The events around the Senior PGA tournament tee’d off in Benton Harbor on Tuesday.
The tournament is scheduled to be played at Harbor Shores every other year from 2012 to 2024. The 2016 tournament is credited by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation with bringing 14 million dollars of impact to the state.
For fans like Roy Davis of Coloma it’s about seeing the sport and players he loves compete right near home.
“I like the fact that we get to see these guys that we’ve grown up with, come out here and you stand, I mean you’re standing next to, when we first came here we were standing next to Tom Watson and watching him tee off. I mean, if you love the game, love the sport, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Davis is also volunteering as a course marshall but Tuesday he was standing off the green at the first hole getting autographs as the pros came through for the pro-am rounds.
Besides the golf there are cooking and product demos by title sponsor KitchenAid, concerts, a kids space and tastings from local wineries and breweries.
Competitive rounds start on Thursday. 156 players will be whittled down to 70 for the final rounds this weekend. The purse is 3.25 million dollars. The winner takes home 585 thousand.