What this does for the Coast area is position us as a major golf destination because the tournament is broadcast live on the Golf Channel, and then it will be shown several times on replay, said Jim Pitts, director of tourism, Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. Golf is becoming more and more important to us as far as developing the Coast as a tourism destination. Hosting a tournament like this really enhances our image as golf destination.
Golf is one of our main attractions on the Coast.
Besides an estimated 156 players and their families and other supporters, a number of tourists are expected to visit the Coast for the tournament. The potential long-term impact is even greater. Last year the biggest thing that we saw as a result of the tournament was an increase in the number of inquiries about golf, Pitts said. Golf inquiries increased dramatically. The long-term impact is establishing the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a golf destination.