Care & Feeding
In 2005, the first year of the tournament (then known as the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic), David Eger had edged Tom Kite to win the title. Standing on the 18th green during a lull in the ceremonies, Eger made a quick call to the nearby Salish Lodge.
“He called to ask me if we could extend his stay,’’ general manager Carl Meyer says. “He wanted to celebrate here.”
Of course, he was accommodated, treated like the champion he was. What everyone in the area understands, from hotel proprietors to restaurant mangers to bagel barn and coffee shack owners, is that these guys are the tournament’s resources. They create the interest and, subsequently, generate the crowd and cash flows.
“The first year they didn’t know about this place and their response was overwhelming,” Meyer says. “They really enjoy our location, five minutes away from the course. It became more than just a place to stay, but for the family to enjoy while golfing. My take is, they think this is very unique.”
Each year, 20 to 25 players stay at Salish, which also features an elegant spa to help erase the pain of a double bogey. Most of the field stays at the Westin Bellevue, the official team hotel. That doesn’t have the proximity advantage, but provides much more in terms of shopping and an array of restaurants and activities, along with a private hospitality suite for the golfers and their families to relax.
“It’s fantastic. There’s a lot of nice energy around the hotel that weekend,” Westin General Manager Matt Van Der Teet says. “It’s a real pleasure to work with them. It’s a nice partnership. It makes sense for everyone.”
The golfers are accommodated, even before they arrive. Tournament officials arrange a charter flight Sunday night from the Jeld-Wen Tradition in Sunriver, Ore., to Seattle.
“We set it up, with help from Boeing,” Nelson says. “We anticipate 50 to 60 players will use it.”
Players are obliged to pay their share of the cost, but typically that share is donated to the tournament charity. The charter works to the tournament’s benefit — it’s easier for players to commit if their transportation is facilitated.
The Seahawks also host a reception for the golfers, their families, amateur players and sponsors at Qwest Field on the Tuesday before the tournament.
All the players and other dignitaries are also provided with new Cadillacs — 100 in all — for their use all week. They have designated parking spots near the clubhouse.
Also, unlike regular PGA Tour events, golf carts can be used, if necessary. Since the course is hilly and spread out from greens to tees, carts shuffle golfers between some holes.
“Coming to Seattle in August is desirable,” Nelson adds. “There’s no better place in the country that time of year. The majority of the players live in Southern climates — Orlando, Houston, Hilton Head, Scottsdale — where it’s over 100. They like the course. It’s beautiful to play.
“And they like to be appreciated by a good crowd. This area supports the event wonderfully.”
Setting It Up
One of the most successful promotions in the history of the PGA has been its “These Guys Are Good’’ commercials. They show amazing shot-making by prominent players, followed by that slogan at the end.
However, when “these guys” reach 50, they don’t suddenly turn lousy. They’re still quite good and, in fact, some continue to be competitive on both the Champions and regular PGA Tour. So PGA officials don’t cut them much slack on the 7,264-yard Snoqualmie Ridge layout.
“The setup is very similar to the regular Tour,” says Mike Stevens, newly named President of the Champions Tour. “The speed of the greens is close to the Tour. The fairways are hard and fast. The first cut of the rough is about the same. The second cut is two-to-three inches. But at the PGA events the final cut is about 5-to-6 inches. We stay away from that length.”
Authority over the course setup rests with the PGA. A Tour agronomist visits the course a couple times before the tournament to talk about watering, when and what to fertilize, what to kill and what to let grow. Then, two weeks in advance, a rules official comes through to set up various hazard lines and out-of-bound stakes. Yet another group determines the pin placements and tees to use.
“It’s a very detailed plan in advance, subject to change with wind and rain,” Nelson says. “The Tour calls all the shots.”
As the tournament approaches, Josh Heersink, the director of agronomy at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, will receive from the PGA a detailed plan on mowing, length of roughs and how many times they should roll the greens. Also, there always is a significant cutback in watering, to make sure the fairways and greens remain hard and fast.
One hole setup that knowledgeable tournament patrons anticipate is the par-4, No. 14 hole. Officials like the risk-reward element, so the tee might be in the 275- to 285-yard range. That’s enough to tempt perhaps one in three golfers to try to clear a yawning canyon and land on a relatively small green for an eagle try.
“Tom Kite said it was the most exciting hole on the Champions Tour,” Nelson says. “I’m always pleased and surprised when a player elects to go for the green. The Tour has been cooperative in setting it up, to make going for it possible.”
Boeing Classic officials, recognizing the drama of the hole, have erected grandstands above the tee with a public tally board to record those who accept the green gamble. There is a rowdy nature to those fans, who cheer those who go for it and chastise those who don’t.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange took offense to a pair of hecklers last year, who got on him for laying up short and to the right of the hole.
“If you’re a couple shots back on Sunday, you’re likely to go for it,” Nelson says. “It offers a tremendous variety of ways to play it, depending on certain factors. We knew the hole had potential to be exciting.”
Another exciting hole is the all-uphill par-5, 498-yard No. 18, voted the most scenic closing hole on the Tour. The half-circle grandstand amphitheater enhances the drama. Most of the golfers can reach the bunker-protected green in two, so tee and pin placements are critical.