Following a year hiatus, more than 100 golfers scrambled to Dublin and PAR Country Club for the Ben Hogan Legacy Golf Tournament, honoring the international golf icon and Dublin native while benefitting Dublin’s popular Ben Hogan Museum.
“The Tournament was a great example of how tourism is a tool of economic development,” said Dublin EDC Executive Director Karen Wright and Hogan Museum founding member. “We had more than 100 golfers competing in the event from at least four states.”
The event actually kicked off Thursday afternoon in downtown Dublin as golfers gathered in the Hogan Museum and the National Health and Public Safety History Museum (nicknamed the Frontline Heroes Museum) across the street.
Visitors shared their love of the game and admiration for Hogan while surveying his story and exhibits at the Hogan while Frontline Heroes had staged a special exhibit for the visitors.
“They were amazed by the exhibit comparing the terrible head-on collision which Ben Hogan had with a Greyhound bus in 1949 to the recent accident suffered by Tiger Woods in California,” said Wright “This exhibit has been so popular that there will soon be a traveling version of it for rent to golf courses and other museums around the country.”
Visitors at Frontline Heroes also enjoyed Lucky Vines wine, treats from Blackjack’s coffee and snacks provided by caterer Deanna Turley (who was onsite at PAR the next day alongside DairyMAX, who provided milk and yogurt).
“Visitors bought souvenirs in both museums and made generous donations which will help both museums with operating expenses and upgrades, said Wright. “Meanwhile, visitors toured downtown stores and ate in local restaurants…They also packed the local motels and AIR B&Bs, thereby generating Hotel Occupancy taxes for the city.”
All of these guests were at PAR bright and early Friday morning for breakfast followed by a 9 a.m. tee time. There were local faces amongst the crowd such as members of Bradberry’s Best and Dublin Bottling Works as well as the team of Dublin ISD Coaches Greg Harcastle and Tommy Zmeskal joined by student Madison Turley, but the crowd also featured avid golf enthusiasts and industry personalities from afar.
Wright said that most of the registration fees, souvenir purchases, and sale of raffle tickets will come back to the Ben Hogan Museum for replacement of its badly damaged awning and for other building repairs.
“So, if you find yourself wondering how a golf tournament at a golf course located 20 miles away could possibly benefit Dublin residents, here’s your answer,” said Wright. “A golf tournament, like so many other tourist-driven events, are legitimate tools of economic development through sales and hotel taxes.”
“The biggest unmeasurable benefit is good will,” said Wright. “Our golfers love Dublin, Texas and go home talking about our little town.”