PGA event coming to Mactaquac
Combined professional Latin American/Canadian golf tour stop announced for capital-region course; province sponsoring for $200K, city investing $50K for tournament
An international tour affiliated with a top pro-golf organization will stage one of its tournaments near Fredericton next summer, and the province and City of Fredericton are investing a combined total of $250,000 to make it happen.
PGA Tour Americas - a spinoff of the PGA Tour - is scheduled to make a tournament stop at Mactaquac Provincial Park golf course in July 2024, the provincial government announced in a news release Tuesday morning.
It noted the Mactaquac tournament is one of two new stops added to the lineup, with the other one being in Brazil.
Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace said in the release that the provincially owned course will see its profile raised significantly thanks to its inclusion in the PGA Tour Americas.
“Hosting events of this calibre showcases New Brunswick as a vacation and sport destination and boosts our economy and supports our industry partners,” she said.
The PGA announced in April it was merging the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and PGA Tour Canada into one international tour, the PGA Tour Americas.
The tournament at the Mactaquac course will be called the Explore NB Open.
Brianna McQuillan, executive director of Golf New Brunswick, said in the release the organization is teaming up with the provincial tourism department and the City of Fredericton to promote the event and ensure its success.
“We believe this is an amazing opportunity to develop golf further in New Brunswick. We look forward to involving our members and junior golfers for an experience like no other,” she said.
Fredericton Capital Region Tourism manager Stacey Russell said the capital region offers great golfing experiences, and this event will allow the area to grab some attention.
“Showcasing it on PGA Tour Americas will build awareness and shine a light on our spectacular, beautiful region,” she said in the release.
Show me the money
The government news release was silent on whether the province or the city will be investing public funds to bring the tournament to the capital region.
However, city spokesperson Shasta Stairs confirmed Tuesday afternoon the municipality will invest in the event and will work to promote it as well.
“The city has invested $50,000 from the Tourism Accommodation Levy plus marketing efforts to promote and capitalize on the event,” she wrote in an email.
The Fredericton Independent also inquired with the provincial tourism department about whether it’s pledged funding to bring the pro-golf tournament to the capital region, but it didn’t receive a response Tuesday.
However, Scott-Wallace, in a comment in the announcement thread on her political Facebook page Tuesday, said her department is ponying up $200,000 for a title sponsorship.
“Money very well spent,” she wrote.
McQuillan, when reached for comment at a conference in Texas on Tuesday, said Golf NB will be dedicating resources to the event, though whether that will include a financial component is “to be determined at a further date.”
For now, she said, the organization is acting in a supporting role to solicit sponsorships for the tournament and to co-ordinate the logistics of staging such an event.
When asked if the provincial government was contributing funds to bring the PGA Tour Americas to the Mactaquac course, McQuillan said, “That would be a really good question for Tourism New Brunswick.”
She said the tourism department had already hired a tournament director for the event, though she wasn’t sure of that person’s name, if they’re from New Brunswick or if they’re coming from outside the province to bring tournament-specific expertise needed for the event.
One of the reasons the PGA Tour Americas stop at Mactaquac is such a big deal for New Brunswick golfers, McQuillan said, is that it should allow local golfers to avail themselves of some excellent opportunities.
While the golfers competing in the main tournament will be part of the established tour, she said, Golf NB will be working to develop spinoff events for amateur golfers to enhance their games, such as a possible pro/am event.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
Bet the dam road will be open both ways for this.