Memorial Tournament 2019

You know the weekends that are so good, you wish you could relive them over and over again? Well, the Memorial Tournament was one of those weekends and luckily, I have this blog to “re-live” it as I share a bit about the tournament!

For living in Columbus for 25+ years, I think I have only been to the tournament once or twice – making me quite unfamiliar with the event. Before this years tournament, I knew the basics. It was an event where people stood around and watched golf all weekend…..right? What I learned was, yes, there is a ton of golf watching (obviously), but it is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. I’m going to share six things I learned about the Memorial Tournament.

The Tournament

• The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is an official PGA TOUR event that was founded by Jack Nicklaus.
• The first Tournament was held in 1976.
• Every year the Tournament is held at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
• Each year the Tournament has three goals:
  1. Honor individuals living and deceased who have
     distinguished themselves in the game of golf
  2. Showcase the world’s best golfers competing on
     one of the most challenging venues in the world
     for the enjoyment of spectators
  3. Benefit many Greater Columbus Charities
     including the Tournament’s primary beneficiary,
     Nationwide Children’s Hospital in alliance with the
     Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation

The Course

• The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and its name was inspired by Muirfield in Scotland, where Jack won his first British Open title in 1966.
• It is currently a par 72 course and plays to 7,392 yards.
• The course sits on 220 acres, including an 11-acre driving range.
• The course was opened in 1974 and was officially dedicated on Memorial Day, May 27, with an exhibition match between Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf.
• Nicklaus has made changes to every hole of the course since its opening.
• Since opening, the course has consistently ranked in the top 20 in the United States.
• Was the first golf course in the world to host three of golf’s most prestigious international match-play competitions: the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup.
• The course is often lovingly referred to as “Jack’s Place.”

Charity

• Did you know the PGA TOUR, its players and tournaments support more than 3,000 charities? The Memorial Tournament continues the PGA TOUR’s philanthropic focus through its several relationships with Central Ohio charities. The most significant of which is a 42-year relationship with Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
• Last year the Tournament raised a total of $2,500,000 for charitable organizations in central Ohio, including a record-setting $2,020,000 for Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
• Since the first Tournament, the Memorial has made $32.7 million in donations to central Ohio charities, with more than $20.5 million going to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
• You can read more here.

Food & Drink

Okay, this was the part that I was most surprised about. I thought there were a few kiosk type things, where you stood in line forever to get a $20 beer. Wrong! There are a TON of different places to eat and drink, which they’ve named Fan Destinations. At each destination, you are met with a range of things from beers to custom cocktails to cornhole to live music to food trucks to Adirondack chairs to sit-back and relax (or people watch).

• You can find a list of Fan Destinations here. It’s ideal to check them out prior to going. It is a big course and if you don’t have a plan, you might just get lost!
• This year, the food was from one of my favorites – Cameron Mitchell Premier Events. DELICIOUS. When I saw the Rusty Bucket Buffalo Chicken Sandwich on the menu, I think I jumped for joy. Oh, and The Pearl grilled cheese? Yes, please!
• There are also more private spots, which it seems you either need an invitation for or if you purchase certain ticket level, you can again access to. Lucky for us, Dublin Vistor’s Bureau spoiled us and we were able to enter The Golden Bear Club, located in the heart of Tournament play between Hole No. 10 fairway and No. 14 green. While the front area was open to the public, the inside area was not – this meant it was a little less crowded. Inside there was a cash bar, televisions, private restrooms, and open seating in a sports bar sort of atmosphere. I really liked this stop!

Fun Facts

• Tiger Woods is the only golfer to have won back- to-back Tournaments (1999-2001). He’s also the only golfer to have won the Tournament 5 times (1999-2001, 2009, 2012)
• Jack Nicklaus has won the Memorial Tournament twice, once in 1977 and again in 1984, and is one of only six players to have won two or more times
• Since 1983 when records began, three players have made a hole-in-one during the tournament and gone onto win, most recently Titleist Brand Ambassador Steve Stricker in 2011.

Bridgepark – The Pre & Post Spot to Be

Okay, this is where you going to want to listen up and take notes for next year. Bridge Park is going to be both your starting and ending spot for the tournament. It’s what ties it all together and makes for an easy weekend.

Besides being the spot to easily park (and shuttle) over the tournament, throughout the weekend, Bridge Park is home to a three-day street and music festival called Fore!Fest. During the event, the streets are filled with local vendors, from snacks to clothes to hats and more. In the middle of it all, is a huge stage, where you’ll see all your favorite Ohio bands. Oh, and just like the tournament, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events caters all of our favorite food and drinks from the green. It was a BLAST and the perfect way to end the day.

While the festival offers more than enough to keep you busy, we can’t forget how incredibly stacked the options for dining and drinking are at Bridge Park. One of my favorite spots to go is VASO. You can’t beat the service, the food/drinks or the view from their rooftop patio.

Okay, so, let’s re-cap. You park your car at Bride Park in one of their many parking options – eliminating the stress of finding close parking or any parking at all over at the tournament. You shuttle over to the beautiful course for a day filled with sunshine (hopefully), good friends, golf, corn hole, delicious food and drinks and hopefully a bit of relaxation. After the tournament ends, you jump on a shuttle back to Bridge Park for local music, shopping, snacks and more drinks at Fore!Fest. Yep, I can now see why so many people look forward to the Memorial Tournament. It truly is the perfect weekend!