29 January 16  |  Events   |  

Golden Ocala’s Coates Golf Championship Starts Next Week

Tens of thousands of people are expected to head to Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club next week for the Coates Golf Championship, featuring some of the LPGA’s best players. The event starts Wednesday.

This is the championship’s second year at Golden Ocala and organizers are looking forward to an even bigger year.

“The Coates Golf Championship was a great success for Ocala/Marion County in 2015,” said Coates Golf president Mollie Coates. “Again and again the players commented on the size of the galleries at the inaugural tournament and how welcome they felt within the community. The goal is to continue exceeding the community’s, the players’ and our sponsors’ expectations.”

Golden Ocala Golf Course

Last year’s event generated more than $18.4 million for the local economy and drew more than 80,000 people. R+L Carriers is the event’s presenting sponsor while Coates Golf is the title sponsor.

About 120 golfers played in last year’s tournament. Last year’s purse totaled more than $1.5 million. The Golf Channel is covering the tournament and broadcasting it to more than 165 nations, said Ricki Lasky, the LPGA’s senior vice president of tournament affairs.

A Craft Beer Garden will be offering local and regional brands. An ungraded craft ticket offering will include tournament admission to the LPGA event and a traditional sampling glass, according to Coates Golf Championship. Launched in early 2015, Coates Golf is dedicated to promoting women’s golf and offers performance equipment for women.

Ticket packages for the championship are available online. Single-day grounds tickets are $15; weekly grounds tickets are $45. Admission for children 12 and under with adults with tickets is free.

Na Yeon Choi earned her ninth-career LPGA victory and Lydia Ko, then 17, ascended to No. 1 on the Rolex Rankings at last year’s tournament, according to news sources. Spectators will get the opportunity to watch the world’s best women golfers play

“Golf fans in Central Florida and beyond have the opportunity to meet their favorite players and see world-class golf at the Coates Golf Championship,” said tournament director Kelly McAnally in a statement.

Founded in 1950, the LPGA expanded from a tour group into an international nonprofit organization helping sports-related groups and efforts. The association’s headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club offers golfers the opportunity to play on an exciting 18-hole championship course designed by Ron Garl. The course has tribute holes from the some of the world’s finest courses including Augusta, Royal Troon, Baltusrol, Muirfield and St. Andrews.

Golden Ocala presents a 10-acre short game area with two practice holes and a driving game. Its Golf Shop sells clubs, clothing and most golf accessories from the game’s top names. Private lessons are offered by PGA professional instructors John Elliot, Jr., Mike Cooney, Nick Montanero, Thomas Moore and Darren Robinson.

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