Construction at Oak Hill Country Club is "moving along at a remarkably crisp pace and with less than three weeks to go before the 95th PGA Championship commences, grandstands, television towers, and gargantuan merchandise, media and corporate hospitality structures have been erected," according to Sal Maiorana of the ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE. The "most impressive facility is the PGA merchandise store located on the club’s driving range." PGA of America Championship Operations Manager Bob Jeffrey said that the design of the structure is "about a 7-8 month process from conception to build." The size of the tent is determined by ticket sales and Jeffrey said, "Obviously, ticket sales here have been great." Maiorana noted the PGA of America "came up with a footprint of 31,000 square feet." Jeffrey: "The average size for a PGA Championship is about 30,000, and it’s much larger for a Ryder Cup, so this is slightly bigger than normal for a PGA." Maiorana wrote corporate hospitality tents also are a "marvel to behold." Approximately 50 companies have purchased spaces at the new Champions Club hospitality tent "that will accommodate either 10 or 30 people." The Wanamaker Club will also "offers a sports bar-type feel." Additionally, there is the Executive Club, a two-story structure that will be "divided into 22 separate suites with room to entertain 30 guests." These spaces "sold quickly -- the original plan was for 16 suites, but six more were added -- because the location provides a panoramic view" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 7/21).
TAKE YOUR PICK: This year's PGA Championship will also provide fans the first opprtunity ever to have a direct impact on the hole location at a major championship through the newly created "PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge Hosted by Jack Nicklaus." Fans can visit PGA.com from July 23-Aug. 10 in order to vote for one of four final-round hole locations for the par-3, 181-yard 15th hole at Oak Hill. Nicklaus collaborated with PGA Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh to select the 15th hole due to the impact it will likely have on the PGA Championship's outcome (PGA of America). USA TODAY's Joe Fleming reports the PGA website will “provide video clips showing the 15th hole, with Nicklaus discussing each with the locations, what makes them interesting and how to approach them” (USA TODAY, 7/23).
