By Fred Altvater
The Senior PGA Championship will celebrate the 82nd edition at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores, in Benton Harbor, May 25-29. The first Senior PGA Championship was held at Augusta National Golf Club in 1937. Now as then, it recognizes the best professional golfer over the age of 50.
Alex Chejka is the reigning Senior PGA Champion as he won last year at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Chejka recorded his best month ever as a professional golfer when he won the Tradition on May 9 and finished the month by winning the Senior PGA Championship. His first two wins on the Champions Tour were majors and quickly established him as a force on the senior circuit.
In an interview with Back 9 Report Chejka talked about playing around the world, staying fit and winning two majors on the PGA Champions. Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/4Fr6EWKR4a4
Located in the Southwestern corner of Michigan on the Lake Michigan coast, Harbor Shores is a beach, golf and residential waterfront community. Benton Harbor had fallen upon hard times and when Jack Nicklaus was contracted to design a unique golf test it has brought an economic rebirth to the area.
Kerry Wright, Harbor Shores’ director of real estate sales, described the unlikely chain of events that brought Mr. Nicklaus to Michigan.
“Whirlpool’s nonprofit division saw this land on the water that it wanted to transform. It was the idea of the company’s former CEO David Whitwam to build a golf course. Former board chairman Jeff Fettig had a friend from his alma mater of Indiana University who knew Jack Nicklaus. The only question was, would Jack come here and take a look?”
Jack did come and the final result is a one-of-a-kind golf destination that is a must-play for every golf aficionado. The Senior PGA Championship offers the golfing public a chance to see these great professionals and walk the Nicklaus creation.
One of the most popular attractions at the Senior PGA is the ‘Makers Trail 19th Hole Pavilion.’ This upgraded ticket option offers a fan experience like no other, providing attendees with special access to a covered pavilion with comfortable seating, views of play, TVs to keep an eye on the action and a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy specially crafted beverages.
This year the pavilion represents some of the finest in the Southwest Michigan area:
- North Pier Brewing (Benton Harbor, MI)
- Watermark Brewing (Stevensville, MI)
- Dablon Vineyards & Winery (Baroda, MI)
- Round Barn Winery (Baroda, MI)
- Journeyman Distillery (Three Oaks, MI)
- Peats Cider Social (Stevensville, MI)
Flex Ticket packages are also available and for the fan that is all in, check out the Champions Club ticket package.
The list of familiar names in the field for the Senior PGA Championship is long and distinguished.
Twenty-seven former major champions will tee it up including; Rich Beem, Mark Brooks, Mark Calcavecchia, Darren Clarke, John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Lee Janzen, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Larry Mize, Corey Pavin, Vijay Singh, David Toms and the ever-popular Fred Couples.
To purchase your tickets and find out more visit: https://www.srpgachampionship.com/attend/2022/tickets
