Sr. PGA Championship One Last Time in Benton Harbor
Two Michiganders are in the field
By Tom Lang
The Senior PGA Championship is the oldest senior major in the historic PGA of America lineup, having played its first one in 1937 at Augusta National Golf Club.
Since that time, champions like Sam Snead, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and more have hoisted the gigantic Bourne trophy – like Steve Stricker did last year after a playoff against Padraig Harrington. Both players return this month.
But if you are a Michigan golf fan who always said to yourself you needed to get over to Benton Harbor and see this major in person that has been coming to our state every other year since 2011, do it the end of this month, Thursday through Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. At least for the near future, it’s the last time the event is planned to be held in Southwest Michigan. This is the sixth time the tournament will have been played in Benton Harbor at the wonderful Harbor Shores.
Two Michiganders – MSU assistant golf coach Chad Kurmel, and Scott Hebert of Traverse City – qualified for the field as two of 35 PGA club pro members.
“We really pride ourselves in that this isn’t just about golf – there’s something for everyone,” tournament director Brandon Haney told me. “But you get a deep dive here into great golf. If you look at last year’s championship, the Sunday leaderboard was Stuart Cink, Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker. Steve ultimately defeated Padraig in a playoff, which is fantastic when you want to watch good golf.”
Haney added that all four days of the tournament there will be local food trucks and wine and brewery options that highlight the Southwest Michigan region at the popular Makers Trail 19th Hole Pavilion, plus KitchenAid product demonstrations. A concert is planned for Wednesday evening, May 22 featuring renowned R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne, plus jazz artists Gerald Albright and Kim Scott. The concert is free and open to the public.
The Makers Trail is a very popular feature of the tournament and annually sells out, so don’t delay if you are a golf fan who would like to try the upgraded fan hospitality area. It’s a covered pavilion that has TVs to keep track of the tournament leaders across the course, but also plenty of in-person views of some key holes on the back nine. The Makers Trail is sponsored by the Southwest Michigan Tourist Council. Tickets for it and general ticket options can all be found at: www.srpgachampionship.com/tickets/
Youth ages 15 and under get free grounds access with a ticketed adult.
Haney agrees that the course is quite spread out, but it likewise has many great vantage points for spectator viewing, “and with the trolley system we run within the golf course, fans can get anywhere relatively easily and quickly.”
He added that there are some great ‘natural amphitheater’ locations at the 7th hole with the Lake Michigan beachfront right over your shoulder, and the 10th green where Nicklaus made that historic putt in the 2010 course opening ceremonies alongside Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson. Between holes 16 and 17 there are great views watching those two holes simultaneously.
“And being located on the shores of Lake Michigan, it’s a great place to be,” Haney said. “We’re extremely proud to say that Harbor Shores has now cracked the top 90 public golf courses in the country, which is well deserved and a wonderful Jack Nicklaus-designed signature course.”
NOTEABLE PLAYERS LIST:
Stewart Cink (first time at Harbor Shores)
Chris DiMarco
David Duval
Ernie Els
Jim Furyk
Jerry Kelly
Bernhard Langer
Tom Lehman
Rocco Mediate
Kenny Perry
Boo Weekly
