Rochester, N.Y. (April 11, 2023) — When champions of golf tee off at Oak Hill Country Club next month, a positive boost to the economy will showcase how the Greater Rochester, New York, region provides a prime destination for champions of business. An analysis led by Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) estimates the major championship will result in $190 million in economic activity and 1,233 jobs. The 105th PGA Championship returns to Oak Hill Country Club for its fourth time May 15-21, 2023.
“While the prestige of the Oak Hill East course and the incredibly supportive membership at Oak Hill are key drivers in our decision to return over the years, it’s really the support of the Rochester community that has allowed us to,” said Bryan Karns, championship director for the 105th PGA Championship, PGA of America. “GRE, Visit Rochester and Monroe County have been at the center of that support and continued to help us innovate around our championships and increase the number of opportunities for local businesses to get involved and benefit from the championship.”
GRE, the lead economic development organization in the nine-county Greater Rochester region, collaborated with the PGA of America on this year’s analysis. Estimates include ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, spectator projections and hotel rooms reserved during championship week. GRE used data from the PGA of America to understand the impact across the regional supply chain in various industry sectors, including construction, food and beverage establishments, hotel and lodging, and real estate. A complete copy of GRE’s 2023 PGA Championship economic impact analysis is available for download here.
“GRE is proud to partner with the PGA of America and conduct this analysis to illustrate the positive economic impact hosting the 2023 PGA Championship has on the Rochester, New York, community,” said Matt Hurlbutt, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise. "This major tournament is an opportunity to shine an international spotlight on the numerous reasons Rochester, New York, is the right place for championship-level golf, as well as the right place for businesses to grow and tap into the local, highly skilled workforce.”
“An event the scale of the PGA Championship is an incredible opportunity to showcase Rochester to audiences around the world,” Visit Rochester President & CEO Don Jeffries said. “We’re thrilled to welcome visitors and fans of the PGA Championship to Rochester and Monroe County, and we welcome the significant economic impact for the tourism and hospitality industry that will result from the championship. It is our hope that visitors to the region for the 2023 PGA Championship will discover some of the many limitless reasons to visit Rochester and plan many happy returns to the Greater Rochester region.”
“We are honored to welcome the PGA back to Monroe County, as the thousands of guests gather for the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford,” Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said. “This event will draw a national spotlight on the Greater Rochester, New York, region and is a boon for our local tourism and hospitality industries. I know that our guests will fall in love with Monroe County because we are rich in history, a hotbed of civil rights and industrial innovation, and renowned for our food and beverage industries. I invite those in town for the PGA Championship to take time to explore Monroe County and Greater Rochester. With our superior museums and cultural activities; wineries, distilleries and craft breweries; breathtaking parks and natural resources; and unique small businesses — there’s something for everyone.”
Of the estimated 225,000 spectators expected to attend the PGA Championship, approximately 39% of ticket holders will travel from more than 100 miles and spend money at local hotels, restaurants and retail establishments. The return of the 2023 PGA Championship comes at a resurgent time for the Greater Rochester region. In 2022, GRE secured more than $1.2 billion in new capital investments, 3,866 new jobs and 1,439 jobs retained. This business growth included 40 project wins across advanced manufacturing, energy innovation, food and beverage processing, optics, photonics and imaging. At the same time, the tourism and hospitality industry is a major contributor to the economy in the Greater Rochester region. In Monroe County alone, the economic impact of the tourism industry annually exceeds $1 billion and supports nearly 20,000 jobs.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About Greater Rochester Enterprise
Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) is the lead regional economic development organization committed to attracting new capital investments and creating regional wealth and new jobs throughout the Greater Rochester, New York, region. GRE collaborates with local businesses, universities, not-for-profit organizations, and government leaders to position the region as one of the most innovative economies in the world. Its unified approach to economic development was recognized in October 2022 by the Reimaging the Economy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. For more information, please visit rochesterbiz.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook, and Twitter.
About Visit Rochester
Visit Rochester is the official tourism promotion agency for Greater Rochester and Monroe County. Visit Rochester is a membership organization with over 400 members representing lodging, retail, restaurants, services and community organizations. Working together with our members and partners, our mission is to sell and market Greater Rochester as a preferred destination in order to grow and maximize visitor spending and to enhance the economy. For more information, visitrochester.com.
Media Contacts:
Staci Henning, Executive VP, Chief Marketing Officer
Greater Rochester Enterprise
585-530-6211
Rachel Laber Pulvino, VP, Communications
Visit Rochester
585-279-8325
Ryann Guglielmo, Public Relations Director
Dixon Schwabl + Company on behalf of the PGA of America
585-899-3243