The quiet signs at the Marathon Classic might say “Separate, please!” this year, a reminder for fans to remain socially distanced while watching golf. Hole marshals will be around to make sure spectators don’t gather in groups of more than 10.
There are usually eight grandstands around Highland Meadows Golf Club, said longtime tournament director Judd Silverman. Those will be eliminated this year. Fans are encouraged to bring chairs. Thermal scanning will be in place for spectators, who are encouraged to wear masks.
“If they don’t bring one,” said Silverman, “we will probably give them one.”
Organizers will also increase the amount of hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations on the course.
It’s all welcome news – every last protocol – because without the fans, the Marathon Classic wouldn’t happen.
“This was a key decision to keep our business going this year,” said Silverman.
During tournament week, there are two pro-ams on Monday at Highland Meadows followed by two off-site pro-ams on Tuesday and then the normal Wednesday pro-am back at the tournament course. Add in money made from hospitality, advertising and ticket packages, and it’s quickly obvious that it takes more than LPGA players being on-site for the bottom line to make sense.
The Marathon Classic typically averages between 2,500 and 5,000 fans a day. The tournament has raised over $12 million for children’s charities since it began in 1984. This year Silverman hopes to bring in $600,000 for 25 northwest Ohio children’s charities.
On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced during a press briefing that he would allow the Memorial, a PGA Tour event at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, to be played July 16-19 with limited fans.
Silverman gave huge kudos to Memorial Tournament executive director Dan Sullivan for his leadership in this matter. Silverman worked alongside Sullivan and representatives from the Senior Players Championship in Akron and the Korn Ferry Tour’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital at the Ohio State Scarlet course in creating a joint proposal to have the state’s restrictions on spectators at outdoor sporting events lifted.
DeWine approved their activation plans, paving the way for the first professional sporting events in the U.S. to host fans since the coronavirus pandemic put the nation on hold.
Right now, the LPGA’s return in Sylvania, Ohio, is scheduled for July 23-26, but with the LPGA’s upcoming three-tournament swing in France and Scotland uncertain due to quarantine restrictions, that date could change, Silverman said. News about the Evian Championship, Aberdeen Investment Standards Ladies Scottish Open and AIG Women’s British Open is expected this week.
“I don’t think the commissioner wants us to play and then have three or four weeks off before the next tournament,” said Silverman, “that doesn’t make much sense.”
The LPGA hasn’t staged an event since the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in mid-February. A total of 11 LPGA events have been canceled with purses totaling $19.5 million.
Four LPGA events were completed before COVID-19 brought the schedule to a halt. The last domestic event was held in late January in Boca Raton, Florida.
It’s worth noting that the 2021 Solheim Cup will be staged in Toledo next year at the Inverness Club, where hopefully the grandstands that provide such an electric first-tee atmosphere will be back and rocking.
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