PGA Burning Money

[Steve_Roths]

I am not a club pro nor do I make my living from anything golf related, but I have to ask those that do: why is the PGA spending so much money for the Ryder Cup team?

They spent $250k to charter a 747 to take them to a practice round.  They also chartered a 757 at around $175k (roundtrip) to fly a group of mostly multi-millionaires to the actual event.  These guys all have flex-jet or net-jet deals that could have taken them across in G400's or G550's without the PGA digging into their pocket.  

I have read Jackie Burke's book about the PGA spending $60mm to make $80mm off the Ryder Cup, but couldn't they stage this event for $5mm if they really tried or if they didn't have money to burn???

The reason I brought up the fact that I don't make my living off the game is .. aren't PGA Members outraged that they are using their retirement money or their health benefits cash or even money to grow the game to pamper people who in now way need it.  

It just seems like a sin to flush this money down the drain when it doesn't need to be.  To me it could be used for something better than a 3 day event every other year.  

I could be wrong.

[Phil_the_Author]

Steve,

You make a good point when you state that, "They spent $250k to charter a 747 to take them to a practice round.  They also chartered a 757 at around $175k (roundtrip) to fly a group of mostly multi-millionaires to the actual event.  These guys all have flex-jet or net-jet deals that could have taken them across in G400's or G550's without the PGA digging into their pocket."

Than again, maybe the players will take a harder stance in demanding a good deal of money in order to simply appear at the matches if the PGA of America isn't going to pay all of their expenses for representing them and in the 'manner to which they have grown ac customed.'

[Scott Stearns]

Keep in mind the players are not paid for this event (they do get a--for them--modest amt of money they can direct to a charity of their choice).  If the PGA can avoid paying the players by providing free jets, clothes, hotel rooms, etc. they should do this ALL DAY LONG.  The average purse on tour is abt $6mm and only a fraction of the talent at the Ryder Cup shows for one of these regular weekly events.  The richest purse in the US is abt $8.5 million.  The PGA can pay for a lot of tuxedos and pvt lanes before it spends that much money.

I'd dispute Jackie Burke's $60 mm figure, but in any event a lot of money is spent.  But most of that is for corp. hospitality, tents, etc.  That money all earns a return as the tents are all rented at a profit.

As for asking the pros to pay themselves, my 2 cents is that the PGA does get a lot of income from the event--the worldwide TV rights alone are worth $30mm plus.  The least they can do is pay expenses, and for these guys expenses aren't a Ramada Inn for the week, the way it would be fro me.

[Neal_Meagher]

Actually, as I understand it, the charter from Akron to Dublin for the practice round was from Eos Airlines which only flies 757-200's in an all first class configuration.

The flight a couple of days ago for the event itself was from Washington Dulles to Dublin on a Maxjet Airlines 767-200 configured in an all business class configuration.

Yet I also wondered about the costs of such charters, but such is the big business golf has become, and I'm not so sure that is a bad thing.

[RJ_Daley]

Steve, when you ask, "...aren't PGA Members outraged..."  I assume you mean working club pro members of the PGA and suspect that they are not, since it is a promotion of their game and their living.  

[Jim Nugent]

I thought the PGA makes tens of millions of dollars per RC.  The expenses are tiny compared to the profits.  

[Scott Stearns]

agree--spend 20 mm on tents, make 30mm.  spend 10mm on tents, make 5mm.

the planes,clothes are a rounding error, especially if the players ressurect a request to participate in the profits.

[jeffwarne]

Steve, since the PGA provides no health benefits or retirement benefits, we can't really complain they're spending those benefits.
The Ryder Cup is a commercial overly hyped joke but that's just my opinion.
Nicklaus had it right in '69(and took a little heat) and the whole thing is now so out of hand and played at such whored out venues, it's hard to watch.

[Chris Kane]

If I were on the Ryder Cup team, I'd be pretty pissed off that I'm working for nothing this week, while the PGA is laughing all the way to the bank.  To charter jets for the team is the least the PGA can do.

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