The Perfect
H ST Golden Ocala steps up for the LPGA Tour
BY CARLTON REESE PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO
P
rofessional golf ’s return to Ocala last March came and went in the quietude that resembles the very game itself. Hiding its show behind the COVID curtain, the LPGA Tour paraded its stars at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club with little fanfare, minimal spectators and publicity that left inquiring minds wanting. For its part, Golden Ocala pulled off a minor miracle by hosting a major league sports event on short notice, but to those watching on television, it all seemed like any
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| APR 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM
other professional golf tournament. In the end, Austin Ernst conquered the Golden Ocala layout and ran away from the field, enjoying if not the accolades of a huge gallery that was missing then at least a celebratory beer shower from her fellow competitors. The scene at the 2021 Drive On Championship Presented by Volvik at Golden Ocala (a rather verbose title for an event, yes) resembled very little the last time the LPGA Tour ventured into horse country. In 2015 and 2016, the LPGA Coates Champion-
ship enjoyed throngs of record crowds, much to the delight of the LPGA Tour and the players themselves, who described the atmosphere as similar to a major championship. Alas, no ticket sales and only a limited number of passes available to club members made for an event relegated to the cyber vacuum typical in these times of pandemic paranoia. The whole thing from the beginning seemed a secret the LPGA had little interest in revealing. “The LPGA didn’t really publicize
