Salesmanship Club and Visit McKinney highlight Byron Nelson week, local economic benefits and charity work

Chris Peck, a member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and a McKinney resident, told the Visit McKinney board on April 29 that the club views this week’s Byron Nelson tournament at TPC Craig Ranch as “truly a partnership” with the city and local businesses.

The tournament’s local economic and charitable impact was the focus of the Salesmanship Club’s presentation. “All the proceeds that we receive from the Byron Nelson go to our services at Momentous Institute and our family therapy center,” Peck said. He described the Momentous Institute as a school and social-emotional learning organization that serves children from prekindergarten through fifth grade and operates family therapy services in the region.

Why it matters: Tournament-related tourism and sponsorships contribute hotel nights, restaurant sales and volunteer engagement in McKinney and Collin County. The Salesmanship Club and Visit McKinney said the event also funds social services: Peck said the club’s programs include teacher training and family therapy that serve thousands of cases annually.

Details from the meeting: - Investment in the course: Peck said the owner of TPC Craig Ranch (identified in the presentation as “Invited”) is investing $20,000,000 to renovate the course immediately after the tournament this year. The board was told renovation work begins the Tuesday following the tournament. - Sponsorship and commitments: The Salesmanship Club described a 10-year partnership with a tournament sponsor, the CJ Cup, and said an eight-year extension with the CJ Cup is in place. Peck highlighted that the upgraded course and sponsorships aim to boost the tournament’s stature and visitor draw. - Economic impact and volunteers: Peck cited a 2023 economic-impact figure of $80,000,000 for the tournament and noted the event requires roughly 1,300 volunteers, many from McKinney. - Charity work: Peck described Momentous Institute’s outcomes, saying the organization tracks students through high school and beyond and that a higher share of its students graduate from college than similar populations. He said Momentous serves children from low-income families and delivers teacher training in social-emotional learning across multiple school districts. - Activation and visitor engagement: Erin Warner, executive director of Visit McKinney, described the organization’s on-site activation at the tournament — an activation adjacent to the merchandise store and the “House of CJ” — intended to promote downtown McKinney venues and attractions. Warner said the Visit McKinney booth includes a 10-foot screen to broadcast tournament action and serve as an information and hospitality point for general-admission ticket holders.

Direct quotes and attributions in this report come from speakers who addressed the board: Chris Peck (Salesmanship Club of Dallas) and Erin Warner (executive director, Visit McKinney). The presentation also referenced staff and partner remarks about course condition and scheduling.

Community context and next steps: Visit McKinney staff encouraged board members and the public to visit the activation on the 18th fairway during tournament week. The tournament’s practice rounds and Pro-Am were scheduled the week of April 29, with tournament play Thursday through Sunday.

Ending: Board members heard the presentation as part of regular business; no formal action was taken on the tournament presentation itself at the April 29 meeting.