One of the first things visitors to the 107th PGA Championship might notice after they pass through one of the seven entrance gates at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the sight of the rising structures casting a shadow over portions of the closing holes.
For the second time in as many occasions that the PGA of America has brought its PGA Championship to the southeast Charlotte club, a record has been set for hospitality sales. The proof comes in the form of the double-decker hospitality structures, introduced at the PGA Championship for the first time.
As PGA Championship Director Jason Soucy points out, “almost all possible linear frontage available” on the final two holes is occupied by these immense structures – left of the par-4 18th fairway and behind the 18th green, and along the approach to and behind the par-3 17th hole. In fact, starting at the 12th hole, most of the hospitality is on the inward nine, keeping more people engaged in the key action.
Folks from the Queen City and the surrounding region and many sectors of the golf community are eager to turn out for another big golf event – the third in eight years – at Quail Hollow Club.
Granted, it’s not the only metric by which to gauge the anticipated success of the PGA Championship the week of May 12–18, but it underscores the immense undertaking in staging the year’s second major.
“It’s just an indication of how Charlotte and the business community really embrace the PGA Championship,” Soucy explains.
The total hospitality area exceeds 700,000 square feet. That easily eclipses the mark of roughly 550,000 set only a year ago at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The sales record Valhalla surpassed belonged to Quail Hollow when it hosted the 99th PGA Championship in 2017.
An estimated 40,000 fans will descend on Quail Hollow each day, and they will need transportation to the course, grandstand viewing, concessions, restroom facilities and room to move about – which the club addressed with upgrades to infrastructure to alleviate bottlenecks that formed eight years ago. Additionally, Quail Hollow is designed in such a way that fans will find convenient. “One of the great things for fans is that they are never too far from the clubhouse,” says Scott Davenport, PGA of America Head Golf Professional.
An estimated half-billion people will tune in globally on television, digital platforms and XM Sirius Radio. Domestically, the PGA Championship airs on CBS and ESPN, and just about every corner of the property will be covered by the more than 100 cameras that CBS will deploy.
“One of the challenges with a major championship is that the overall size and scope of the event is not readily apparent, maybe, even when you’re on property, until you start thinking all of the details,” Soucy explains. “Fortunately, we have great partners in Quail Hollow and a very knowledgeable and experienced Championship team.”
The leadership group at Quail Hollow is headed up by General Chair Johno Harris and Vice Chairs Geoff Gray and Walter Price. The Championship Committee includes Davenport, Club President Johnny Harris, General Manager Tom DeLozier and Quail Hollow Club Director of Green and Grounds Keith Wood.
Build-out for the Championship began Feb. 3 under the direction of Operations Manager Eric Nuxol, whose previous assignment was the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. The timeline seems tight, but the additional perimeter paved roads at Quail Hollow made the project less time consuming.
Key to operational aspects inside the ropes, in addition to Soucy and Nuxol, is David Charles, PGA of America Senior Director of Championships, while above it all and the man who has been responsible for course setups of the PGA of America’s biggest events for more than 25 years is Kerry Haigh, PGA of America Chief Championships Officer. For operations outside the field of competition, Brandon Haney, PGA Championship Operations Director, and Mike Podolinski, PGA Championship Operations Lead, are assisted by design consultant Derek Blaylock of Mesh Overlay Designs. Michael Felix is the Corporate Hospitality Sales Manager.
Volunteer Operations Manager Jacob Wilson, who heads up the PGA’s Volunteer Operations Department, coordinates a volunteer staff numbering 3,000, which includes more than 100 PGA of America Professionals. Most of those PGA Professionals will be assisting at the practice facilities.
Josh Wagaman, PGA, Head Professional at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Cougar Point Golf Course and President of the Carolinas PGA Section, is joined by Jeff Abbot, Executive Director of the Section, in operating the PGA Member area – which should be quite busy, as the Carolinas Section is the largest in the country with more than 2,200 members.
Soucy points out that the Carolinas Section is hosting its second PGA Championship in four years after the 2021 Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
“To have a host Section of our Member Professionals that have seen this in recent years I think is really helpful for us,” Soucy adds. “It allows us to have a seamless integration with our host site.”
Coordination with the city, county and state also have been seamless. That helps newly minted PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague, PGA, sleep better at night leading up to his first PGA Championship in his new role.
“We have had great cooperation from the Charlotte area and other government agencies,” he says. “It takes a lot of first responders, police agencies in security and fire, and people on standby just to make sure that we have a safe event, which is an important factor in a successful event.”
Spectators will be the beneficiaries of other initiatives, not least of which is the “plus” ticket program that was started in 2022 but has been expanded to all ticket buyers, giving them access to complimentary concessions (not including alcoholic beverages) throughout the Championship. Those tickets also afford fans free access on the Charlotte Area Transit System light rail on the dates in which that ticket is valid that goes from Sharon Road West Station to Quail Hollow Club.