Memo- 2008 US Womens Open Championship at Interlachen CC
Public Warks Department
Memorandum
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Rick Getschow, City Manager #
Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director
Copy:
Date:
October 20, 2006
Subject:
2008 US Women's Open Championship at Interlachen CC
This Worksession item is primarily to allow City Council to meet the tournament
manager and organizers and receive a presentation on the tournament.
The 2008 US Women's Open golf tournament will be held on June 23 - 29, 2008 at
the Interlachen Country Club. This is a big event involving more than 150 golfers from
over 40 countries, 500 media personnel and 14 hours of NBC live broadcast coverage
to 75 countries around the world. The expected spectator draw is 30,000 +/- during
the busiest tournament days. The current plan is to bus spectators into the event from
park/ride lots - the location of the lots has not yet been determined. The USGA has
requested exclusive use of Interlachen Park from June 19 - July 2, 2008 for the
staging of NBC crew, production trailers, etc. This request is similar to the one we
supported from the LPGA in September 2002 for the Solheim Cup women's golf
tournament.
Staff anticipates that the USGA will send an introductory letter to the Interlachen
Neighborhood Association next month. The Park Board will be introduced to the event
and consider the request for the park at their Nov 20 meeting. The USGA is still
working on the logistics of the tournament. Once they've completed more of the
planning details there will be more contact and coordination with City Staff, the
neighborhood, Park Board and City Council. If approved to proceed, Staff will work out
a use agreement with the USGA covering use of the park, security, insurance, traffic,
etc., similar to how the City handled arrangements with the LPGA for the 2002 Solheim
Cup tournament. .