When the Presidents Cup comes to Charlotte September 20-25, it will be the event’s first trip to the Southeast. Let SouthPark be your guide to all the food and drink, entertainment and fan experiences coming to the Queen City.

by Sharon Smith

TICKETS

The event is approaching sellout status for Grounds and Hospitality packages. For competition days, Thursday and Sunday have limited inventory, while Grounds for Friday and Saturday are sold out. Learn more about purchasing tickets, here.

THE FOOD

Charlotteans love to eat local and the Presidents Cup is a big opportunity to showcase what the Queen City has to offer year-round. The PGA wants to make sure visitors get a sense of the local flavor and culture here, which is why organizers announced food partnerships with several NoDa and South End restaurants:

Pictured: Renderings of fan areas throughout the course at Quail Hollow Club.

• The NoDa area will feature local flavors from Sabor Latin Street Grill, La Caseta and Cuzzo’s Cuisine.
• The South End neighborhood will offer selections from Two Scoops Creamery, El Toro Bruto and Viva Chicken.
• Ace No. 3, Inizio Pizza, Sunflour Baking Company, What the Fries and Noble Smoke round out the list of announced local food vendors. 

THE RETAIL

We’ve learned more about the retail experience of going in person to The Presidents Cup. Beyond the strong lineup of golf performance wear brands, expect to see exclusive items and collections from Peter Millar, Johnnie-O, lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer and more available in the Fan Shop. By the numbers, organizers tell SouthPark that the swag includes 50,000 hats; 35,000 t-shirts; plus 88,000 specialty items like drinkware, sunglasses and golf balls. Fans will have a chance to shop opening weekend, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

THE COURSE AND GROUNDS

• The First Tee area will be home to the spectator experience, where fans will cheer on their team. It will be the centerpiece of the Presidents Cup throughout tournament week, beginning with the opening ceremony.  
• The Fan Shop, which opens Saturday, Sept. 17, will have the largest merchandise tent ever built by the PGA Tour, reaching over 40,000 square feet.  
• The NoDa area will be staged in the intersection between 3 Fairway, 4 Green and 5 Fairway. 
• The South End area will be nestled between 16 Green and 10 Fairway.
• The Dock is a first for Quail Hollow. The Presidents Cup has constructed a viewing dock for Grounds ticket holders atop the pond that’s adjacent to 10 Fairway, facing 14 Green, where fans can gain unmatched vantage points of matches on three different holes .
• The Lawn is an open-air space located between 13 and 15 Fairways offering local food options, accessible seating, and scoreboards. 

GETTING THERE

Here are some of the best transportation options when venturing out to the Presidents Cup:

• Light Rail
  • Ticket holders are encouraged to use the Light Rail which will transport fans starting from uptown with multiple on-boarding locations en route to Quail Hollow Club. Exit the Light Rail at the Sharon Road West Station where shuttles will then transport travelers to the entrance of the event.
• Parking
  • Tickets for General Parking are on sale
  • Parking will be available at the uptown Convention Center with shuttles continuously running to and from Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday through Sunday.
• Rideshare
  • Uber and Lyft drop off and pick up locations will be designated on-site at Quail Hollow Club, walking distance from the tournament entrance.

GIVING BACK

Instead of winning prize money or a purse, each competitor designates charities or golf-related projects of his choice to receive a portion of the funds raised through the staging of each Presidents Cup. Some of the local nonprofits partners include: First Tee of Greater Charlotte, Augustine Literacy Project, Atrium Health Foundation, Charlotte Family Housing, NXT/CLT, Renaissance West Community Initiative and Lorien Academy of the Arts.

Read contributor Michael J. Solender’s piece, Teeing up the President Cup, which gives insight into how Quail Hollow Club evolved into a major venue for championship golf.

Featured image by Ben Jared/PGA Tour

-SP

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