will be more successful in Arizona or in Florida. The PGA of C members in the west prefer Arizona. Those in the east prefer Florida. Each quote travel distance as their primary objection to entering the event. If the event went to Houston nobody has an advantage because Houston is equidistant from all points across Canada. I guess I’m saying “If the site isn’t perfect for everyone or even anyone for that matter…..compromise”!
Thanks Mike. Get West Jet to sponsor the event and play it wherever they want, is one solution. The National would be good too.