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Steve_ Shaffer

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« Last Edit: May 04, 2018, 11:41:38 PM by Steve_ Shaffer »
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Matt Bielawa

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2015, 10:30:59 AM »
Wow, if this is not an example of the WGA pulling away from its roots, I'm not sure what is.  Per the 2013 WGA Annual Report, AGC has a grand total of one donor at its club.  I thought the BMW was supposed to go to clubs that support the WGA and the Evans Scholars program.  AGC has a nice caddy program, but didn't seem to have any connection the WGA at all.  Weird.

Assuming this is an example big money driving the ship.


http://donorsreport.wgaesf.org/donors2014#&pageSet=54

PCCraig

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2015, 10:42:40 AM »
Strange, indeed.

But I suppose if holding the event at Aronimink can build awareness of the scholarship to local residents as well as bring in significant charity dollars then it would be worth it.

I've heard rumors that the 2019 or 2020 event will be held in Minnesota...
H.P.S.

J_ Crisham

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2015, 10:51:41 AM »
Wow, if this is not an example of the WGA pulling away from its roots, I'm not sure what is.  Per the 2013 WGA Annual Report, AGC has a grand total of one donor at its club.  I thought the BMW was supposed to go to clubs that support the WGA and the Evans Scholars program.  AGC has a nice caddy program, but didn't seem to have any connection the WGA at all.  Weird.

Assuming this is an example big money driving the ship.


http://donorsreport.wgaesf.org/donors2014#&pageSet=54

Matt,   Historically the WGA has held the Western Open all across the country until 1974 where Butler became the long time host in Chicago. We are hoping to expand to 1000 Evans Scholars from our current 860- in fact The Olympic Club is hosting it's first selection meeting today. Our growth areas are Philly, MET areas in addition to CA. The number of significant donors in Nj, Pa, NY, CT is large. Kansas is also a growth area.

Matt Bielawa

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2015, 10:59:58 AM »
Quote
Matt,   Historically the WGA has held the Western Open all across the country until 1974 where Butler became the long time host in Chicago. We are hoping to expand to 1000 Evans Scholars from our current 860- in fact The Olympic Club is hosting it's first selection meeting today. Our growth areas are Philly, MET areas in addition to CA. The number of significant donors in Nj, Pa, NY, CT is large. Kansas is also a growth area.

I didn't know that about the Western Open pre-1974.  Interesting.

Certainly good to hear about the growth plans of the Evans Scholars, and I'm sure this would be a good way to increase awareness in the Northeast.

Thanks for the info.
« Last Edit: February 19, 2015, 11:04:38 AM by Matt Bielawa »

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2015, 11:03:25 AM »
The BMW Championship, formerly known as the Western Open, is the second-oldest event on the PGA Tour. The tournament is held in the Chicago area in odd-numbered years. It will be held this year at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill., and in 2016 at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/golf/20150219_PGA_asks_Aronimink_to_host_the_2018_BMW_Championship.html#MlLvXvAmOoGry6if.99

Philly has the Platt Caddie Scholarship Fund

http://gapgolf.org/jwphome.asp
Platt raised more than $1.5 million in 2014
« Last Edit: February 19, 2015, 11:15:02 AM by Steve_ Shaffer »
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Chris Roselle

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2015, 11:19:08 AM »
And there is more to this than just the event coming to Philadelphia...stay tuned

Ed Brzezowski

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2015, 11:51:37 AM »
You folks should look at The J. Wood Platt caddie scholarship web page.  Chris is correct, good things happening in our little town.
Now can anyone please help the Fightin Phils?
We have a pool and a pond, the pond would be good for you.

BHoover

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2015, 12:14:20 PM »
And there is more to this than just the event coming to Philadelphia...stay tuned

My guess would be a PGA coming to Aronimink and/or a US Open returning to Merion? Hopefully both, but I'd particularly like to see the PGA at Aronimink.

Ryan Hillenbrand

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2015, 12:17:07 PM »
Good for east coast caddie programs, bad for the Midwest exposure to frequent PGA visits.

The BMW was originally floated as every other year in Chicago, and then St. Louis (Bellerive), Indianapolis (Crooked Stick) and Minneapolis (Hazeltine) on the others.

Here in Missouri our closest stop to see the big boys play is the John Deere Classic. Pitiful. Not faulting the tour, faulting our region for not putting together a feasible annual stop.

Tim_Cronin

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2015, 02:02:58 PM »
My quick take on this: http://www.illinoisgolfer.net/blog/2015/2/19/2018-bmw-to-philadephias-aronimink.html

BMW likes to sell cars in large markets, and with the PGA Tour not stopping there regularly, this is a fit.

Additionally, this is the first time the Western / BMW, anchored in Chicago from 1962-2007, has been taken east of the Buffalo/Pittsburgh line. It was suspected one edition was to be played in San Francisco until the PGA Tour reworked its deal. Will the WGA, which traditionally puts 100 percent of the proceeds in the Evans Scholar coffer, donate to the Platt fund? Take it over?

