So what do Lorena Ochoa and Inbee Park have in common? Other than, of course, the fact that they’re two of the greatest players of the LPGA’s modern era. Well, before they became who they were, or on the way to doing so, they both played on the Symetra Tour. And they’re hardly the only ones. So have Nelly Korda, Gerina Piller, Mo Martin and Madelene Sagstrom, who’ve now all made it to the top level of women’s golf. Everyone has to start somewhere. That’s what the Symetra Tour is about. It’s the proving ground, the Triple-A of the LPGA, the women’s equivalent of what is now known as the Web.com Tour on the men’s side, one step short of making it to the majors. And this year the Symetra Tour will be making its first appearance in the Philadelphia area when the inaugural Valley Forge Invitational is held at Raven’s Claw golf course in the western suburbs of Pottstown on May 24-26. Not a bad way to start the Memorial Day weekend.
“We see a lot of opportunity for the area,” said Lisa Karl, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships for Valley Forge Tourism, at the introductory media conference. “There’s the potential for up to $1 million in economic impact. So we definitely wanted to make this happen. We feel it’s the right fit.”
Montgomery County, with 53 courses, likes to think of itself as a golf destination. And Raven’s Claw is considered one of the best public facilities in the state. Soon 144 extremely talented wannabes will put it to the test. And vice versa.
“We are looking forward to finding out what these players can do here,” said course designer Ed Shearon, who’s done a whole bunch of quality work in the tri-state region and beyond. “From Day 1, we wanted to make this a players’s course. There are great shot values, and great shot balance. We want to make sure this tournament is successful. Obviously having this can only elevate the (stature/perception) of the course. We feel like it’s right up there with what you would face at many private courses. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
This is one of three new events on the 2018 Symetra schedule. It’s not easy to make something like this go from a concept to reality. And the following week, the LPGA’s annual Shop-Rite Classic will take place once again at the South Jersey shore. So consider the VFI a preview/prelude.
For those who maybe aren’t as familiar, the Symetra Tour has been in existence for nearly four decades. It’s graduates have gone on to post over 400 LPGA wins. That includes 10 majors. Not overall but just since 2013. The top 10 finishers at the end of the season will receive their LPGA cards for 2019. That’s the ultimate incentive.
You might not know who some of these female golfers are at the moment. But there’s a good chance that at least some of them will turn into household names at some point. Perhaps even soon.
“The Symetra Tour has experienced tremendous growth, with schedule increases of 50 percent and (purse) increases of over 100 percent,” said LPGA Commission Mike Whan. “The women that have (moved on) … have consistently proven they belong among the elite in the world. It is very likely you are watching the next breakout stars. (They) are the future. The Symetra Tour does an excellent job of giving the players that platform to showcase their skills, as they continue to strive for their dreams.”
You can say you saw them when. Never a bad thing. Sort of like getting in on the ground floor.
There are many ways for people to get involved in making this a week to remember. Let’s start with sponsorship. There are packages in place ranging from $50,000 to $4,000. So every budget or interest level can be accomodated, from naming rights to the Meet Your Pros party (which will be held at the ballroom at nearby SunnyBrook Ballroom) and the Pro-Am to golf carts, caddie bibs, trackerboard and leaderbord, driving range and putting green to hole signs. There is also a Junior Clinic and VIP Hospitality. It’s pretty much up to the individual or company, but getting involved is certainly a viable option for most interested parties. Even if you simply want to be part of the Pro-Am, where you could get paired with the next big thing. You never know. For more information contact Dean Schneider at dean.schneider@lpga.com.
Valley Forge is the sixth event on the schedule, which will end in early October at the Tour Championship in Daytona Beach. There are 21 stops in all, with Philadelphia being by far the largest host venue. There are tourneys in Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Daytona Beach, as well as Rochester, Albany, South Bend and French Lick, where they play a Donald Ross layout that was the site of the 1924 PGA won by Walter Hagen. But there’s little doubt that if the community gets behind this in terms of support it could be among the ones the players will be talking about most.
Emily Gimpel grew up around here, playing at Whitemarsh Valley CC. While learning to play the game at her home course, she met Shearon, and then-head pro Jim Bromley, who is now head pro at Raven’s Claw. She’s also played Raven’s Claw in the Montgomery County Amateur (she won the junior championship twice). Needless to say she can’t wait to come back home to compete.
“It means so much to me, that my friends and family are going to be able to come out and watch,” she said. “It’s definitely hard to be away from them. But it’s a sacrifice I have to make for my career. I’m chasing my lifetime dream, and I’m loving every minute of that. But it will be nice to sleep in my own bed.”
Especially if she picks up a nice payday. Or maybe even gets to hoist the trophy. Now that would be a story.
Shearon thinks the eventual champion will be someone who can think their way around the property. Yes, you have to hit shots. That goes without saying. But Raven’s Claw is a strategic examination. There are places you don’t want to be, and places you need to be to score. It’s not just hit it and hit it again. You have to have a plan.
“It’s not just the most powerful player who will win,” he stressed. “We’re very proud and honored. We tried to design it for all playing abilities. It has some great features. Plateaus, bluffs, wetlands. The best architecht is God. Just about every shot has some kind of hazard to go with it. I’m anxious to see how it stands up.”
It took a lot to even get this far. But the work has really just begun. You only get one shot to get it right. And if they do, this could become a fixture on the Symetra Tour for years to come. At least that’s the hope. And goal. And why not? Philly probably should have more events. It’s that good of a golf locale. But it takes effort, and commitments. In this case they appear to be in place, to everyone’s satisfaction.
“This has been an eye-opening experience,” said Mike Nichols, the Symetra’s Chief Business Officer. “This area is golf heaven. And we are very fortunate to be bringing one of our events here.”
Added Ed Harris, the Chief Marketing Officer of Valley Forge Tourism: “We had a mission. We knew we had great golf to promote. We just needed some good partners.”
That’s often the way it works. Maybe because of this newly-formed affiliation, Montco golf won’t be so much of a hidden gem any longer. It’s been known to happen.
“There is a natural connection between our passion and what is being done for the sport and the economy in Montgomery County,” said Raven’s Claw owner Bob Davis. “This event shows the area’s focus and commitment to the game, and especially its involvement in women’s golf.”
It’s a showcase. And in a sport that’s trying to attract newer, younger blood for the next generation, that’s a huge positive. And the female market remains largely untapped. Maybe not so much going forward. Not after these girls come in and do their thing. It could inspire some in the galleries to want to be like them. The process has to begin somewhere.
And by the way, for those of you so inclined, you will actually be able to play Raven’s Claw right up until the start of the tournament. But you might want to get your tee times early. And you can play the day after, mostly likely with the same pin positions they used in the final round. So how many times do you get to do that?
Just another reason to check it out before all those picnics or trips to the beach get going. And for all of mid-handicappers out there, we might actually learn something by watching some of the swings that will be on display.
