There are numerous reasons why the governing bodies of golf close their main championship venues years in advance. A good deal of planning is necessary to organize one of the four biggest tournaments of the year, the least important of which is to ensure that the course meets the best playing standards.
Other factors are also involved, such as securing hotel rooms, volunteers, selling hospitality and tickets. It is a multi-million dollar enterprise.
That’s why the PGA of America’s decision on Sunday night to sever ties with the Trump National Bedminster and move the 2022 PGA Championship to another location may have been suitable for the “brand”, but it comes with numerous questions.
Where to go?
Several possibilities have already been raised. Here are a few to consider.
Valhalla
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Home of the PGA Championship in 1996, 2000 and 2014, as well as the 2008 Ryder Cup, this would be the easiest call for the PGA of America, owner of the venue. This lessens the financial burden of the organization, which played a PGA championship in 2020 without spectators and had to postpone the Ryder Cup for a year.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course is already programmed to host the 2024 PGA Championship, so it may be necessary to scramble. But Valhalla would apparently be able to intervene in the short term. It also offers better weather possibilities than other New York area locations that could replace New Jersey’s Trump National Bedminster.
Southern Hills
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Home to Tiger Woods’ 13th major title at the 2007 PGA Championship, Southern Hills also had the 2001 US Open won by Retief Goosen and the 1994 PGA Championship won by Nick Price. Tommy Bolt (1958) and Hubert Green (1977) also won the US Open in Southern Hills.
The course has already been awarded the 2030 PGA Championship and is set to host this year’s Senior PGA Championship. Therefore, PGA of America has a solid working relationship with the club, which would make a quick recovery easier. What can be problematic is having the Senior PGA and PGA Championship so close. The weather, again, may be in your favor.
Bethpage Black
Farmingdale, New York
Brooks Koepka’s 2019 PGA Championship victory venue, the brutal public venue has been tested in battles, having also hosted the US Opens in 2002 and 2009. It is scheduled to host the Ryder Cup in 2025, so that could be a problem for the PGA. But if you want to keep the tournament in the New York area, Bethpage makes sense.
Baltusrol
Location: Springfield, New Jersey
For the same reasons as Bethpage, this could be an option for the PGA due to its proximity to New York. A team had already been assembled in planning the area for the 2002 PGA in Bedminster. For logistical reasons, these locations can be considered. Home to Jimmy Walker’s 2016 PGA victory, Baltusrol also won the 2029 championship.
Bellerive
Location: St. Louis
The fact that Bellerive did not qualify for a future PGA is already interesting considering the monumental success that was the PGA 2018 won by Brooks Koepka. Golf fans from St. Louis arrived in full swing and would be happy to return.
Shoal Creek
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
The place that made all golf clubs require racially diverse clubs (the PGA was played there in 1990) to be popular again. It was the location of the US Women’s Open 2018. And it could reach the rotation of the PGA Championship, if not in 2022, then if there is any kind of change from other locations.
TPC Harding Park
Location: San Francisco
That would be makeup for the people of Northern California, who did not have the opportunity to participate in the 2020 championship due to the pandemic. It seems unlikely, but Harding Park no longer has a Presidents Cup in its future, nor a PGA Tour event. It may also be worth shuffling for rotation if other courses are rescheduled.