The PGA Tour knows a good thing when it sees one.
Four years ago, when the PGA Tour needed a course to fill in after rains swamped the Binghamton area during the BC Open, the Turning Stone Resort stepped in and offered its course as a temporary site.
The tournament went off without a hitch, and the PGA Tour was so impressed that it gave Turning Stone a spot on its Fall Series.
Now, Turning Stone will have a more meaningful spot on the regular tour.
Next year's Turning Stone Resort Championship will be played the week of Aug, 2-8 as part of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup season.
According to a press release sent out today, the one-year transitional event will be placed in the slot previously held by the Reno-Tahoe Open, held during the same week as the World Golf Championships- Bridgestone Invitational. The Reno-Tahoe Open will move to the same week as the British Open.
“In a very short time, the Turning Stone Resort Championship has established a strong presence on the PGA Tour and has earned the respect and appreciation of the players for being a terrific tournament venue,” said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. “This transitional move to the first week of August within the FedExCup schedule will help with the tournament’s continued growth and provide more desirable weather conditions. Moving forward, our goal is to secure an unencumbered date within the FedExCup schedule for Turning Stone.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to host a summer event as part of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup, ensuring a bright future for the Turning Stone Resort Championship in 2010 and beyond,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative and CEO of Nation Enterprises. “This is a shining example of how parties can work together to make great things happen. The Oneida Nation and Turning Stone Resort look forward to continuing our partnership with the PGA Tour, which benefits the entire Central New York region.”
During its first three years as part of the PGA Tour's Fall Series, the Turning Stone Resort Championship raised more than $1 million for charity.
The 2010 Turning Stone Resort Championship will feature 132 players and offer 250 FedExCup points to the winner. That means most of the best players in the world will be competing just a couple of hours west of the Capital Region.
Good deal. Smart move by the PGA Tour. Turning Stone is a classy place with a phenomenal set of courses. It's one of the few places in earshot of our area that could host the best players in the world.
Maybe Tiger Woods said a few good words about the place after competing in the Notah Begay III Challenge this summer. Remember, Tiger is like the old E.F. Hutton commercial. When he speaks, everyone listens!!!
