Why Fans Love The Honda Classic

Justin Thomas, 2018 Honda Classic Champion, poses for a selfie with a young fan.

by Rebecca Seelig | Photography by Jason Myers

Did you know that over 1 billion households have the opportunity to see and learn about Palm Beach Gardens during the worldwide broadcast of The Honda Classic golf tournament each year? Viewers in 224 countries and territories are provided a frontrow seat to action-packed PGA TOUR competition, produced in 23 different languages on the Golf Channel and NBC, but also take in hours of feature segments highlighting our Signature City as the golf capital of the world and a truly fantastic place to live.

The global reach of The Honda Classic is also seen in the player field. More than 20 nations were represented during the 2021 tournament in March, with the champion, Matt Jones, hailing from Australia. To further illustrate the geographical diversity, Jones held off contenders CT Pan from Taiwan and Adam Hadwin from Canada, as well as past champions Camilo Villegas from Colombia and Sungjae Im from South Korea. Since 2000, there have been 12 different international champions, notably Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Adam Scott and two-time winner Padraig Harrington.

the pros

Homegrown star Brooks Koepka signs autographs after his round.

Certainly, the chance to compete on the Champion Course at PGA National, designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, is an exciting prospect for any PGA TOUR player. They all want to tame the “Bear Trap,” holes 15, 16 and 17, known for treacherous winds and looming waterways that often decide the outcome of the event. For many though, The Honda Classic has become a “home game” – a group lured to South Florida by the ideal weather, top-notch golf facilities and endless off-course activities – Palm Beach County is now the primary residence for more than 40 active professional golfers.

the fun

For many, The Honda Classic has become a “home game” – a group lured to South Florida by the ideal weather, top-notch golf facilities and endless off-course activities.

Fans flock to the first tee to watch Palm Beach County resident Rickie Fowler tee off.

Outside the ropes, The Honda Classic annually welcomes over 200,000 spectators to the grounds at PGA National and puts strong emphasis into ensuring there is “something for everyone.” Twice recognized as the “Most Fan Friendly event on the PGA TOUR,” The Honda Classic provides options for all – from the avid golf fan to the socialite, or the family with young kids to the business sector. The Honda Classic offers nearly two dozen public venues for patrons to enjoy without any upgraded credentials (the PGA TOUR average is four) ranging from front-row golf viewing decks, to can’t-miss and non-traditional shopping experiences, to unique and immersive bar locations featuring the event’s official sponsors. Kids 15 & under are admitted free to the event, as are military personnel, who receive upgraded hospitality on the 17th hole. After the last putt drops, nightly concerts and two community-driven fireworks shows courtesy of Founders Club partner Tire Kingdom are provided.

“We have created an entertainment event that is more than just a professional golf tournament, it has become a place to connect, to celebrate, to create memories – the whole community is part of its success,” stated Ken Kennerly, Executive Director of The Honda Classic.

The creation of world-class entertainment and the transformation PGA National undergoes to host The Honda Classic does not happen overnight. The operational buildout begins in November, with nearly 100 different vendors intricately involved in creating the final presentation for local and global audiences. Recruitment of over 1,600 volunteers – the lifeblood of the tournament and whom without the event could not run – takes months to finalize. Restaurants and hotels prepare tirelessly for their role in providing exceptional host city hospitality and enjoy a share of the over $60 million in economic impact the tournament produces. Planning meetings with key stakeholders literally begin the day after the previous year’s event concludes.

“The selfless collaboration of so many leaders within the City of Palm Beach Gardens and throughout Palm Beach County is truly unmatched,” shared Honda Classic Tournament Director Andrew George, “and the ‘all-in’ mindset they exhibit has allowed us to keep momentum and focus towards our mission of making a positive impact on the local community.”

the cause

And as residents we know that “impact” is done through the tournament’s philanthropic arm Honda Classic Cares, which gives back millions to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in our area each year. While the event in 2021 felt a bit different, the goal of raising money for those in need in Palm Beach County remained the same.

$5.1 million (the tournament’s 2nd largest distribution ever) was raised and distributed in 2021 to organizations specializing in a variety of areas including child health services, youth programs, food security and mentoring. In total, tournament distributions positively impacted 100 local nonprofits and more than 100,000 children. The Honda Classic has donated $55M to local nonprofits since the event’s inception.

Barbara Nicklaus poses for a photo with young fans in the Nicklaus Neighborhood.

In addition, The Honda Classic’s main beneficiary, Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, received $1.2M, the sixth straight year that Honda Classic Cares has made a gift of $1M+ and surpassed the $10M in total donations to NCHCF.

The Honda Classic also offers nonprofits the American Honda Birdies for Children program where local charities present their donor base with a chance to win a new Honda automobile, while at the same time, the charity benefits from the proceeds plus a 5% matching contribution courtesy of LOCALiQ. Since the program’s inception in 2010 over $18M has been raised by charities that have teamed up with The Honda Classic.

“While the tournament strives to provide Palm Beach County with a premier professional sporting event, our ultimate goal is to positively impact the youth in our community, and we see that goal realized during Honda Classic Cares week,” said Kennerly.

More information about The Honda Classic and Honda Classic Cares can be found at www.thehondaclassic.com. The 2022 tournament will be played the week of February 21-27.