A phalanx of volunteers, groundskeepers and officials have descended upon the town of Havre de Grace this week in preparation for the LPGA tournament, which will be held for the second year at the Bulle Rock golf course.
Harford County Tourism Director Winifred Roche said the tournament is expected to draw between 75,000 and 95,000 spectators next week, and officials areworking on ways to get them to stick around town and spend money.
Havre de Grace has worked with its Chamber of Commerce to set up “donation cards,” which can be used with purchases at 30 local businesses. When the card is used, 10 percent of the money from the purchase will be donated to Ronald McDonald House charities, the chief beneficiary of the tournament, said Havre de Grace Director of Tourism Bridget Layton.
“You have about 100,000 spectators. ? Even if just one-third of them are expected to drop about $50 somewhere in the county, it?s a large benefit,” Layton said.
The donation cards won?t expire until August, allowing businesses to track how many people come back to Havre de Grace and use them after the tournament is over.
“Last year a lot of our merchants felt they didn?t benefit from the tournament,” said Al Henry. Director of Economic Development and Planning.
This year, Havre de Grace is spending more time and money planning shuttles from the tournament to points around town, and will host an exclusive party for LPGA officials, golfers, caddies and their families, Henry said.
Last year, 1,350 volunteers came to help set up the tournament, and this year the number will be about the same, said Caryn Sagal, a senior account executive for Lawrence Howard & Associates, the tournament?s public relations firm.
Volunteers are largely recruited from the local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Boy Scouts and other charities, Sagal said, but about 40 percent are expected to be from out of state. They will handle tasks such as parking cars and taking care of the tournament?s 150 players.
