Top > Sport > 2005 > August > 2005-08-22

Boeing Golf Classic a smashing success

Perfect weather, good golf, gorgeous scenery and an unassuming underdog as the first champion. What wasn`t to like about the inaugural Boeing Greater Seattle Classic? If you want to talk about bang for your entertainment buck, standing behind Craig Stadler as he gallantly boomed a monster drive over the ravine and straight at the pin on the fascinating 14th hole at the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge was worth the $20 price of admission by itself.

But you didn`t even need to be a golf fan to enjoy this new Champions Tour event that concluded with Sunday`s three-stroke victory by former PGA administrator David Eger. Walking around the back nine at the 5-year-old course is like taking a wilderness hike, with majestic views of the Cascades and Mount Si looming everywhere. Indeed, God`s Country was on full display over the weekend, providing the sort of jaw-dropping beauty that had 23,000 fans counting their blessings while 78 pro golfers were counting their strokes.

Once folks discover this gem, word of mouth figures to sell it as well as anything. Return customers are the lifeblood of annual events like this, as they become familiar enough to turn attendance into a tradition. Boeing has made a four-year sponsorship commitment, which should give the tournament a good toehold. Next year`s event will be during the same Aug. 14-20 time slot, a perfect spot in terms of weather and sports-calendar timing.