Dye’s Valley Course to Host Nationwide Tour Event

Golfers who dream of one day reaching the pinnacle of their profession on the PGA Tour and a course overshadowed by its world-famous next-door neighbor will be the main attractions at the Nationwide Tour’s newly created Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open.

The tournament will be played on the TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course sometime in October of 2010, either one or two weeks prior to the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship. The dates of the event will be finalized in the coming weeks as the PGA Tour’s little brother determines its official schedule.

Constantly mired in the shadow of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, annual host to golf’s richest event, The PLAYERS Championship, The Valley Course will finally have a chance to distinguish itself by hosting its first significant professional golf tournament since 1990.

“It’s a great opportunity for the PGA Tour to showcase the Dye’s Valley Course,” said Ponte Vedra Beach resident and PGA Tour star Jim Furyk, who was present for the announcement of the new event. “Obviously, we have the beautiful Stadium Course right behind us. The Valley Course doesn’t get enough recognition. I think it’s going to be a great way for us as a tour to showcase this golf course.”

Originally designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Week, Dye’s Valley is kinder and gentler than its well-known sibling. The course opened in 1987 and hosted the Senior PLAYERS Championship from 1988-1990. According to PGATour.com, a few changes to the course, including altering the layout from a par 72 to a par 70 for the event, are already being considered.

The Open will offer players a purse of $600,000, with $108,000 being awarded to the winning professional. Television audiences will be able to tune into four days of coverage provided by the Golf Channel.

In keeping with the PGA Tour’s tradition of charitable giving and community service, the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open will give back through a “Tickets Fore Charity” program previously used at the Nationwide Tour’s Boise Open.

Any of Florida’s First Coast’s non-profit groups are eligible to participate in the program. The model allows charities to sell tickets to the golf tournament and keep 100 percent of the revenue.

Email (will not be published)

Name

Title

Comment
 remaining characters

Post