The Ryder Cup began this morning at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago, and the compeition is shaping up to be a financial bonanza for the PGA of America. The PGA says it expects 240,000 people on the course through the six days of the event – three practice rounds, and three competitive rounds, with the competition beginning this morning. The PGA doesn’t release daily attendance figures, but some vendors have been told to expect as many as 60,000 people on the course, each day, today and Saturday (Michael Smith, SportsBusiness Journal).
The PGA of America said that it set a record for a U.S.-based Ryder Cup “by selling 77 corporate ‘chalets’” near the first tee and 18th fairway. The chalets hold from 50-300 people and their rental fees range from $200,000 to more than $1M (NYTIMES.com, 9/27).
Meanwhile, Omega this morning is running full-page ads in the N.Y. Times and Wall Street Journal highlighting the watch maker’s designation as an official partner of this year's Ryder Cup. The ad features an image of the Seamaster Aqua Terra U.S. Ryder Cup Captain’s Watch (THE DAILY).
