There are numerous reasons why the golf boards set their key championship locations years in advance. It takes a lot of planning to host one of the four biggest tournaments of the year, not the least of which is ensuring that the course meets the highest playing standards.
Other factors also play a role, such as securing hotel rooms, volunteers, hospitality sales and tickets. It is a multi-million dollar venture.
That is why the PGA of America’s decision on Sunday night to cut ties with Trump National Bedminster and move the 2022 PGA Championship to a different location may have been the right one for the “ brand, ” but comes with it with lots of questions.
Where do you need to go?
Several possibilities have already been put forward. Here are a few to consider.
Valhalla
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Home to the PGA Championship in 1996, 2000, and 2014, as well as the Ryder Cup in 2008, this would be the easiest call for the PGA of America, which owns the venue. That eases the financial burden for the organization, which played a PGA Championship without spectators in 2020 and had to postpone the turnover-heavy Ryder Cup by a year.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the track is already scheduled for the 2024 PGA Championship, so it may need some shaking. But Valhalla could seemingly intervene at short notice. It also offers better weather capabilities than other locations in the New York area that could replace Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey.
Southern hills
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
The site of Tiger Woods’ 13th major title in the 2007 PGA Championship, Southern Hills had also won the US Open in 2001 by Retief Goosen and the PGA Championship in 1994 by Nick Price. Tommy Bolt (1958) and Hubert Green (1977) also won US Opens at Southern Hills.
The track has already been awarded the 2030 PGA Championship and will host the Senior PGA Championship this year. So America’s PGA has a solid working relationship with the club, which would make a quick turnaround easier. What can be problematic is that the Senior PGA and PGA Championship are so close to each other. Again it could be in his favor.
Bethpage Black
Farmingdale, New York
The site of Brooks Koepka’s 2019 PGA Championship win, the brutal public venue, is being put to the test and has also hosted the 2002 and 2009 US Opens. The Ryder Cup is scheduled to be held in 2025, so that could be a problem for the PGA. But if they 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. Planning for the 2002 PGA in Bedminster already had a staff assembled. These locations can be considered for logistical reasons. The site of Jimmy Walker’s 2016 PGA win, Baltusrol, has also won the 2029 Championship.
Bellerive
Location: St. Louis
The fact that Bellerive has not yet been tabbed for a future PGA is interesting given the monumental success that was the 2018 PGA won by Brooks Koepka. The St. Louis golf enthusiasts got full steam ahead and would love to return.
Shoal Creek
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
The venue that required all golf clubs that hosted tournaments to have racial diversity (the PGA was played there in 1990) has come back into favor. It was the site of the 2018 US Women’s Open. And it could make its way into the PGA Championship rotation, if not 2022, then if there’s some sort of shifting from other venues.
TPC Harding Park
Location: San Francisco
This would make up for the people of Northern California, who were denied the opportunity to attend the 2020 Championship due to the pandemic. It seems unlikely, but Harding Park will no longer have a Presidents Cup, nor a PGA Tour event in the future. It may also be worth sliding into the rotation if other courses are rescheduled.