It's tee time
Before the first professional golfer tees off at the 2016 PGA Regions Tradition this month, the Bruno Event Team has already been hard at work for two months, with more than 25 regular staff members and 1,000 volunteers coming together to make the tournament happen.
“There’s a tremendous amount of details that spectators don’t see,” said Liz Leckemby, the Tradition tournament director at Bruno Event Team. “When it all comes together, it’s rewarding to see the result.”
The Tradition will be May 18-22 at Greystone Golf and Country Club. In a sense, hosting the Tradition at Greystone for 2016 to 2018 is like returning home, because the Tradition has replaced the Bruno Memorial Classic that Greystone hosted for 14 years. However, for the event team that makes the tournament happen, it’s more like starting from scratch.
“It is basically like building a city that you use for a week,” Leckemby said.
The Tradition is one of the largest annual events for Bruno, and Leckemby said it requires a full-time staff to run the operations. They have to provide everything from tents and grandstands to temporary kitchens and more than 100 restrooms. They also have to organize volunteers to control crowds, transport golfers and provide coffee and refreshments for other volunteers.
“Everything you see during a major golf tournament, we are responsible for bringing that in,” she said.
CHANGES TO VENUE
Greystone has also changed so much that the Bruno team couldn’t reuse much of that original planning. For instance, Leckemby said the course’s former grand entrance has been replaced by houses.
“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, it should be easy, because we have done events there for so many years,’” she said. “Logistically, everything had to change.”
The Bruno Event Team is also building on a couple of years of work from the PGA and Greystone itself. Since Greystone was announced as the 2016 Tradition host, the PGA has paid for a complete renovation of the Founders golf course.
Greystone Club President Terry Smith said the renovation included reshaping the greens and installing a new bunker system. Smith said Hole 9 is one of the more challenging segments of the Founders course, but “every hole has a different handicap.”
The country club also began a $4 million renovation project in May 2014 that includes improved restaurant and fitness facilities, as well as a new golf operations center and a child care center. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Country Club, and Smith said he hopes to tie that in to the Tradition celebration.
“We’re celebrating the fact that they’re coming home,” he said.
Leckemby said the golf course and country club will be closed to the public May 16 and 17 to finish preparations.
While the tournament is underway, Smith said club members can continue to play on the Legacy golf course, but they will not have access to the Founders course or clubhouse. He added members of the club are excited to see the Tradition return.
“They basically take over our club for a week,” Smith said. “We’re kind of blessed in that way that we have two courses.”
The Tradition opens May 18 with the Pro-Am, which includes celebrity players such as Nick Saban and Condoleezza Rice. The tournament begins May 19, and the players, who all must be older than 50 and have previously won a PGA or Champions Tour event, will play four rounds. The tournament trophy and $2.3 million purse will be presented to the winner May 22.
Smith said he’s particularly looking forward to seeing John Daly, a golfer who is known for his colorful fashion and personality. This is the first year Daly has qualified to compete in the tradition.
“[Daly] alone adds a lot of excitement, because he’s very charismatic,” Leckemby said.
The Golf Channel will have live coverage of the event Thursday-Sunday, and Leckemby said this year is the first time the SEC Network will broadcast the Pro-Am online. Other entertainment will include a trick-shot exhibition May 20 and a concert May 21.
According to the Regions Tradition website, this year’s tournament is expected to have an economic impact of more than $25 million in the Birmingham of the course of five days.
For more details or to get tickets, visit regionstradition.com.
REGIONS TRADITION: What to know before you go
► WHEN: May 18-22
► WHERE: Greystone Golf &
Country Club, 4100 Greystone Drive
► WEB: regionstradition.com
► Benefits: Children’s of Alabama
► Tickets: $20 single-day, $80 five-day, Children 18 and under free with ticketed adult. Purchase available online.
► General parking: Use the empty lot at the corner of U.S. 280 and Alabama 119. A free shuttle will transport you to the event.
► Volunteer/Sponsor/Club Member/Handicap parking: The Church at Brook Hills, 3145 Brook Highland Parkway. A free shuttle will transport you to the event. Note: This parking location will change May 22. Visit the Tradition website for updates.
► Coca-Cola Spectator Village: Located on the back half of the driving range tee. Includes tables, food trucks, merchandise and after-play concerts.
► Lost and Found: Located at the main admission gate until 5 p.m. After 5 p.m., items are stored in the tournament office.
DO’S, DON’TS AT GREYSTONE
Do
► Get players’ autographs at the practice range, the putting green or after they complete their round.
Don’t
► Request autographs during a player’s round.
Do
► Silence your cellphone.
Don’t
► Bring in outside food or beverages.
Do
► Take photos during the Pro-Am on Wednesday.
Don’t
► Take photos Thursday-Sunday. Video recording is not allowed.
Don’t
► Bring the following items:
► Cameras (Thursday-Sunday)
► Bags larger than 6 inches wide, high or deep
► Cases or covers, such as for chairs or umbrellas
► Signs, posters or banners
► Televisions or radios
► Food or beverages, except medical or infant needs
► Containers or coolers
► Pets, except service animals
► Metal-spiked golf shoes
► Noise-making devices
► Weapons
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
► NCR Pro-Am: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
THURSDAY, MAY 19
► First-round championship play:
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
► Live coverage on the Golf Channel: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 20
► Second-round championship play:
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
► Live coverage on the Golf Channel: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
► Chuck “The Hit Man” Hiter Trick Shot Show: 6 p.m., Coca-Cola Spectator Village
SATURDAY, MAY 21
► Third-round championship play:
9 a.m.–6 p.m.
► Live coverage on the Golf Channel:
4 p.m.-6 p.m.
► After-play concert: 6 p.m., Coca-Cola Spectator Village
SUNDAY, MAY 22
► Final-round championship play:
9 a.m.–6 p.m.
► Live coverage on the Golf Channel:
4-6 p.m.
► Awards ceremony: 18 green, immediately after play
*Gates open 7 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
*Gates open 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday