Ty Schadt, Managing Editor
For the second summer in a row, Champions at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky, is preparing for the Barbasol Championship, one of the world’s 42 PGA tour events. However, its new staff is seeking to create more than just a weekend of competitive golf.
The Collegian previewed the Barbasol’s debut in the Bluegrass last year, and was invited to cover the event again as it enters a new year.
On April 24, the course held a press conference that named the tournament’s advisory board members and tournament ambassadors. Those introduced briefly explained what the tournament will look like this time around.
In March, Barbasol signed a five-year extension as the tournament’s sponsor, ensuring the event’s future in central Kentucky. With the contract came new leadership; Global Golf Management, a company that runs 35 golf tournaments a year, has been hired to run the Barbasol Championship, and Bryan Pettigrew, the former vice president of marketing and sponsorship for the Breeder’s Cup, will serve as tournament director.
As the staff gears up for this year’s tournament, which tees off July 18, many things will look different.
Take, for instance, its tagline: “Caddie 1:27, No one should walk alone”
“The caddie is real easy — it’s about golf,” said Keene Trace owner Evan Mossbarger. “[James] 1:27 is the verse in the Bible we have adopted for our mission. It talks about [how] we should take care of the orphans and widows in distress.”
In order to accomplish this goal, the Barbasol Championship has partnered with five local organizations, pledging to donate revenue from the tournament to their respective causes. The groups involved include All God’s Children, Kentucky’s Children Hospital, Woodhill Community Center, Make-A-Wish and Refuge for Women.
“Everyone needs a caddie, or someone to walk with,” said Pettigrew. “All the funds we raise this year are for these Kentucky-based organizations.”
Mossbarger wants the tournament to be a caddie to the community, much like “Jesus is our caddie.”
“The golf tournament is really a vehicle to strengthen our community,” said Mossbarger.
“One of the fun things about this event is how much it gives back to charity,” said Pettigrew. “[The PGA Tour] gives $190 million back every year, and we hope to grow that here in Kentucky.”
Pettigrew believes that notion will influence the amount of visitors who come out to the tournament, a number he speculates will be around 50,000-75,000.
Along with the increased charitable efforts, the course itself will have numerous changes. Because the tournament was delayed due to heavy rainfall last year, six holes have been improved to allow for better water drainage.
All concessions and chalets will be placed around the ninth and 18th holes, allowing for a central hub of activity near the clubhouse.
Last year, Keene Trace’s ninth and 18th holes were flipped, meaning golfers finished a round on the ninth hole instead of the traditional 18th. That won’t be the case this year.
“We will be going back to the original course layout,” said Pettigrew. “The PGA Tour found that holes 17 and 18 on the normal course layout were the two toughest holes, so they want to go back to that.”
Pettigrew believes the 18th hole will make for a picturesque finish that mirrors the traditional PGA Tour style with chalets around the green and down the left side of the fairway and water on the right.
At the end of the day and once all things have been considered, the Barbasol Championship’s new managers have one goal: “We want to make Kentuckians proud,” said Pettigrew.
The tournament takes places July 18-21 and will be broadcast on the Golf Channel. More information about purchasing tickets, volunteering and sponsorship can be found here.
