Will LPGA tournament give Lake County a tourism boost?
There are at least a couple thousand reasons why hosting a big-time international women's golf tournament is expected to pay off for Lake County.
Hotel room bookings - roughly 2,000 of them - have been directly linked to the UL International Crown, featuring the top women golfers in the world teeing it up this week at the Merit Club in Gurnee, Visit Lake County President Maureen Riedy said.
The second UL International Crown originally was scheduled for Rich Harvest Farms in far West suburban Sugar Grove, but an unspecified disagreement between the course owner and LPGA led to the prestigious tournament migrating north and landing at the ultraprivate Merit Club.
Kane County's loss could be Lake County's economic gain.
Room bookings started early this year after the Merit Club's selection for the biennial tournament became official in November, Riedy said. That means thousands of golf fans from across the U.S. and overseas will be in Lake County - in addition to the traditional summer tourism business for attractions such as Six Flags Great America - and spending money to eat, sleep, shop and have fun during the next several days.
"We assume that they'll be like any other travelers," Riedy said of the golf crowd. "They'll be doing other things while they're here, like shopping. Obviously dining, but shopping as well."
Using a calculation of two travelers per room, the Lake County tourism office places a conservative estimate of average daily visitor spending with lodging at $162.50, which includes food, beverages, entertainment, recreation, local transportation and incidentals.
Riedy said Lake County made sense for the UL International Crown, given the area's experience hosting other significant golf tournaments, such as the 2013 and 2015 BMW Championship at Conway Farms in Lake Forest and the Web.com Tour Rust-Oleum Championship in Ivanhoe in June. Still to come is the 2018 KPMG Women's PGA Golf Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer.
"It just kind of sheds a spotlight on Lake County as an attractive destination for golf tournaments," she said.
Featuring players from eight countries in a team format, the UL International Crown tournament runs from Thursday through Sunday. Associated events, such as practice rounds and a Pro-Am outing, are Tuesday and Wednesday.
Gurnee, Lincolnshire and Libertyville are in line to benefit most from the tournament. Players and LPGA officials will be headquartered at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort and the media will be at the Holiday Inn Gurnee Convention Center.
Downtown Libertyville has several dining choices on Milwaukee Avenue, a quick drive south of Merit Club, while Gurnee Mills, Great America, KeyLime Cove Water Resort and several restaurants are a short hop to the north in Gurnee.
UL International Crown tournament director Drew Blass said while there is no economic forecast, he and other LPGA employees are working closely with local officials in an effort to have the event financially contribute to the area as much as possible. In part, that's meant booking Lake County restaurants for tournament-related gatherings and golf courses for corporate outings this week.
"The great thing about Lake County is the proximity to where we are to downtown Chicago, as well as Six Flags, as well as KeyLime Cove, as well as Milwaukee," Blass said.
About 50,000 spectators attended the inaugural UL International Crown over four days in 2014 at Caves Valley Golf Club in suburban Baltimore. Blass said organizers don't have an estimate on how many fans will be at the Merit Club, but tickets have been purchased in 30 states and four foreign countries.
Lincolnshire will be the temporary home to the world's leading golfers for the second time since September. That's when the men's BMW Championship was held in Lake Forest and filled rooms at the Marriott on Milwaukee Avenue just south of Route 22.
Lincolnshire Economic Development Coordinator Tonya Zozulya said village shop-and-dine guides will be readily accessible to the UL International Crown visitors as they were to the crowds attending BMW Championship. She said Lincolnshire has enough dining and entertainment options that golf visitors won't have to travel to downtown Chicago.
"We're fortunate that we continue to rise to the level of (the golf tournaments) making their location and accommodation decisions in our favor," Zozulya said. "We certainly do not take that for granted."
MainStreet Libertyville Executive Director Pam Hume said her organization will be proactive in trying to attract golf fans to the village's downtown restaurants and shops by sharing an information booth with Gurnee and Visit Lake County at the Merit Club. She said it'll be the first time MainStreet Libertyville will promote at a professional golf tourney in Lake County.
"We certainly hope that some of the attendees and the golfers themselves will visit our downtown," Hume said.
Riedy said much was accomplished in a short time to prepare for the tournament, including creation of a separate section on the tourism bureau's website with blocks of slightly discounted hotel rooms for golf travelers. Visit Lake County typically would have much more than eight months to help promote such a prestigious golf tournament, she said.
"Certainly, the pace has been accelerated," Riedy said. "That could present some challenges, but (the LPGA) staff is so professional. They've been outstanding to work with. They're extremely organized, available and responsive."
Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the golf travelers will find her town and others in Lake County have much to offer. Gurnee draws about 26 million visitors annually.
"I think the organizers are recognizing you've got to have the whole package to put on a successful event," Kovarik said. "Yes, they're going to come for the golf, but they need quality hotels, they need quality restaurants, quality shopping - a few more things to do than just golf. So, that positions Lake County perfectly."