The 2015 PGA Championship is still a year away, but corporate interest has already surpassed expectations. Host Kohler Co. recently added more corporate hospitality chalets to meet strong and continuing demand from local, national and even international companies.
The championship week runs from August 10 to 16, 2015, at the company’s Whistling Straits course, along Lake Michigan north of Sheboygan. It is expected to draw up to 250,000 spectators to the area and result in a significant economic impact on the region, including Milwaukee.
“We’ve seen actually a great response from the Wisconsin business community,” said Jason Mengel, 2015 PGA Championship director. “We’ve seen some wonderful support from the Milwaukee area, but also from Appleton, Green Bay and Madison.”
So far, more than 70 companies have made corporate hospitality commitments for the event. Here’s how your company can get in on the action:
The PGA and Kohler are currently in ticket pre-registration mode. Those who wish to purchase tickets for the tournament must register by August 10.
Several ticket packages are available, including:
- Daily grounds tickets – Practice round tickets for $30-$40 and Championship round tickets for $90-$95, available for each individual day of the event.
- Weeklong grounds tickets – Seven days of access to the Championship grounds for $295.
- Wanamaker Club tickets – Weeklong access to the grounds and the Wanamaker Club, a sports bar-themed pavilion with air conditioning, HDTV coverage, private restrooms and upscale food and beverage options for $475.
- The “Ultimate Foursome” Package – Four Wanamaker Club tickets for the week and the option to purchase four weeklong tickets for the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, for $1,900.
“We do expect the most in demand days, the tickets to go fast,” Mengel said. “It depends on the ticket type and day.”
The Champions Club is on hole number one, at the start of the action. A package includes a 10-person table in the Champions Club, 10 Wanamaker Club tickets for Monday to Wednesday and 10 hospitality tickets with access to the grounds and hospitality, including food and beverage, for Thursday to Sunday. Another two daily hospitality tickets are available for purchase for Thursday to Sunday.
At $35,000, the option also includes four preferred parking passes for the week, and one guest is invited to play in the Corporate Cup Golf Outing at Whistling Straits in spring 2015. The package also includes programs and pairing sheets, e-stationary and e-invitations, and the option to purchase dual-logo merchandise and official stationary and invitations.
This $99,000 package, set on hole number 16, is a hybrid between a chalet and a Champions Club table, Mengel said.
“The Serazen suite, it gives you the opportunity to have your own space, however it is a little more turnkey as far as your execution,” he said.
The suites include 30 tickets to the Wanamaker Club for Monday to Wednesday and 30 hospitality tickets with access to grounds and hospitality, including food and beverage, for Thursday to Sunday. Another four daily hospitality tickets are available for purchase for Thursday to Sunday.
The package includes 12 preferred parking spots for Monday through Sunday, official Championship programs and pairing sheets, and two spots in the Corporate Cup Golf Outing. E-stationary and e-invitations are also included, and companies have the option to include dual-logo merchandise and official print stationary and invitations.
The private chalets, located on the 9th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes, can host up to 100 employees or clients. Additional chalets have recently been added on the 15th hole, since the others are sold out already.
“The 2015 PGA Championship marks the first time we are offering hospitality options on the course at Whistling Straits, which has created a lot of excitement,” said Jonathan Risseeuw, Championship corporate hospitality sales manager. “The new 15th hole village is a perfect complement to our initial locations, and offers the same unique proximities to both Championship golf and Lake Michigan, truly highlighting the features of the Straits Course.”
A 50-person chalet goes for $165,000. It also includes 50 Wanamaker Club tickets for Monday through Wednesday and 50 hospitality tickets with access to the grounds and hospitality, including food and beverage, for Thursday to Sunday. Another 10 daily hospitality tickets are available for purchase for Thursday through Sunday. And 20 preferred parking passes are included for the week.
A chalet can be customized with hospitality décor and/or catering to suit the company’s use – including branding, on-course seminars and specialty foods. It is air conditioned, with furniture, carpeting, floral arrangements, flat screen TVs and other amenities chosen by the host.
“They really allow that client the flexibility to provide an experience that suits whatever their business need is,” Mengel said. “Since it is an enclosed structure, they’re welcome to brand the space.”
An on-site shuttle, official Championship programs and Championship pairing sheets are all included in the package. The company also gets the right of first refusal for chalets at the 2020 Ryder Cup, and four guests are invited to play in the Corporate Cup Golf Outing. Championship e-stationary and e-invitations are also included, and companies have the option to include dual-logo merchandise and official print stationary and invitations.
At $270,000, this option affords a private customized chalet for 100, 100 Wanamaker Club tickets for Monday through Wednesday and 100 hospitality tickets with access to grounds and hospitality, including food and beverage, for Thursday to Sunday. Another 20 daily hospitality tickets are available for purchase for Thursday to Sunday.
An on-site shuttle, official Championship programs and Championship pairing sheets are all included. Preferred parking is included for 40 vehicles for the whole week, and four guests are invited to play in the Corporate Cup Golf Outing. The company has the right of first refusal for a 2020 Ryder Cup on-course hospitality chalet. Championship e-stationary and e-invitations are also included, and companies have the option to include dual-logo merchandise and official print stationary and invitations.
