We thought Danville had it all: a lovely natural setting, fabulous schools, five-star dining, superior shopping and a feeling of community. And now, we have our own major sporting event. Not many cities in Northern California, hey, not many in the world, can claim the honor of hosting a world-class competition right in their own back yard.
In case you haven’t heard, the ladies of the LPGA Tour are coming to town, and they are ready to play some golf. The Ladies Professional Golf Association tours all year at courses throughout the United States and internationally, including South Africa, France, England, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.
Now Danville is ready for them. For nearly a year, Blackhawk Country Club’s general manager, Larry Marx, and director of golf Mark Caufield have been primping and priming all 18 holes of the private club’s Lakeside Course, ensuring that the always-pristine fairways and greens stay pro-tour pure for the 140 or so players of the Longs Drugs Challenge.
“We were given the LPGA guidelines a year in advance,” explained Marx. “We’ve been moving that way for many months. We maintain our course pretty close to those standards year round, anyway.”
Caufield concurred, adding that the biggest concerns came during the July heat wave.
“Like all the area courses, we had a hard time keeping the course in shape when it was so hot,” he said. “But we stayed on top of it, and now we could be ready to go tomorrow.”
That’s good news because although there are only a few more days until the tournament begins its four-day run on Thursday, Sept. 21, there will be plenty of action around the country club starting Sept. 18 when the first of two pro-ams will tee off at 7:30 in the morning. Later that afternoon, 20 to 30 local LPGA members will play an 18-hole qualifying round, hoping to grab one of the spots left open to local golf professionals.
“Each Monday before a tour event, the tour holds a qualifying tournament for professional players who don’t have a permanent spot on the tour,” explained Dana Dormann, a former LPGA Tour player who spent 10 years playing – and winning – for a living.
Though Dormann retired from the tour to raise a family in Pleasanton, her love of the game keeps her involved both personally and professionally.
“I’ll be there on Monday, trying for one of those spots,” she said with a smile. “Of course, I would love to play in the event.”
Local fans would love to see Dormann paired with another Pleasanton favorite, Paula Creamer. While many of the more well-known names on tour delay committing to play until the week-prior deadline, Creamer confirmed in advance that she would be making a hometown appearance.
“We were especially excited when Paula offered to meet with the girls of local USGA-LPGA Girls Golf chapters,” said Dormann, who serves as a site director for the organization that introduces the benefits of golf to girls between the ages of 7 and 17.
“She’s planning a demonstration and some hands-on work with the girls from the Concord, Walnut Creek and Pleasanton chapters.”
Outside of special events like Creamer’s, just how likely are spectators to meet their favorite famous face while watching the tournament rounds?
“That’s one of the great things about the LPGA Tour,” said Marx. “The ladies are pretty friendly out there. Around the clubhouse area and walking from tee to green, the players are often very happy to stop and sign golf balls, hats, programs … people should definitely bring sharpies and golf balls, they’re pretty sure to get an autograph or two.”
Caufield added that the practice area is another great place to view the pros up close, perhaps taking home more from the range than just a souvenir.
“As a golfer and a teaching professional, I will tell you there is a lot to learn from watching the LPGA players,” Caufield said. “The ladies’ technique and form is better applied to the average golfer’s than the power-hitting men you see on television. These ladies hit it 270 yards, and they do it using skill and finesse; they have great, efficient swings.
“People will get a lot out of replicating the lady athletes’ moves. A LPGA Tour event is a wonderful way for an average player to see a great swing.”
There is plenty to see out on the course, too. But what is the best way to go from tee to green without missing much of the action?
Due to the challenging layout of the Lakeside Course, Marx said a spectator’s best bet is to decide on a couple of places to visit and “park yourself in a fan zone”
“There are a lot of elevation changes at the Lakeside course,” he explained. “Deciding to follow one favorite player around all 18 holes won’t work here.”
To help accommodate the crowds, grandstands have been set up at prime viewing spots.
“Visitors are welcome to bring their folding chairs and make themselves comfortable,” Marx added.
While chairs are permitted, cameras and cell phones are forbidden, as are coolers. Marx said that Blackhawk’s food and beverage staff are well prepared to ease any hunger pangs worked up by the watching and waiting crowds.
“We’ll have plenty of on-course concessions,” he assured. “From the corporate hospitality tents to the Michelob Ultra Nineteenth Hole, everything is taken care of.”
In golf-speak, the 19th hole is the establishment where bets are settled, dice are rolled and tales of golf feats past and present are told.
Bonnie Guttman, economic development coordinator for the Town of Danville, hopes more than a few of the expected 60,000 visitors will take advantage of the city’s organized effort to extend the golf experience well past the time the last scorecard is signed.
“We’ll have a Discover Danville booth set up just inside the gates of the entrance,” Guttman said. “Our volunteers will have menus for many of our downtown restaurants, and we’ll be able to make reservations for people. Many of our stores will keep longer hours to entice some late night shoppers, and on Friday and Saturday night there will be live music at two or three locations throughout the downtown.”
Guttman said it is estimated that 80 percent of the visitors arrive from the extended Bay Area.
“This is an incredible opportunity to show off what Danville has to offer. We expect that visitors will like what they find, and will want to come back.”
Of course they’ll want to come back; and so does the LPGA Tour. In fact, organizers are happy to report that the Longs Drugs Challenge is contracted to return at least two more times – through 2008.
After that, said Guttman, “We’ll have to see what happens, but we’d love to have them keep coming here.”
Enjoying the LPGA
