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By Brad Swope
The words “springtime in Savannah” conjure up azaleas in bloom, St. Patrick’s Day street parties and, increasingly, a prestigious international golfing event on Hutchinson Island.
This month, the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament, April 20-26, will mark its seventh straight year at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa.
“It’s been a great partnership,” said Tim Iley, Legends executive director, who works in Savannah year-round to organize, market and promote the Professional Golfers’ Association event, open to male golfers 50 and older who have won at least five tournaments or a major championship.
“The players absolutely love it,” Iley said of the Westin; after all, few major tournaments offer players the convenience of staying at a luxury hotel right next to the golf course where they are competing.
Former Ryder Cup rivals Tom Lehman and Bernhard Langer have declared themselves a team in the Legends Division. Lehman, who turned 50 in March, is scheduled to make his first Champions Tour appearance at the event. Langer has found continued success on the Champions Tour since his debut in August 2007, winning five events en route to earning several 2008 Champions Tour end-of-year awards including Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, the Arnold Palmer Award as the Tour’s leading money winner and the Byron Nelson Award for the lowest scoring average.
The Legends, sponsored for more than 30 years by Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., moved several times over the years — from Florida, to California, then to Texas — before Savannah business leaders convinced the PGA to give their city a shot in 2003. It’s an event estimated to generate $10 million in direct spending, plus give the city’s historic beauty invaluable exposure to television audiences in the hundreds of millions (see box below for viewing times).
Last year an estimated 46,000 spectators crowded onto the island resort, across the Savannah River from tourist-friendly River Street, to watch a growing stable of veteran golfers show they haven’t lost their mojo.
Andy North and Tom Watson split a $550,000 winner’s purse in the team-play, best ball event.
“Tom and Andy have teamed up four times now,” Iley said, noting that North and Watson had won the Legends’ mid-week Raphael Division three years running before nailing the weekend championship title in 2008. “They’ve gone 162 holes without a bogey.”
The estimated 650 volunteers who help the event run smoothly each year feature an enthusiastic contingent of Sun City residents.
“It’s an awful lot of fun,” said Waide Cooper, who will mark his second year as a marshal at the 18th hole, where his crowd control duties include keeping milling partiers from the hospitality tents out of the path of flying golf balls.
James Blue, who’s marking his fourth year as a marshal at holes 5 and 6, said volunteers who work at least three “shifts” get free passes to watch the action on their off-duty days. Harry Bryant has volunteered for all seven years that Legends has played in Savannah. His incentive: “Getting to see the old PGA greats, and talking to them occasionally.”
To buy tickets
These may be purchased in advance by calling (877) 942-1123 (toll-free) or (912) 234-5700, or by visiting the tournament’s Web site at www.LMLOG.com. Daily ticket prices start at $20. Weeklong Emerald Club passes are $75 ($65 for those aged 60 and up).
Directions
To get to Hutchinson Island from South Carolina, follow U.S. 17 south from Hardeeville. An exit to the right, just before you cross the high Talmadge Bridge, puts you on the road to the Westin.
For the home viewer
Liberty Mutual play will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24. CBS will air play from 1-3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26.
For more info
Contact the Legends’ Savannah office at (912) 236-1333.
