Time to turn on your Midwestern charm

Sugar Grove is happy to be the host community for the Solheim Cup golf tournament this week. But it is the Chicago region that will be hosting thousands of national and international travelers who will be attending this prestigious event.

There will be people from 49 states and 11 foreign countries represented at this USA vs. Europe women's golf event. With more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend the event for the entire week and with Sugar Grove's limited commercial base to accommodate these travelers, we know that our guests will be staying throughout the Chicago area. For many, this will be their first time to this part of the United States.

We hope that everyone will show our guests the Midwestern hospitality that we are famous for. If someone asks directions and you don't recognize the accent, it could be the person asking is from another country. They will not be familiar with any roadways or landmarks. They probably even have a hard time knowing which way is north.

Please be patient with these travelers. Write directions down if you can. Give them major routes in the directions instead of local roads. From wherever you are, please know how to direct the guests west past Aurora on I-88 to Sugar Grove. The LPGA and the Illinois State Police have plenty of signs to direct them once they pass the Aurora toll plaza.

We hope this is a precursor to the 2016 Olympics. It is rumored that members of the Olympic selection committee will be in attendance at the Solheim Cup to see how Illinois handles an international event. Let us show them that Illinois and the Chicago area is ready to host the Olympics. That our Midwestern charm is more than talk, it is a reality.

Thank you for your help.

Sean Michels

Village President

Sugar Grove