OWINGS MILLS, Maryland — On Sunday, thousands of golf enthusiasts gathered at Caves Valley Golf Club, enduring high temperatures and a rugged terrain to witness the final round of the BMW Championship, the second-to-last event in the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour. n n“It’s inspiring to see the professionals execute skills we attempt but rarely master,” said attendee Joe Spain. n nThe last time the tournament was held at this venue, in 2021, it generated a $53 million economic impact across the state and supported 450 jobs. This year’s event is expected to deliver a 7-8% increase in economic benefit, according to Terry Hassletine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission. n n“We’re seeing greater consumer spending compared to 2021, when the economy was still recovering from the pandemic,” Hassletine noted. n nThis boost was evident throughout the venue, including at the Hole 9 snowball stand operated by students from First Tee Greater Baltimore, a program that teaches youth both golf techniques and life skills. n n“We’ve doubled our snowball production this year,” said Matt Bassler, the organization’s executive director. “Our students have been preparing all week, and the proceeds will help expand our program—purchasing more equipment, increasing access, and creating opportunities for the 600 children we serve.” n nThe BMW Championship rotates among premier golf courses nationwide. While next year’s event is set for Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, Hassletine emphasized that discussions to bring the tournament back to Maryland will begin immediately. n n“Maryland has been building a strong track record of hosting world-class events and establishing itself as a top-tier destination,” Hassletine said. “While there’s no guarantee, we’ll be making a full and vigorous effort to secure future events.” n— news from WMAR 2 News Baltimore
— News Original —
BMW Championship brings big economic boost for Maryland
OWINGS MILLS, Maryland — On Sunday, thousands of golf fans flocked to Caves Valley Golf Club braving the heat and hilly course to watch the pros tee up for the final round of the penultimate FedEx Club playoff on the PGA tour. n n“You get to see all the pros do all the things that we try to do and don’t successfully do too good,” fan Joe Spain said. n nThe last time this event was held at the course was 2021, which had an economic impact statewide of $53 million, supporting 450 jobs. n nOn Sunday night, Scottie Scheffler won the championship making a notable comeback after being in a four point deficit. n nIt’s also been a successful return for Maryland with an expected 7-8% boost in economic impact this go around, according to executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission Terry Hassletine. n n“Their wallets are a little freer because we’re away from what was 2021, which was just coming out of COVID,” he said. n nThat could be felt all across the course, like at the Hole 9 snowball stand run by the students of First Tee Greater Baltimore. n n“We’ve doubled the amount of snowballs this year,” executive director Matt Bassler said. n nTheir program combines teaching kids golf and life skills. n n“So our first tee students are making snowballs, they’ve been making them all week, and the proceeds from the stand this week go to improve our program, more clubs, more access, more opportunities for the 600 kids in our program,” he said. n nThe BMW Championship has been hosted at a variety of challenging courses across the country and though next year has been spoken for at the Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, MO, Hassletine says the discussions to get the championship back in Maryland begin ASAP. n n“It takes a resume and Maryland’s been building a resume now for many, many years about having the ability to host world-class events and a world class destination,” Hassletine said. “I can’t say if there’s a guarantee but I can tell you there will be a full court press.”