Meanwhile, does this help Aronimink in the quest for another PGA? As Chris said, stay tuned.
The website: www.illinoisgolfer.net
On Twitter: @illinoisgolfer

Paul OConnor

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2015, 06:38:14 PM »
A sad day for the Western Open and the WGA.  The ongoing corporate sellout is now complete. 

2017 tournament in Munich?

JESII

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2015, 09:17:49 PM »

Will the WGA, which traditionally puts 100 percent of the proceeds in the Evans Scholar coffer, donate to the Platt fund? Take it over?

Meanwhile, does this help Aronimink in the quest for another PGA? As Chris said, stay tuned.


I'd think it helps Aronimink get a major for sure...what doesn't make sense to me is the Evans/Platt overlap. Can a joint entity be more efficient?

Terry Lavin

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2015, 10:50:49 AM »
Bottom line, the bottom line is important because all net proceeds go to the Evans Scholarship Fund.  The periodic moving of the BMW Championship has been a win/win for the ESF.  The scholarship gets publicized in different areas where the organization is trying to make inroads.  And the novelty of having a pro tour event at a club or in a given city creates a different buzz and more revenue than we've been getting in Chicago.  This is especially true given that the week that we now get is in September, as opposed to July.  It's harder to draw big crowds year after year to watch golf in Chicago in September.  We have nearly 1000 caddies in college right now on full ride scholarships.  We just had our 10,000th Evans Scholar.  We now have a relationship with Notre Dame.  We are working on expanding to the East Coast.  It's all good news at the WGA/ESF.

Paul O'Connor can chime in with more uninformed whining if he wants, but this is a good business decision that helps create more scholarships.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.  H.L. Mencken

Paul OConnor

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2015, 12:14:48 PM »
In 2007 there were 836 Active Evans Scholars.
In 2015 there are 870 Active Evans Scholars.


Some things have grown tremendously during the BMW era, the number of scholarships is not one of them.

Terry Lavin

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2015, 12:22:48 PM »
In 2007 there were 836 Active Evans Scholars.
In 2015 there are 870 Active Evans Scholars.


Some things have grown tremendously during the BMW era, the number of scholarships is not one of them.

Wow, what a sleuth!
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.  H.L. Mencken

SL_Solow

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2015, 03:31:45 PM »
Paul,

Care to surmise the cost of a scholarship during those times?  Costs of maintaining the Evans Houses?  Number of applicants?  Number of dollars raised from individual donors as opposed to dollars raised from other sources including the tournament?  But since the Evans Scholar Foundation is very transparent I am sure you can find out.  I am equally sure you are not implying that it is raising funds just for the sake of raising funds as the history of the organization would prevent anyone from agreeing.  As a Chicago native, I miss the days when we had a tourney every year and I suspect the Tour could find a way even given the playoff system.  But given the Evans' educational and societal mission, I cannot fault the trustees for placing the interests of the charity first.  Indeed, they have a fiduciary duty to do so.

JR Potts

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #17 on: February 20, 2015, 03:36:31 PM »
In 2007 there were 836 Active Evans Scholars.
In 2015 there are 870 Active Evans Scholars.


Some things have grown tremendously during the BMW era, the number of scholarships is not one of them.

Yep, unfortunately college costs have outpaced most all growth...except maybe Uber and Facebook.

Paul OConnor

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #18 on: February 20, 2015, 04:10:50 PM »
Paul,

Care to surmise the cost of a scholarship during those times?  Costs of maintaining the Evans Houses?  Number of applicants?  Number of dollars raised from individual donors as opposed to dollars raised from other sources including the tournament?  But since the Evans Scholar Foundation is very transparent I am sure you can find out.  I am equally sure you are not implying that it is raising funds just for the sake of raising funds as the history of the organization would prevent anyone from agreeing.  As a Chicago native, I miss the days when we had a tourney every year and I suspect the Tour could find a way even given the playoff system.  But given the Evans' educational and societal mission, I cannot fault the trustees for placing the interests of the charity first.  Indeed, they have a fiduciary duty to do so.

Shelly,

As you say, the WGA is very transparent, the amount spent on scholarships in 2007 is nearly identical to the amount spent in 2013.

When the Western Open gave up the 4th of July spot to join the playoffs with FedEX and BMW for mid-September, they knew the crowds could never rival the hordes at Cog Hill or Butler National.   What was once a summertime event for the entire Chicago golf community became more of a corporate event.  So they made the choice.

Now the Greenbriar Classic has that week.



