*** What is it, where is it, when is it, and who is playing?
The Sanford International, whose inaugural event took place exactly a year ago this week, is a three-day official tournament on the PGA Tour Champions, more typically called “The Champions Tour” and formerly referred to as “The Senior PGA Tour,” which comprises of the best golfers in the world age 50 and over.
There will be 78 competitors vying for the $270,000 first-place check and tournament trophy at Minnehaha Country Club at 22nd and Kiwanis in Sioux Falls.
The three-round (18 holes per round), three-day competition starts on Friday, with an opening ceremony on the 1st hole tee box at 10 a.m., and with golfers starting their rounds on holes 1 and 10 from 10:20 until 12:20.
The most-attended part of the event will likely be Saturday’s 9-hole “Legends Series” featuring Jack Nicklaus, the most decorated golfer in the sport’s history, who thrilled galleries in the same event last year. Nicklaus will play on a two-man team with tournament host and two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North, who is also ESPN’s lead golf analyst. Those two will square off against three-time U.S. Open champion and 45-time Champions Tour winner Hale Irwin and two-time PGA Champion Dave Stockton.
Barring weather delays, all golf should be completed by 5 p.m., or 6 p.m. at the latest.
Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Friday thru Sunday.
*** Will it be on TV?
Yes, the Golf Channel is televising all three rounds — the first round on tape delay and the final two rounds live.
Friday — 5 to 7 p.m. (tape delayed)
Saturday — 3 to 5 p.m. (live — mostly the Jack Nicklaus “Legends Series”)
Sunday — 2 to 5 p.m. (live)
*** Ticket prices and how to get them
The easiest way to get tickets is on the tournament website, which you can click here . They are also sold at Austad’s Golf, 10th and Cleveland, or the Sanford Pentagon.
Ticket prices to watch the action from Friday thru Sunday range start with the “grounds pass” at $30 per day, which gives you access to the whole golf course to watch any player(s) you want and sit in any public grandstand at any time (first come, first seat, and there may be lines to wait).
For a three-day grounds pass, you can pay $60 and save $10 per day.For a more “elite” experience at $125 per day, you can purchase a “clubhouse pass,” which is entry to a private room inside the air-conditioned clubhouse overlooking the 18th and 10th holes, snacks, exclusive bar service, private restrooms, and grounds access.
If you really want to be a high roller, for $275 per day, you can have guaranteed seats in the “Club Cambria,” an upgraded sports bar located inside the Club Cambria tent, which provides patrons the accessibility to large-screen TVs, food and beverage, and an outstanding view of the 18th and 10th fairway.
And if money just isn’t an object and you want to brag about being a big cheese VIP, the $325-per-day “Champions Club Pass” includes access to a private room in the air-conditioned clubhouse AND Club Cambria. With this pass you have outstanding views of the 18th and 10th holes, exclusive food and beverage options, private restrooms, access to large-screen TV’s, and grounds access.
*** Parking and Shuttle Buses to the course
DON’T drive up to the entrance on 22nd and Kiwanis expecting to park there. You can try the neighborhood streets near the course, but those fill up quick.
Most spectators will park for FREE at the Empire Mall. Parking will be on the west side in the old Sears and Younkers parking lots. Once parked, patrons will take the large, air conditioned coach buses that are designed for maximum comfort for all spectators to the DRIVESafeSD.com Main Entrance located on 22nd Street . Here, patrons will scan their tickets and start their Spectator Journey.
Shuttle Times:
Wednesday, September 18 – 6:00 AM to 7:00 PMThursday, September 19 – 6:00 AM to 7:00 PMFriday, September 20 – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PMSaturday, September 21 – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PMSunday, September 22 – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
***Shuttles will be running every 10-15 minutes between the parking lots and Minnehaha Country Club
Ride Share SystemUber and Lyft are helping to provide pickups and drop-offs for fans throughout tournament week. With a dedicated Rideshare Zone located at Great Plains Zoo, getting to and from the tournament is easy.
Your Rideshare Driver will drop you off in Parking Lot B located at Great Plains Zoo. Follow signs to find the Rideshare Zone. Once dropped off, you will take a shuttle to DRIVESafeSD.com Main Entrance located on 22nd Street.
For an easy exit back to take a ride share, head back to Parking Lot B to request your ride.
Patrons have the option to walk, run, or bike to the Sanford International using the Sioux Falls Bike Trails. Bike valet will be available upon arrival to store one’s bike. Here at the GreatLIFE Fitness Entrance, patrons will scan their tickets and start their Spectator Journey at the 16th Hole.
*** Food and Drinks (and booze!)
Consessions are abundant throughout the course, including at the entrance next to the Austad’s merchandise tent.
Pulled BBQ chicken and smoked turkey pesto sandwiches cost $10.00. Caesar salad ($4) a “Frenchy” breakfast sandwich ($8) are also options.
A bag of potato chips (yes, they have sea salt) is $2. Chocolate candy and assoryed sweets, $3.
Soft drinks, $4 for a 12 oz. bottle. Water bottles are $3. A Caribou coffee is $3.
BEER — Coors Light, Bud Light, Miller Light, Michelob Ultra for $6… Goose Island IPA and local brewery Fernson’s “The Wedge” are $8.
WINE — Dark Horse Wine, $10… Cabarnet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio.
LIQOUR — At certain spots, including inside the Austad’s merchandise tent, you can buy mixed drinks w (or straight on the rocks if you’re feeling frisky) for $10 or more per drink. Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan run, Crown whiskey, and gin are all available.
*** Keeping track of leaderboard, where players are at on the course
Near the entrance, and several other places on the course, are boxes with course maps, so you know where you’re going, and “Pairing Sheets” that tell you when all the golfers teed off. There is a giant scoreboard in the main concourse area that winds around the 10th tee, 18th green, and 1st tee. There are leaderboards throughout the course, but there is also an app you can download that gives you the updated scores of all players and what hole they are on. The app also helps you find the nearest restrooms and concession stands.
*** What’s new this year?
Tournament host Greg Conrad wanted to first and foremost create more venues for the fans, since the crowds were abundant last year.
Conrad said there will be multiple additional “party decks” throughout the course behind some holes’ greens. These party decks allow fans to eat, drink, hang out with their friends while watching golf as opposed to just sitting in bleachers.
*** Which players should I follow and brag about watching?
Nicklaus and the Legends Series will be the main event because it features the 79-year-old gold standard of golf, who rarely plays in public.
“Grip It and Rip It” party man John Daly will likely have the largest galleries of the actual competition. He tees off at 11:50 on Friday.
Other tour stars to watch include former PGA Champion and 2016 victorious USA Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III, two-time Masters Champion and 5-time defending Champions Tour Player of the Year Bernhard Langer (who just became a Sanford board member), three-time major winner Vijay Singh, bombastic former European Tour star Colin Montgomerie, and many other past major champions and PGA Tour veterans.
Notable absences who are popular stars of the tour are 1992 Masters Champion Fred Couples and the inaugural Sanford Invitational champion Steve Stricker, who had a hunting trip planned instead.
To find out when each player tees off on Friday, click here.
Saturday’s tee times depend on how competitors finish on Friday and will be posted on the same above web page.
