According to golfer Peter Jacobsen, Tiger Woods has to share some of the credit for the booming interest in golf, along with the availability of corporate hospitality. Companies have been hosting private parties at sports events for 20 years, but early attempts at corporate hospitality were crude compared to today. It was really down and dirty. Jacobsen, who didn't earn an invite to this year's PGA Championship, says he really started noticing golf corporate hospitality 10 years ago. Sean Brenner is managing editor of IEG Sponsorship Report , a Chicago-based publication that tracks corporate sponsorship trends.
Tents are golf's answer to the luxury box.
Pace makes the party Bob Stiles is vice president of event planning for HOK Sport, the stadium design firm that is branching out into event planning. Stiles says golf's leisurely pace also lends itself especially well to doing business. It has a nice pace to it. These companies are trying to generate new business and keep current clients as well. Louisville-based Underwriters Safety and Claims will host 700 guests at its Valhalla tent this week.