LPGA News

Earlier this week, the LPGA release this press release announcing their new alliance with opendorse.

Opendorse is a tool that helps thousands of athletes share their branded content on social media platforms. Opendorse doesn’t give much detail on their website because they want you to book a demo. However, I was able to find this “How it Works” video from a couple years ago.

Over 200 LPGA Competitors Have Access for 2018!

Opendorse has given over 200 LPGA Tour players with the ability to use their platform to share LPGA content during the golf tournament. This will allow the competitors to create new revenue opportunities and reach a larger audience on social media.

Official Statements from opendorse & the LPGA

Opendorse CEO, Blake Lawrence, stated in the press release that…

“The LPGA has long been a leader in helping their pros build brands that last beyond their days on tour. By providing players access to the content they create on the course, the LPGA allows pros to engage their fans with valuable media in a seamless social experience. This partnership is a great example of how properties and players can work together to expand their audience, maximize the value of content, and ultimately grow their game.”
Quoted from the press release

Tina Barnes-Budd, the LPGA’s Senior Director of Social Media/Marketing, was aso quoted in the press release, stating…

“Our athletes are some of the most social savvy and brand active on the planet, so tying them to the great work opendorse is doing is a natural fit. The opportunity for our athletes to be more actively engaged in social and brand conversations is something that will enhance not just their storytelling but the LPGA overall, and we are excited to get things moving.”
Quoted from the press release

Local Thoughts on this Partnership

We asked local digital marketer, Paul Gallipeau, what he thinks about the partnership. Here’s what he said…

“This is a great idea for the LPGA and its golfers. Social media can be overwhelming, especially when you have as many followers as sports stars. Anything that can make engagement with fans easier for the athletes to do, personally (rather than through automation or outsourcing) is going to make those relationships even stronger and even more valuable. Gary Vaynerchuk is a great role model to emulate when it comes to building a brand through social media.”

Once again, Rochester is a part of the 2018 Symetra Tour this year! The Symetra Tour, formerly known as LPGA Futures Tour, includes the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic here in Rochester. Our purse is $150,000 and the purses for all of the tour’s stops range from $100,000 to $225,000.

This tournament is here in Rochester, NY at the Brook Lea Country Club from July 19th through the 22nd. It’s a four day tournament, one of only four total 4 day tournaments scheduled. The full 2018 preliminary tournament schedule is available for download here (.pdf file from LPGA.com).

LPGA Rochester, NY 2018 Defending Champion

Last year’s winner was Nanna Koerstz Madsen and her scores were 66 – 67 – 67 – 66 for a total of 266. She was -22 to par and won a $22,500.00 prize!

2018 Preliminary Tournament Schedule

• March 9-11 – SGIC Kickoff Classic in Clearwater, FL at the Feather Sound Country Club – Purse: $100,000
• March 16-18 – Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, FL at the Country Club of Winter Haven – Purse: $125,000
• April 6-8 – IOA Championship Presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Beaumont, CA Morongo at the Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon – Purse: $100,000
• May 4-6 – IOA Invitational in Milton, GA at the Atlanta National Golf Club – Purse: $100,000
• May 10-13 – Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic in Greenwood, SC at the Links at Stoney Point – Purse: $200,000
• May 17-19 – Symetra Classic Locations TBA – Purse: $175,000
• May 24-26 – Valley Forge Invitational in Pottstown, PA at the Raven’s Claw Golf Club – Purse: $100,000
• June 8-10 – Four Winds Invitational in South Bend, IN at the Blackthorn Golf Club – Purse: $150,000
• June 15-17 – Decatur-Forsyth Classic in Decatur, IL at the Hickory Point Golf Course – Purse: $130,000
• June 22-24 – Island Resort Championship in Harris, MI at the Sweetgrass Golf Club – Purse: $150,000
• June 29-July 1 – Name TBA and Locations TBA – Purse: $100,000
• July 12-14 – Donald Ross Classic at French Lick Resort in French Lick, IN at the French Lick Resort – Purse: $200,000
• July 19-22 – Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in Rochester, NY at the Brook Lea Country Club – Purse: $150,000
• July 27-29 – Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY in Albany, NY at the Capital Hills at Albany – Purse: $125,000
• August 10-12 – PHC Classic in Milwaukee, WI at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course – Purse: $100,000
• August 17-19 – FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, MI at the Battle Creek Country Club Purse: $100,000
• August 30-September 2 – Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge in Sioux Falls, SD at the Willow Run Golf Club – Purse: $210,000
• September 14-16 – Name TBA and Locations TBA – Purse: $100,000
• September 21-23 – Guardian Championship in Prattville, AL at the Capitol Hill Golf Club – Purse: $100,000
• September 28-30 – IOA Golf Classic in Longwood, FL at the Alaqua Country Club – Purse: $150,000
• October 4-7 – Symetra Tour Championship in Daytona Beach, FL at the LPGA International, Jones Course – Purse: $225,000

With regard to nearly four decades, the very best women golfers in the world have came to Rochester to golf. Unfortunately, 2009 was the last year we hosted the LPGA here in Rochester, NY.

Locust Hill Region Club has hosted a great LPGA event for 37 years. It’s sad that it’s over.

Wegman’s said the LPGA was good for the city but it was not a good investment. Ladies golf failed to attract lots of advertisers to be able to support it, and not simply advertisers locally, advertisers country wide. So it was hard to make the economics work. It’s very expensive to run the tournament.

I consider the loss of the LPGA event to be a major blow towards the golfing community in not only Rochester, but the entire country. I think that it’s important to our history and it really adds something to the golf community. It was truly overlooked.

It’s ambiguous if Rochester will host a regular tour again in the future. Wegmans has been hopeful.

Sometimes when something you love disappears, you miss it and you want it back.

Losing the LPGA Championship doesn’t invariably mean pro golf is leaving Rochester behind. There likely won’t be an LPGA competition here again soon. However, if sponsors are available I wouldn’t be surprised if the LPGA comes back to Rochester again.