The PGA reported several thousand ticket sales each day, including large groups like these Saturday following the tournament’s leaders.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship brought the world’s best women’s golfers to the Eastside over the last week, along with business and exposure.
South Korean golfer Amy Yang won the major championship on Sunday, showered in Champagne by fellow players afterward, while the Eastside could toast a successful event and pleasant weather at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, whose lush fairways and towering trees showed well in person and on TV.
“The KPMG Women’s PGA Championships is projected to bring Bellevue an economic impact of $1,371,595, spanning hotel stays, dining, shopping, and entertainment,” Brad Jones, executive director of Visit Bellevue, said in an email Friday when asked about the tournament’s impact. “This event underscores Bellevue’s appeal as a premier sports-tourism destination, drawing golfers, fans, and production crews. With a thriving golf culture and top-notch amenities, Bellevue solidifies its reputation for excellence in sports and leisure.”
Amy Yang follows a shot on Saturday during the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She went on to win the event, a victory worth $1.56 million.
A PGA spokesman on Saturday said the event was drawing several thousand people per day and that ticket sales were 50% more than budgeted.
Kristina Hudson, CEO of OneRedmond — the city’s chamber of commerce, economic development enterprise, and community foundation — noted that in general, every $1 spent at a hotel generates $2.20 for the local economy.
For players, caddies, coaches, sponsors, TV crews, family, fans, and others traveling to a major tournament, that can add up.
Players make their way down the 10th fairway at Sahalee on Saturday.
“Tourism is a cornerstone to a resilient economy as it supports our local hotels and small businesses,” Hudson said in an email Friday. “It is such an honor to have the Women’s PGA championship here on the Eastside. Not only is it an opportunity for the world to see our beautiful home, but this event also showcases our region as a wonderful place to live, work, and visit.”
Kevin Gattke, owner of Pine Lake Ale House in Sammamish, said his taproom and restaurant had seen some business from crews involved with the tournament.
“We definitely have seen an impact from that,” Gattke said Thursday. “It’s not like it would be if it were the fans, but realistically, there’s nowhere for these people to park up here anyway.”
Brooke Henderson of Canada, who won the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee, finished tied for 22nd at this year’s event.
General-admission fans were shuttled from Marymoor Park in Redmond to the course, limiting fan traffic through Sammamish. But Gattke wasn’t complaining.
“Any extra business is great,” he said. “We’ve seen a little bump, so that’s great. We’ll take it.”
Spectators take in the action Saturday.
And having a major international sports event staged in Sammamish is wonderful, too, he said.
“Any time you get exposure for your city, it’s never a bad thing,” Gattke said.