Cash and tourists poured into Havre de Grace for this year?s LPGA Championship.
More than 92,200 people turned out at Bulle Rock Golf Course for the four-day tournament last month, which generated $4 million in spending, said Brigitte Layton, Havre de Grace tourism director.
After the tournament?s third consecutive year in the small town, county and city officials say they have marketing plans down pat. The town is profiting more each year, Layton said.
“Just like any new business opening up, the three-year plan is what we?re looking at,” she said.
Havre de Grace focused on improving the private players? dinner on the water because celebrities mean more attention, people and money, Layton said.
With a noticeable increase in traffic and waiting times at Havre de Grace restaurants, Harford County tourism director Wini Roche said this year?s focus was on promoting restaurants.
At MacGregor?s Restaurant, lines ran longer than usual. LPGA player Heather Young couldn?t get a table the two times she stopped by the restaurant, owner Dan Lee said.
The Bayou Restaurant won the “dine-around” promotion in which customers who eat at restaurants get raffle entries for the chance to win a free cruise, Roche said.
Proceeds from the contest went to Ronald McDonald House Charities, which received $1 million from the championship.
Jim Murray, the charity?s founder, said the global media coverage of the tournament makes “everybody a winner.”
“I don?t know what the price on that is, but it?s not money,” he said. “You put all these things together, and you?re way under par.”
