Walton County TDC recommends pursuing PGA Tour event; asks staff to seek co-sponsors and set 2–5 year window

Walton County Tourist Development Council members voted unanimously to recommend that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners pursue hosting a PGA Tour event in Walton County in a September slot, and asked staff to seek co-sponsors and negotiate contract length between two and five years.

The motion directs TDC staff to present the negotiated proposal and any identified local co-sponsorships to the BCC for final action. Vice Chair Wise Coble made the motion; Councilman Moffett seconded it. The TDC also asked that a TDC member who is a bed‑tax collector be included on the county negotiation team.

The PGA delegation described the sponsor ask the tour often requires: “As youare awarethis is a, you know, $6,000,000, you know, per year ask over the course of 5 years with a 5% annual escalator built into that,” Matt Algren, Walton County tourism director, told the council while reviewing potential funding sources. PGA representative Charles Hamrick urged the council to consider the eventand framed the prize as a platform to market the destination. Hamrick said the events are meant to “put our best face forward to the world,” and stressed organizers will operate local logistics and community programming in partnership with county leaders.

Supporters pointed to economic and media estimates used in other markets: commissioners and presenters cited a first‑year local economic impact example of roughly $15 million and an estimated $84 million in media value tied to a comparable PGA event. Supporters said the tournament can help lengthen the shoulder season and raise heads‑in‑beds during otherwise slow months; opponents and cautionary voices raised the risks of staging a major outdoor event in the fall hurricane season, the scale of the financial commitment and whether the county should use reserves.

Council members discussed funding options presented by staff, including using the TDC"new product/shoulder season" reserve (a balance staff reported near $22 million) or considering a longer‑term additional TDT mechanism; commissioners also asked staff to pursue private cosponsors to defray costs.

The council also included several process conditions in the motion: that the event be scheduled in September where possible; that staff continue to explore co‑sponsorship and local partner revenue; and that final contract terms and funding sources be brought to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. The council emphasized negotiation flexibility and asked staff to return with a contract and budget for BCC consideration.

The TDC vote was unanimous; the matter now moves to the Board of County Commissioners for negotiation and final approval.

Ending: The TDC instructed staff to pursue cosponsors and return a negotiated contract and budget to the BCC, and encouraged continued public outreach as planning proceeds.