My latest Global Golf Post column came out yesterday and discusses the search for a sponsor for the soon to be formerly CN Canadian Women’s Open. You’ll find the column here.
I think Golf Canada is going to have a tough time with this one. That said, it might be easier to sell than the RBC Canadian Open since the company putting up the cash doesn’t need to have exposure to the American market. Instead they get exposure to Ron McLean.
One source I spoke with suggested it might be best if Golf Canada tried an approach where they sought out several “presenting” sponsors. That way if one company decided it didn’t want to be involved it wouldn’t impact the entirety of the sponsorship. But Simmons discounted that notion — saying he thinks it’ll be easer to find a single company willing to put up the money and reap the benefits.
Interestingly, last week Simmons and PGA Tour Canada announced their event in London at Sunningdale G&CC. Golf Canada is operating the tournament. A typical PGA Tour Canada sponsor covers the purse ($150,000) and some additional costs, but the overall price of putting on a tournament like the Tour Championship is upwards of $350,000. So that means Golf Canada has to raise $200,000 in a market with 9.6% unemployment. Simmons insisted it wouldn’t be a problem — and that better be the case since the deal with PGA Tour Canada is for three years.
