STORY IDEAS

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Need some help deciding what to cover around the TOUR Championship? We have you covered! Need more information? Contact Michael Baliker at MichaelBaliker@pgatourhq.com or 864-430-9801.

The Starter Lounge presented by NetJets

  • Once you arrive on site, you will notice the massive buildout around the 1st tee. A new double decker structure will add excitement and anticipation as players begin their round each day.
  • On the ground floor, the Starter Lounge presented by NetJets will provide a unique vantage point on the 1st tee alongside an upgraded hospitality experience that gets fans to within a few feet of the players as they pass through the lounge to reach the tee.

Live Hits

  • Send a reporter out to some of the more popular fan venues throughout tournament week to highlight the social scene at the event while reinforcing the access that grounds ticketholders have at the tournament. The TOUR Championship has a dedicated area for TV stations to do live hits during tournament week!
  • Take a visit to the PGA TOUR Fan Shop to check out the newest t-shirt designs for 2022!
  • Have the meteorologist come out to East Lake to detail the forecast for tournament week and give fans an idea what to expect with potential t-storms, etc.

The ATL Grove (and why it will be the coolest new fan area on course)

Situated near the 6th green at Atlanta’s historic East Lake Golf Club, The ATL Grove will offer signature and specialty burgers from the sustainable restaurant alongside Meiomi Wine pairings in a shaded area, just steps from picturesque views of the Atlanta skyline.

Founded in 2010, Farm Burger is a better burger restaurant group committed to serving 100% grassfed, grass-finished beef burgers. Founded in Atlanta by farmer and rancher Jason Mann and restaurateur George Frangos, Farm Burger aims to bring communities together through creative menus and locally-sourced ingredients in its locations across the southeast.

Those who visit The ATL Grove can expect to sample the restaurant’s signature No. 1 Farm Burger made with grassfed beef, aged white cheddar, caramelized onion, and FB sauce. Also on the menu will be the No. 4 Chicken Burger, made with a chicken patty that’s topped with gouda, kale slaw, crispy onions and sherry date BBQ sauce. In addition, the restaurant has created a specialty burger just for the tournament dubbed The Grove Burger, made with a 50-50 bacon grassfed patty blended with jalapeño and sweet white onion, then topped with cheddar and a summer pickle relish. Flights of sliders paired with Meiomi wine samplings and sangria will also be available.

HOPE Tee Shot

  • Each year, two members of the First Tee® of Metro Atlanta is selected to hit the HOPE Tee Shot on Thursday prior to the opening round of the TOUR Championship. The tee shot is a symbol and reminder of the hope that continues to build throughout the East Lake community as a result of the East Lake Foundation’s neighborhood revitalization efforts. Each year, both honorees emerge from an intense selection process comprised of a golf competition, essay contest and interviews with tournament leadership.In 2023, the tournament will once again provide a $5,000 scholarship for each of the two HOPE Tee Shot honorees on behalf of TOUR Championship Proud Partner Accenture.Meet the 2023 Honorees:

    Elsie Husted

    Husted, a rising senior at Drew Charter School, has been a member of First Tee – Metro Atlanta for eight years, and has some experience hitting shots in front of a crowd at East Lake Golf Club. In 2022, she was invited to participate in the TOUR Championship Charity Challenge during tournament week, where she and other local First Tee participants hit shots on the par 3s in place of the Charity Challenge competitors.

    Off the golf course, Husted can be found getting lost in a good book or watching her favorite player, Rory McIlroy, compete on the PGA TOUR.

    Josh Mitchell

    Mitchell, a rising senior at Riverwood International Charter School, has been envisioning his chance to hit the HOPE Tee Shot even since he took up golf and First Tee in 2019. Josh has proven to be a quick learner, having seen incredible improvement in his scores while relying on Perseverance – one of First Tee’s Nine Core Values – to help him overcome the setbacks that come with playing competitive golf.

    Mitchell’s favorite PGA TOUR player is Scottie Scheffler and looks up to his mother and grandfather as the most influential people in his life.

