Since The Concession Golf Club announced it would bring the tournament back to Florida for the first time in over two decades, it’s been a sprint to get everything ready. The golf course team has been working long hours, sometimes twelve a day, clearing 25 acres, added grass, and made extra space for spectators because thousands are expected.

Tournament mornings start early, well before sunrise. The greenskeepers roll in at 3 a.m., often working until 10 p.m. Eighty-two people are involved, including nearly forty who drive in from other clubs around Sarasota and Manatee counties to help. Preparing the grounds isn’t the only collaborative effort. Sarasota and Manatee counties both invested heavily, each pitching in $4.5 million, money raised through a 6% tourist tax on hotels and short-term rentals, not from residents. 

The tournament’s economic impact extends beyond the golf course. Senior PGA Championship Director Eric Nuxol is optimistic. He expects visiting staff, vendors, and fans to fill hotel rooms and restaurants, boosting local businesses. 

Looking ahead, officials want to plant roots on the Gulf Coast and see the tournament become a tradition, growing bigger each year. If you want to catch the oldest major in men’s senior golf up close, it’s not too late. Tickets are available for this weekend’s play at The Concession Golf Club, dates Thursday through Sunday, April 16 through 19, 2026.

For more information about The Concession Golf Club, click here.

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