Principle Charity Classic leaving Glen Oaks
- Thread starter JD720
- Start date
The members at Glen Oaks just didn't want it anymore, they were tired of losing the course for two weeks in a short season anyway. I don't think DMG&CC really wants it either. I think Wakonda would like it, but there would be some serious logistical issues to work out.
No. It's a decent course but not a PGA (or SPGA course). Not to mention no parking, driving range/practice area.
Didn't it used to be at Amana? Maybe go back there?
K
KFitzy87
Guest
No lodging unless they get all the homeowner to let players stay there. Although, the 20 minutes or so from Des Moines is probably the same as every other course so maybe not. Parking might be an issue though
Des Moines Golf isn't going to happen. It would take a miracle for the membership out there to go for this. The US Senior Open was one thing but a yearly event is a completely different thing. One would think TCI would be in the running but the players favored Glen Oaks by a wide margine to TCI. If TCI gets the nod it could lead to players that regularly came to Des Moines skipping the event in the future. That can't be allowed to happen.
I like the idea of Wakonda but logistics are tough and you have to wonder if there is enough space for an event of that size.... Tents, stands, concessions, etc.... There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of available space on that course.
I like the idea of Wakonda but logistics are tough and you have to wonder if there is enough space for an event of that size.... Tents, stands, concessions, etc.... There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of available space on that course.
I think Wakonda could be pretty sweet if they closed off Park, 14th and Watrous and made a little golf village around there. They could park at Water works and bring busses down Park to the golf village. and have the grand entrance on 14th. It would definitely have more of a "Des Moines" feel at Wakonda
Logistically with parking and getting to the event and spectators, Legacy would probably be the best option, but they would have to sink a ton of money into the course and quadrouple the size of the clubhouse. Not sure thats an investment they would want to make.
Harvester and TCI are just too far from lodging, restaurants, etc to work for the players and I don't see fans wanting to make that trek.
Its gotta go to Wakonda no other courses make sense. It is one of the oldest courses in the DSM metro and has the amentities to host a venue like this. The sposnors want to keep it in Des Moines as much as possible losing it way out to the boonies will hurt attendence.
Look for them to potenitally team up with downtown for some event kickoff and the businesses near AIB for parking/shuttle services.
Attendence may drop a bit a Wakonda because it does not have as many attractions close by like a mall and stuff but it should still be a solid event.
All of this in IMO of course
Look for them to potenitally team up with downtown for some event kickoff and the businesses near AIB for parking/shuttle services.
Attendence may drop a bit a Wakonda because it does not have as many attractions close by like a mall and stuff but it should still be a solid event.
All of this in IMO of course
It was at TCI one year and was not well received. I don't see it going back there.
It could be a five minute bus ride from downtown. If they can fit them attendance will be MUCH better at Wakonda.
I hope it doesn't go back there. That course was originally built to host the event but oddly enough when you go out there it sure doesn't seem like they designed the course to be very fan friendly. Add to that the players were pretty critical of the course and that doesn't make for a very good event.
I do like this idea for a "golf village" type of a deal at Wakonda. They would definitely have to do some work on the grounds to be able to fit stands, tents, and things of that nature. Especially the 18th hole. There definitely wouldn't be enough room around the 18th green for big stands like they have set up at Glen Oaks. To host it at Wakonda Principal and the other sponsors are going to have to pour some money into that course to get it fixed up to host an event of that size. It would be fantastic if they could work that out. That course is certainly the caliber of a course that would be well received by the players.
TCI has too many lay up shots for these senior golfers to make and it does not allow them to score as well as they would like. They are older and can't bomb it like they once could. TCI you just have to take your pars and stay out of trouble. That makes it easy to sikp for the senior open guy who has already made his millions and has other life goals than golf.
Once again IMO
Once again IMO
TCI is a lousy venue for spectators and thats why it left after one year. I dont see it going back there now or in the forseeable future, besides the players didnt like the course its too darned hard to walk.....
I dont know where its going but ............... with Principal as the main sponsor you know darned well its gonna be somewhere in the DSM area.....
I hope the snobs at Glen Oaks didn't just cause the metro area to lose this event. The golfers loved the course and location. TCI is not an option - the golfers didn't like it and it isn't fan friendly. I believe it had the lowest attendance when it was out there.
What about Echo Valley? A lot of logistical issues with every place in Des Moines but it's not much further to get to Echo Valley from downtown than it is to get to Wakonda. Clubhouse would be an issue I assume but a Vale (just redone)-Ridge 18 is a nice course.
Dave Zawilinski from Channel 5 tweeted that Wakonda has already had an introductory meeting and Glen Oaks would be open to a rotation.
Hope it stays, great event.
Dave Zawilinski from Channel 5 tweeted that Wakonda has already had an introductory meeting and Glen Oaks would be open to a rotation.
Hope it stays, great event.
