How does the PGA choose courses?

[HeavyGunsGolf]

Does anyone know what the process is for how the PGA chooses sites for all of their tournaments? Do the sponsors have a lot of say? When my company is large enough to sponsor a tourney, will I get a say if I want to be involved with the PGA or a Nationwide tournament? Thanks.

[Shindig]

Does anyone know what the process is for how the PGA chooses sites for all of their tournaments? Do the sponsors have a lot of say? When my company is large enough to sponsor a tourney, will I get a say if I want to be involved with the PGA or a Nationwide tournament? Thanks.

Well, the host course is definitely part of it. For the US Open and PGA Championship, the two associated entities (USGA and PGA of America; the PGA Tour has no say in either) typically have some sort of bidding, or at least proposal. The USGA in particular tends to bundle events with private courses; you can host the U.S. Open, but we want you to host the mid-Am some other year too. For the PGA Tour, it depends on the event. Arnold and Jack's events are held at courses they designed and operate. Riviera has held the L.A. Open for quite some time, although other courses in the area (Rancho Park, TPC Valencia) have hosted them for various reasons (such as when senior majors were held there and Riviera wouldn't be able to be ready for both). In fact, it's even part of Riviera's lore. Other events are in part based on promotion; for example, the TPC courses are partnered with the PGA Tour in some fashion (I forget exactly how) and end up hosting their fair share of events to showcase the course. Resorts will try to get tournaments held at their course to promote them (how popular would Kapalua be if it weren't associated with the tournament of champions?). And there's some ego involved with country clubs getting the top players to want to play their course (especially if a monumental score gets posted, either high for a hole or low for the course. "This is where Johnny Miller took 4 to get out of a bunker!") Of course, if your company sponsors a tournament, you probably get some say in it, depending on the tournament. I'll bet Boeing's contract for their tournament requires it to remain in Washington. I suspect Transitions and Honda get some say in where their tournaments are held.

[HeavyGunsGolf]

Thank you. That is a great answer.