HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11 - Texas Women's OpenMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: MARCH 5, 2024
SUBJECT: CVB SPONSORSHIP OF TEXAS WOMEN'S OPEN FOR 2024, 2025,
2026 AT THE GRAPEVINE GOLF COURSE
RECOMMENDATION: City Council to consider the approval of a three-year Convention and
Visitors Bureau title sponsorship of the Texas Women's Open to be played
at the Grapevine Golf Course on May 28-31, 2024, and in May of 2025,
and 2026.
FUNDING SOURCE: Funds are available in the CVB budget for a total sponsorship of $225,000
at $75,000 per year.
BACKGROUND: The Texas Women's Open will be played over four weekdays right after
Memorial Day and normal play will be reduced/eliminated for the 1st three
days. The golf course will play host as the NTPGA staff will administer the
event with GGC staff assisting as needed. This event will offer our loyal
course patrons an opportunity to volunteer and/or watch some of the best
female golfers play our home course.
The collaboration of City departments (Golf and CVB) will serve to
enhance the status in the golf world of our course and community for
years to come and will bring tax revenues to area hotels, restaurants, etc.
The Texas Women's Open was first played in 1935 and has been won by
some of the game's greatest names. The tournament features some of the
best professional and amateur golfers in the country. In 2023, the Texas
Women's Open added a separate division for the Legends of the LPGA
for all three days. This attracts World Golf Hall of Famers. The 2024 Texas
Women's Open championship will have a projected purse of $150,000 in
2024.
Women's golf is gaining popularity with a 15% growth in players in the
past three years. Today, there are more than 6.4 million women golfers in
the US according to the National Golf Foundation.
The Texas Women's Open is a 54-hole individual stroke play event for 120
players with a cut to the lowest 50 scores and ties after 36-holes. A high
quality pro -am will be conducted on Tuesday preceding the Championship
for sponsors, Grapevine Convention Hotel group clients and meeting
planners. City Officials, invited dignitaries, and media will also participate.
The Women's Open will provide a great opportunity to showcase
Grapevine's Hospitality Destination Partners around the state and
nationally.
Hosting the Texas Women's Open brings credibility to the Grapevine Golf
Course and showcases the destination. It also provides the CVB sales
team the opportunity to engage women meeting planners who have an
interest in golf.
There has been wide -spread media coverage of the Texas Women's
Open in past years to include the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star
Telegram, Houston Chronicle, Austin American Statesman, Golf Digest,
Golf Magazine, and several local television and radio stations. The media
value alone for hosting the event more than exceeds the investment.
CVB and Golf Director recommend approval