SL_Solow

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #19 on: February 20, 2015, 04:22:42 PM »
Paul;  I understand your argument better now.  The WGA had the ability to dictate to the PGA tour that it would retain July 4 dates in Chicago.  When the Tour decided to change its format and create the playoffs, the WGA could have said we don't want a playoff spot and we don't want you to move our date and the Tour would have been obliged to say yes?  Or are you suggesting that they just guessed wrong, thought they would make more money and are now trying to make excuses for an error in judgment?  Alternatively, is it something more nefarious?  Are you just disappointed that we don't have the July 4 tourney anymore?  (so am I).  How does the revolt of the tour players led by Phil against the changes to Cog Hill play into the loss of the cash cow at that venue?  No other venue in Chicago could hold the big crowds and/or would be willing to host every year.  Just curious as to your ultimate point.  I don't have a dog in this fight other than my admiration for the folks who give their time to serve as Evans Board members.
« Last Edit: February 20, 2015, 05:27:16 PM by SL_Solow »

Tim_Cronin

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #20 on: February 20, 2015, 07:50:13 PM »
I've written this in various outlets before, but the negotiation went like this: The WGA was losing Cialis as a sponsor and the PGA Tour was starting the playoff system. The Tour went to the WGA and said, "Take BMW and move to September, and play out of Chicago where they want to sell cars every other year, or you get a date in October."

Had the WGA had a sponsor ready to replace Cialis, it likely would still have the Fourth of July weekend date, even though that wasn't great for corporate sponsors. And whether Phil Mickelson or Steve Stricker like it or not, it would probably still be at Cog Hill, where the Jemseks charged free rent. Free.

With Chicagoans not inclined to go to golf tournaments in September, at least after the Western Open was renamed and reformatted, going out of town was a boost. Playing at Bellerive in 2008 and raising $3.2 million was an eye-opener to the WGA on a level with the USGA realizing how much money the U.S. Open could earn when they ran everything at Shinnecock Hills in 1986. So even-numbered years are played out of Chicago and odd-numbered years are played on the north shore, where people actually drive BMWs and sometimes trade them in for other BMWs.

Cog Hill is out of the headlines, which is bad for the Jemseks from a PR standpoint, but people still tee it up there. And otherwise, things are working out. You can't knock the success financially, artistically or otherwise from trips to Crooked Stick and Cherry Hills the last few years. I could fall out of bed and be on the first tee at Cog, but I've had worse experiences in golf than standing on the first tee at Cherry Hills with the Arnold Palmer plaque and the Front Range in my view.
The website: www.illinoisgolfer.net
On Twitter: @illinoisgolfer

Steve_ Shaffer

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #21 on: February 20, 2015, 08:02:04 PM »
There is now a Platt-Evans Scholarship Foundation.

http://gapgolf.org/detail2.asp?id=73&sec=

A portent of things to come?

"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Tim_Cronin

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #22 on: February 20, 2015, 08:49:15 PM »
There is now a Platt-Evans Scholarship Foundation.

http://gapgolf.org/detail2.asp?id=73&sec=

A portent of things to come?

That's how the WGA expanded its scholarship program from the Chicago area an area spanning Ohio to the Pacific NW in the 1950s, by hooking up with regional golf associations for greater reach. Smart to do so again.
The website: www.illinoisgolfer.net
On Twitter: @illinoisgolfer

Kris Shreiner

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #23 on: February 20, 2015, 10:13:25 PM »
I'll chime here gently, as there may be even more POSITIVE news than I imagine.
The Evans and Platt connection has been a rather recent development. Within the last 2-3 years I believe. The premise is good, though Evans has far more financial muscle due to a number of factors. While nostalgia and historical context would leave some a bit chagrined at the event leaving traditional turf, Aronimink is a great supporter of caddie golf in the Philly region. It also has a brawny layout that the pros love, thanks to the superb work done there by golf course architect Ron Prichard. Add in an enthusiastic membership, great management by GM Dick Naumann and proven championship level presentation by seasoned Superintendent John Gosselin and his able team =  A  WINNER. all the way around!

Great news for Philly Golf and if they leverage the opportunity properly...caddie golf could get a solid boost as well.

Cheers,
Kris  8)
« Last Edit: February 20, 2015, 10:20:35 PM by Kris Shreiner »
"I said in a talk at the Dunhill Tournament in St. Andrews a few years back that I thought any of the caddies I'd had that week would probably make a good golf course architect. We all want to ask golfers of all abilities to get more out of their games -caddies do that for a living." T.Doak

Mike_Trenham

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Re: Aronimink to host 2018 BMW FedEx Cup Playoff
« Reply #24 on: February 20, 2015, 11:09:39 PM »
Wow, if this is not an example of the WGA pulling away from its roots, I'm not sure what is.  Per the 2013 WGA Annual Report, AGC has a grand total of one donor at its club.  I thought the BMW was supposed to go to clubs that support the WGA and the Evans Scholars program.  AGC has a nice caddy program, but didn't seem to have any connection the WGA at all.  Weird.

Assuming this is an example big money driving the ship.


http://donorsreport.wgaesf.org/donors2014#&pageSet=54


One Aronimink Member is a Match Play Level Contributor.  He is an Evans Scholar.  He is listed under his other (primary longer time) club. 

J Wood Platt is helpful Evans Scholarships are transformative.
Proud member of a Doak 3.

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