January 19, 2006
Money, Logistics spell the end for B.C. Open
Some of my fondest boyhood memories are centered around the PGA's B.C. Open event, held each September in Endicott, NY (near Binghamton). Every year, I went to the pro-am event with my great aunt Mary Lounsbery, and I got to meet golf greats like Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Johnny Miller, and many more. I developed a love for the ceremony, tradition, and humor of the game of golf. Being with my great aunt meant that I also got to hear stories of her experiences at major tournaments of the 1940's and 1950's, watching Ben Hogan win the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1953, for example. Her disdain for Jack Nicklaus and her love of Arnold Palmer always provided a foundation for great conversation. Until she passed away in 1993, Mary always found time for the Open and to contribute some small amount to its sponsorship.
So it is with some sadness that I note that this will be the last year for the B.C. Open tournament. Binghamton is a very small market anyway, and the loss of major employers like IBM and Endicott-Johnson has shrunk the already small opportunity for sponsoring a PGA tour event. I hope to attend this year and honor Mary's memory with one last goodbye.
Posted by jimj at January 19, 2006 09:58 AM | TrackBack