With nearly a year to go until the PGA of America's PGA Championship returns to Pittsford, the town is already making preparations to host one of the world’s largest sporting events.
From Aug. 5 to 11, 2013, Oak Hill Country Club will host the PGA Championship for the third time — a distinction that only five other clubs in the United States can claim. Oak Hill has also hosted the PGA of America's Ryder Cup, The Senior PGA Championship and the Grand Slam of Golf.
When considering a location for the PGA Championship, Ryan Cannon, director of the 2013 PGA Championship, said the decision begins with the golf course.
“It’s hard to articulate what 100 years of history and tradition means,” said Cannon, of Oak Hill. “ ... The golf course has stood the test of time against the greatest players of all time. It’s just an amazing golf course.”
Beyond the course, Cannon, a Pittsford resident since 2011, said one of the key factors he considers is the relationship with the local government and the community. Planning involves numerous groups, including club officials, the town and local law enforcement, and Cannon is responsible for organizing everything from marketing and media and government relations to volunteer recruitment and traffic plans.
And Pittsford, he said, has a proven history of being able to support and manage a major golf tournament.
“Within government relations, we’re very, very involved with the town of Pittsford,” Cannon said. “It plays a big role in making it a success. ... Having that perspective and the experience of having gone through it is invaluable.”
Pittsford Supervisor Bill Carpenter said the town has the experience to pull off a successful tournament while having little impact on the day-to-day operations of the town.
“It’s easy because we’ve been through this,” he said. “We have great confidence in just how smoothly this will work. This is part of our responsibility for being the host community.”
The tournament, he said, will be an economic boon, not only for the town of Pittsford, but for the entire Rochester region.
“Tens of thousands of people are exposed to the community ... and they come back,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for exposure for us.”
As the tournament draws closer, he said, there’s a buzz in the community.
“It’s literal, the energy,” said Carpenter. “As it gets closer, it really starts to ramp up. ... You see it and feel it.”
Cannon added, “There’s always a moment for me during the week of the championship that everything we’ve been working on is tangible. All the planning and work for years finally comes to fruition. There is unique to all really good sporting events that there’s an electricity. That moment, that’s what keeps me going.”
With nearly a year to go until the PGA of America's PGA Championship returns to Pittsford, the town is already making preparations to host one of the world’s largest sporting events.
From Aug. 5 to 11, 2013, Oak Hill Country Club will host the PGA Championship for the third time — a distinction that only five other clubs in the United States can claim. Oak Hill has also hosted the PGA of America's Ryder Cup, The Senior PGA Championship and the Grand Slam of Golf.
When considering a location for the PGA Championship, Ryan Cannon, director of the 2013 PGA Championship, said the decision begins with the golf course.
“It’s hard to articulate what 100 years of history and tradition means,” said Cannon, of Oak Hill. “ ... The golf course has stood the test of time against the greatest players of all time. It’s just an amazing golf course.”
Beyond the course, Cannon, a Pittsford resident since 2011, said one of the key factors he considers is the relationship with the local government and the community. Planning involves numerous groups, including club officials, the town and local law enforcement, and Cannon is responsible for organizing everything from marketing and media and government relations to volunteer recruitment and traffic plans.
And Pittsford, he said, has a proven history of being able to support and manage a major golf tournament.
“Within government relations, we’re very, very involved with the town of Pittsford,” Cannon said. “It plays a big role in making it a success. ... Having that perspective and the experience of having gone through it is invaluable.”
Pittsford Supervisor Bill Carpenter said the town has the experience to pull off a successful tournament while having little impact on the day-to-day operations of the town.
“It’s easy because we’ve been through this,” he said. “We have great confidence in just how smoothly this will work. This is part of our responsibility for being the host community.”
The tournament, he said, will be an economic boon, not only for the town of Pittsford, but for the entire Rochester region.
“Tens of thousands of people are exposed to the community ... and they come back,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for exposure for us.”
As the tournament draws closer, he said, there’s a buzz in the community.
“It’s literal, the energy,” said Carpenter. “As it gets closer, it really starts to ramp up. ... You see it and feel it.”
Cannon added, “There’s always a moment for me during the week of the championship that everything we’ve been working on is tangible. All the planning and work for years finally comes to fruition. There is unique to all really good sporting events that there’s an electricity. That moment, that’s what keeps me going.”