The “Other Trophy”

  • Fans are familiar with the silver FedExCup that is awarded to each year’s champion along with $15 million, but the champion at East Lake receives another unique trophy on Sunday evening.
  • A sterling silver replica of Bobby Jones’ famous putter “Calamity Jane” is awarded to the champion on behalf of East Lake Golf Club and has been the tradition since 2005.
  • It has also become customary for the champion to putt with the silver replica on Sunday evening after his win.
  • Interviews: We can give you access to film the putter and talk to Chad Parker, General Manager of East Lake Golf Club, about this unique tradition and how it all got started. We can also provide video of past champions putting with it along with photos.

Fan Venues Galore

  • The Big Picture: There are so many unique, open-air fan venues on site at East Lake that are open to general grounds ticket holder. Even though there is a golf tournament going on, fans can have a memorable day at the TOUR Championship and not watch a single golf shot! Educate readers, viewers and listeners about the incredible social scene that awaits them at the TOUR Championship.
  • Open-to-the-public venues:
    • New: The ATL Grove – 6th green
    • SO Cool Zone presented by Southern Company – 14th and 15th green
    • Tito’s Stillhouse Lounge – within SO Cool Zone
    • Coca-Cola Fan Lounge – 8th green
    • Peachtree Porch presented by Mastercard – 8th fairway
    • The Deck presented by Maestro Dobel Tequila – between Practice Range and 16th tee
    • Back Nine Brews – 18th tee / 13th fairway
  • Interviews: We can help arrange live shots with tournament representatives within any of these spaces during the week (for TV); Speak with Alex Urban about the creation of these spaces and the partners the tournaments work with to make these come to life.

Navigating the Heat

  • The Big Picture: Everyone is excited to spend the day at the TOUR Championship, but it’s important to stay cool. Inform viewers about steps they should take while on site to stay cool while taking in plenty of golf action.
  • Recommendations:
    • Visit The Deck presented by Maestro Dobel Tequila across from the driving range. It provides a unique view to watch players warm up for their rounds with a drink in your hand.
    • There are Covered Bleachers in three locations: 1st Tee, 15th Green,Practice Range
    • The SO Cool Zone will be equipped with soft seating and shade sails as well as several food vendors. It’s perfect place to take a break; plus, you can stay updated on the tournament by watching it on the big screen!

Local Food Partners

  • The Big Picture: The TOUR Championship prides itself in offering food options beyond the basic hamburger and hot dog. Each year, the tournament welcomes a handful of Atlanta culinary staples. Fans who attend have endless choices as they enjoy their day at the tournament.
  • 2023 Food Partners:
    • New: Farm Burger
    • New: Local Green
    • New: Kayla’s Italian Ice
    • Universal Joint
    • D Boca N Boca
    • Henri’s Bakery
    • Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
    • Go Dog!
    • Hattie’s Nashville Hot Chicken
  • Interviews: Stop by any one of these food partners for a tasting and what their experience is like serving their delicious fare at the TOUR Championship.

Power of the Grounds Ticket

  • The Big Picture: The TOUR Championship is different in that fans can get within a few feet of the best golfers on the planet for the price of a grounds ticket (or if you were lucky in 2018, standing on the 18th fairway with Tiger Woods). Grounds tickets give fans unparalleled access to the season-ending event on the PGA TOUR while still being able to enjoy several unique fan venues.
  • For families with young children, the TOUR Championship’s Youth Ticket Program makes attending the tournament a breeze. **Two kids 15 and under per ticketed adult are admitted free of charge.**
  • For students of colleges and universities in the region, the TOUR Championship also has a Student Ticket Offer for those students with a valid .edu email address to receive a special discounted offer on Daily Grounds tickets during the competition along with 25% off select tournament merchandise!
  • Provide a holistic view on the access available to the grounds ticketholder and how they can easily feel like a VIP without putting too much of a strain on their wallet.
  • Interviews: Talk to a family on site who took advantage of the Youth Ticket Program; Speak to Alex Urban about the importance of this tournament initiative.

Getting to East Lake

  • The Big Picture: This is always a tournament storyline that we need help with. There are several ways to get to the TOUR Championship, but which way is the best depending on where you live?
  • Uber is as reliable as it gets; convenient pick-up/drop-off near the 13th fairway
  • General parking is located at GWCC and provide an air-conditioned shuttle ride to the golf course that takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes.