Golf tourney may bring economic boon to Cape

When 130 teenage boys and girls descend on the greens and fairways at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau next summer they'll bring more than their clubs.

They'll bring their parents, extended family and friends.

And those people will bring their wallets.

Monday's announcement that Dalhousie Golf Club and the American Junior Golf Association have agreed to host an event for the country's finest young golfers is more than big news for Dalhousie. Mayor Jay Knudtson says it's big news for Cape Girardeau.

"This is a huge deal," Knudtson said Tuesday.

Knudtson even agreed to co-chair the event, something he's never done in his more than four years as mayor. He sees the tournament -- the first AJGA event ever to be held in Missouri -- as an event that will pour thousands of dollars into the community as well as serve as a stepping stone to a professional golf tournament.

"Again, this is just awesome in magnitude," Knudtson said.

The actual financial impact will be about $150,000, said Jason Etzen, the AJGA's executive vice president of corporate sponsorships. On a Sunday in June -- the exact dates haven't been finalized -- about 100 youngsters ages 12 to 18 will play in a qualifier for 15 spots. Another 105 from 15 to 20 states around the country will already have qualified.

That means more than 200 participants and parents will be staying in hotels, eating in restaurants and shopping in stores during the 54-hole tournament, Etzen said. Counting a qualifying tournament and a junior-amateur tournament before the event, that amounts to five days of competition.

Cape Girardeau and Dalhousie were chosen based on a number of factors, Etzen said. The AJGA has a growing membership in Missouri, and the organization wants to bring tournaments to its members. The city's location near the interstate and relatively close to St. Louis and Memphis was ideal, he said.

The quality of the golf course and the community leaders' enthusiasm also played roles in the choice. Etzen and other organization members toured the golf course and community last week.

"You can't really say Dalhousie is a hidden jewel because it's the number 2 ranked course in the state," Etzen said. "But it's a first-class test of golf. We looked at all these positives, and it was a no-brainer."

Knudtson said he and co-chair Cord Dombrowski, Dalhousie's managing partner, have agreed to find a $30,000 corporate sponsor, with $25,000 going toward publicity, banners and other expenses. But smaller sponsorships will be sought to help raise funds for local youth golfing programs such as First Tee, a Cape Girardeau Jaycee's sponsored-program that teaches youngsters values through golf. That program is still in its formation stages.

Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Chuck Martin said the tournament is a great acquisition for the city and the golf course. But he and Knudtson both said they hope it leads to more golfing events.

"This can be a base for some incredible things to come," Martin said. "Look at some of the caliber of people who have gone through the AJGA -- Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods. These are tomorrow's future stars."

The AJGA has agreed to hold three such events at Dalhousie. That may put the golf course on the radar for professional golfing tournaments.

"It's great to get it," Martin said. "The AJGA in and of itself is a prestigious organization. But I see this as the first step of many more to come."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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