Champions Tour Back In LA: Launching At Powerhouse Venue?

Commissioner Pizzazz And Then Some is not a morning person! He did his best virtual sleepwalk through a Morning Drive announcement of the new Champions Tour stop for Los Angeles as part of...are you sitting...the introduction of playoffs PLAYOFFS(C)!

Yes the Valiant Competitors Tour is getting a playoff series and an LA stop will kick things off. Ryan Ballengee explains.

Here is the PGATour.com clip of the Commish launching the news, while subtly looking at his cards to get the sponsor's name right. (Can't say I blame him with a name like The Powershares QQQ, which is almost as bad as LA's stop from the 80s: The American Golf Carta Blanca Johnny Mathis Classic. Yep, look it up.)

Now, if Ben Carson just isn't the Ambien replacement you were hoping for, I think this performance today on MD might do the trick despite the effort of Gary Williams to wake the Commish up. Note that the head guy from Invesco Powershares (Dan Draper) refers to the PGA twice, not the PGA Tour. The Fines Department might submit an invoice for that.

Sherwood Country Club, host to many events like the Shark Shootout and Tiger's World Challenge, will land the QQQ in 2017 and 2018. Bob Buttita reports.

But the kickoff year venue is even more intriguing, depending on a member vote: Bel-Air Country Club. There has been some buzz in LA golf circles about the possibility even though no one can fathom how it would work. The former George Thomas-Billy Bell design that's been much-mangled over the years and would provide a wildly fascinating locale for a tournament, albeit one with little room for spectators or hospitality. Members are scheduled to vote very soon on the 2016 date.

The tournament is also looking for an Executive Director. Here's the posted job description, with limited cynical interruptions:

Executive Director - Champions Tour - Los Angeles
PGA TOUR - Pacific Palisades, CA

We presently have an opportunity for an Executive Director for a new Champions Tour event in the Los Angeles, CA area. The Executive Director is the lead executive of the tournament and has overall responsibility for delivering a world class experience for players, fans, partners, volunteers and all tournament constituents. The Executive Director will lead a team that will develop and execute plan to increase tournament net revenue, player prize money, charity, and reserve levels through best in class sales and marketing strategies. The Executive Director will increase onsite hospitality sales, increase attendance

In other words, you better be a part-time magician...

and community activation, and ensure excellence in all operational aspects of the tournament. The Executive Director reports directly to the Senior Director, Champions Tour.

Responsibilities:

Develop and execute long term strategic plans to grow revenue and evolve the event to engage a broader range of people and sponsors

Provide oversight of departmental operations, staffing, P&L results and both internal and external communication

Establish and monitor metrics that drive business strategy and performance

Work those metrics!

In cooperation with the sales staff, develop and implement an annual sales plan for all product and sponsorship categories; The Executive Director is responsible for generating all event revenues above the title sponsorship, including presenting sponsors and preferred suppliers

Build strong relationships and serve as the executive interface with the volunteers, club members, community, media, PGA TOUR, Title Sponsor, players, agents and others as needed

Executive interface. Hmmm...so, so good.

Enhance field strength and elevate image of the tournament.

Now we're just copying and pasting from the regular PGA Tour boilerplate HR manual.

Serves as executive interface with Title Sponsor, the PGA TOUR and all other strategic partners to ensure a collaborative working relationship, fulfillment and transparency of contractual obligations and to ensure that all partners are receiving value as a result of the partnership

Value deliverance through executive interfacing. Translated: be a nice person to the people who write the checks.

Use varied influence strategies to persuade all stakeholders and groups to grow the event

Interface with community leaders to foster the overall impression of the event in the community

Lead the team to deliver a successful event against all objectives set by the PGA TOUR

Motivate, coach, and hold others accountable for performance to maximize business results

Now we're just copying and pasting out of a Tony Robbins book!

Develop a comprehensive volunteer structure

Develop and implement an effective operating committee structure for planning, preparing for and executing the tournament with appropriate committee chairs, vice chairs, and other committee members.

Our benefits include:
Competitive wages including performance bonuses

Medical/Dental/Life/Disability insurance

Paid time off

401k plus employer match

Employer funded retirement plan

Health Savings Account/Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Wellness Program

EOE/DFW

Required Skills

No TPC Valencia membership? Oh wait, that's not a TPC anymore. Maybe Sherwood!

Qualified candidates will have the following education and prior experience:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, Sports Management or equivalent discipline is required; Master's Degree preferred

Minimum of five years’ experience running a major sports event, or equivalent experience in business

Understanding, appreciation and respect for the game of golf

Required Experience

[THE MERCIFUL END]