There are a myriad of reasons why golf’s governing bodies lock up in their most important championship venues years in advance. It takes a lot of planning to organize one of the four biggest tournaments of the year, and not the least, is to make sure the track is according to the best playing standards.
Other factors are also involved, such as securing hotel rooms, volunteers, selling hospitality and tickets. It’s a million dollar effort.
That’s why the decision of the PGA of America on Sunday night to sever ties with Trump National Bedminster and move the 2022 PGA Championship to another venue would have been the right one for the ‘brand’, but it has many questions.
Where to go?
Several possibilities have already been raised. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Valhalla
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Home to the PGA Championship in 1996, 2000 and 2014 as well as the 2008 Ryder Cup, this is the easiest call for the PGA of America, which owns the venue. This reduces the financial burden for the organization, which played a spectator-free PGA Championship in 2020 and had to postpone the revenue-heavy Ryder Cup by a year.
The track was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is already planned to host the P24 Championship in 2024, so it will be necessary to swing. But Valhalla would apparently be able to intervene at short notice. It also offers better weather capabilities than other sites in the New York area that could replace the Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey.
Southern Hills
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
In place of Tiger Woods’ 13th major title at the 2007 PGA Championship, Southern Hills also won the 2001 U.S. Open by Retief Goosen and the 1994 PGA Championship by Nick Price. Tommy Bolt (1958) and Hubert Green (1977) also won the US Open in Southern Hills.
The track has already been awarded the PGA Championship in 2030 and will host the Senior PGA Championship this year. The PGA of America therefore has a good working relationship with the club, which will facilitate a quick turnaround. What can be a problem is having the Senior PGA and PGA Championships so close. Again may be in his favor again.
Bethpage Black
Farmingdale, New York
The venue where Brooks won Koepka’s PGA Championship in 2019, the cruel public venue, is being tested and also hosted the US Open in 2002 and 2009. It is planned to host the Ryder Cup in 2025, so that could be a problem for the PGA. But if it’s going to be holding the tournament in the New York area, Bethpage makes sense.
Baltusrol
Location: Springfield, New Jersey
For the same reasons as Bethpage, it could be an option for the PGA because of its proximity to New York. A staff has already been put together for the planning of the PGA in 2002 in Bedminster. For logistical reasons, these venues may be considered. In place of Jimmy Walker’s PGA victory in 2016, Baltusrol was also crowned the 2029 Championship.
Bellerive
Location: St. Louis
The fact that Bellerive has not yet been drafted for a future PGA is interesting, considering the monumental success the PGA was in 2018 that Brooks Koepka won. The St. Louis golf fans have been in full swing and would love to return.
Shoal creek
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
The venue that caused all the golf to require tournament-hosted clubs to have racial diversity (the PGA was played there in 1990) came back in favor. This was the site of the 2018 US Women’s Open. And it could turn into the PGA Championship, if not in 2022, if there is some sort of shuffle from other places.
TPC Harding Park
Location: San Francisco
It would be a makeover for Northern California residents, who were denied an opportunity to attend the 2020 championships due to the pandemic. This seems unlikely, but Harding Park will no longer have a President’s Cup or a PGA Tournament in the future. It may also be worthwhile to move into the rotation if other courses are rescheduled.