By Duke Butler, tournament director of the Hotel Fitness Championship
After months of bitter cold, the Fort Wayne community is more than a little relieved that summer has finally settled in. But the arrival of summer in the Summit City doesn’t just mean the return of warm weather, it also signals the start of summertime traditions, like spending a day at the Children’s Zoo meeting your favorite animals or catching a free concert at the Foellinger Outdoor Theater.
One of the newest summertime attractions for Fort Wayne families is the Hotel Fitness Championship, a Web.com Tour Finals event that will determine the 50 players who earn cards for the 2014-15 PGA TOUR season. From Aug. 25-31, the tournament is the place to be for golfers and non-golfers alike.
With its 25th anniversary around the corner and a newly renovated course, Sycamore Hills Golf Club is eager for the year’s biggest golf tournament to be played in the Hoosier state to make its return to Fort Wayne for the second straight year. Members, spectators and players alike will marvel at the enhancements made to the Jack Nicklaus Signature course in preparation for the tournament.
Spectators will have the chance to watch 150 golfers participate in an event that is televised on the Golf Channel both nationally and internationally in more than 180 countries. Last year, more than 5.5 million viewers tuned in, and 27,000 people attended the tournament. We expect an even greater turnout this year.
Those who attend can expect to see some of the best golfers in the world competing for a $1 million purse and will watch one player walk away with a $180,000 prize. Last year, 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman became the first to win the Hotel Fitness Championship.
Without the support of Hotel Fitness CEO Bruce Dye, this event would not be possible. He has an incredible vision for Fort Wayne and has made a significant investment in the tournament, which he hopes will make a lasting impact on the community. Dye’s support was crucial to bringing the Hotel Fitness Championship to Fort Wayne, but the support of the entire local business community is what will allow the tournament to continue returning. There are a number of options for corporate participation at a variety of levels, even for small businesses:
Nicklaus Skyboxes: These fan-favorite, semi-private open-air hospitality venues on the 18th green provide guests with an up-close view of the finishing hole. Each company will have private, stadium-style seating in the skybox, with food and beverages included in the package.
Mad Anthonys Pro-Am at the Hotel Fitness Championship: Participants play with a member of the PGA TOUR or Web.com Tour on Wednesday of tournament week with proceeds benefiting the Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House and Evans Scholars Foundation. Individual and foursome options are available. Each foursome will have the opportunity to pick their professional player at a Tuesday night draw party.
Mad Anthonys Champions Club: A shared hospitality venue located inside the Sycamore Hills Clubhouse where guests will wine and dine amidst all the behind-the-scenes action. Champions Club guests also have access to upgraded pavilions on holes 9 and 16 for on-course viewing.
There are more opportunities to get up close to the action. Due to the size and popularity of this tournament, we will need 600 volunteers to serve on a variety of committees, which will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in volunteering can submit an official volunteer application by visiting www.HotelFitnessChampionship.com and clicking the “Volunteer” link.
If you would prefer to come out and watch the tournament from outside the ropes, tickets are on sale now on our website. There are daily and weekly tickets as well as options for watching the players’ practice rounds and Mad Anthonys Pro-Am, ranging in price from $10-$65. Tickets with access to upgraded pavilions provide shelter from the elements, stadium seating with a better view of the course and access to cocktails and a variety of food and beverages available for purchase for $50 (daily) or $115 (weekly).
We also offer free admission for children and military members any day of the tournament. Juniors must be accompanied by a ticketed adult, and there is a limit of two juniors per adult. Military personnel must display a valid military ID and visit the Tickets & Will Call office onsite at Sycamore Hills Golf Club.
There are so many exciting things to do in the Fort Wayne area this summer, but we hope you’ll find a way to get involved with the Hotel Fitness Championship.