Tickets for the 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship are set to go on sale on September 12 and organisers anticipate a sellout.
Fan demand will be driven by the prospect of a strong field, as this year Bermuda’s annual PGA Tour event stands alone on the top-level professional golf calendar in the last week of October. The lure of a $6.5 million prize purse and full FedEx Cup points will prove tempting to the world’s top golfers.
Those who wish to attend will be able to buy $35 general admission tickets as usual and this year children under the age of 15 will be admitted free if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. For the first time, the Championship is also offering an upgraded option, at a price of $250, allowing access to the Digicel Business Ocean Club, located on Port Royal Golf Course’s signature, cliff-hugging 16th hole.
The Club is a shared hospitality structure, featuring open-air and interior facilities at this prime location. Food and beverages are provided inside, as well as screens showing television coverage of the tournament. “It’s a really nice upgrade experience and an opportunity to watch the tournament from probably the best view in the house,” said Danielle Baiunco, tournament director of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
While Baiunco said there was no set limit in place, organisers aim to sell about 1,000 general admission tickets for each of the four playing days, as the tournament strives to get the balance right between welcoming as many people as possible to see the event live, logistical considerations such as parking spaces and concession stand lines, and ensuring a good spectator experience.
Availability of the Digicel Business Ocean Club tickets will be limited to 100 per day, because of the space available. Baiunco anticipates that in total there will be around 750 corporate hospitality guests for each round.
“I think the small number of these upgraded tickets available will encourage individuals to purchase quickly,” Baiunco said. “We anticipate that both types of ticket will sell out. We are encouraging anyone interested in attending the event to go to our website and fill out their information, so they will be notified by e-mail as soon as tickets become available.”
A proportion of all the ticket sales for first-round day, Thursday, October 27, will also benefit a local charity. Digicel Business, which will select the charity to benefit, is leading the initiative. In addition, those purchasing from concession stands on the Thursday will be invited to round up their payments to further support the charity.
Baiunco said the tournament was looking into how it could benefit charities focused on children and families living with disabilities. “We want to send an inclusive message, for youth that maybe are unable to participate in sports, because of their disability. We want them to be able to experience the Championship like anyone else.
“Initiatives we’re working on include having dedicated spaces and viewing platforms on the golf course to enhance and allow viewing opportunities for these individuals, as well as access to the Ocean Club.
“The charitable initiative and the desire to support a charity that is probably not as recognised as some on the island was Digicel Business’s idea. Providing inclusive opportunities for young people aligns perfectly with the tournament’s strong drive for junior participation this year.”
Reinforcing the tournament’s embrace of youth, Saturday, October 29, will be Family Day, presented by the title sponsor, Butterfield and supported by Mastercard. “The idea is to encourage families to come out with their kids and enjoy the tournament while spending time with their loved ones,” Baiunco said. “We are planning to have a few surprises in store regarding entertainment and activities.”
As well as being a standalone event with a much-increased prize purse this year, the Championship fits neatly into top golfers’ travel schedule, given that the PGA Tour calendar has them in nearby South Carolina the week before and Mexico the week after. “We’re hoping to have some good names to announce, when we make the first set of field announcements in mid-September,” Baiunco said.
For more information and to register for notification of tickets going on sale, visit www.butterfieldbdachampionship.com
