The PGA Championship is less than a year away , and the PGA of America is looking for local businesses to bring their local expertise to create the best event possible at Newtown Square’s Aronimink Golf Club .
The PGA VendorMatch program offers local businesses the chance to apply to work with the tournament’s prime national suppliers as local subcontractors in 19 service categories.
It’s also an opportunity for the PGA of America to boost its economic impact in the host markets.
“Our grand vision is that the golf industry supply chain, which is a $102 billion-a-year industry in the United States, truly reflects the demographics of America,” said Sandy Cross, the Chief People Officer for PGA of America. “So programs like PGA VendorMatch are a great opportunity for ourselves and our prime suppliers to make sure that women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, LGBT-owned businesses have an opportunity to be at the procurement bidding table … when we’re sourcing goods and services for our business, for championships.”
Despite its roster of top golf courses, the Philadelphia region is not a consistent stop for the men’s professional tours. The region is currently on a run, though, with this month’s PGA Tour’s Truist Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course, the PGA Championship next year and the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in 2030.
A view of the 11th hole at the Aronimink Golf Club on July 17, 2018 in Newtown Square, Pa. (Photo by Gary Kellner/PGA of America) “Obviously you don’t want to be too vague and kind of group all of them together, but to me it’s just a different style and a different look of golf up here … They all look so cool,” two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas said while competing at the Truist Championship. “I kind of think of it similar to Scotland or Ireland. There’s no bad golf courses, it seems like, you can play.”
Setting up tournaments in regions that don’t hold them regularly presents some extra challenges, Cross said, but opportunities too. It provides the chance to find new partners with an understanding of the local market and fresh ideas, localizes the goods and services, and leaves the area with more than just a tournament hangover.
“It’s really important for us to not come into these communities like Newtown Square, tear up the golf course, hold the event and head on out of town,” Cross said. “We really want to leave an impact on individuals, and locally owned and small businesses in the community that continues on.”
Cross said that the connection between the prime suppliers and the local subcontractor often lead to an ongoing relationship.
This year’s PGA Championship was at Quail Hollow Club, in Charlotte, N.C., where World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler clinched his third-ever major championship .
Next May’s PGA Championship, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments each year, will help kick off the major sports lineup in Philly during the nation’s 250th birthday . March will features first- and second-round games in the NCAA March Madness men’s basketball tournament . The summer will have the FIFA Men’s World Cup — which will have five group-stage games and a round-of-16 match on July 4 — along with the MLB All-Star Game.
Ryan Ogle is championship director of the 2026 PGA Championship, which will be played May 14 to17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. (Emma Lee/WHYY) Ryan Ogle, championship director of next year’s PGA Championship, said that over 200,000 spectators are expected for the tournament’s week of events. Estimates for the tournament’s economic impact on the region start at around $125 million.
Ogle said that what’s often forgotten in the impact calculation is the exposure.
“Over half a billion households in 180 countries and territories, this broadcast will be telecast to, across the globe,” he said in April. “To put a global spotlight on Delco, on Newtown Township, on Aronimink Golf Club. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
The PGA of America is looking for vendors in these 19 service categories:
Audio visual services
Catering and concessions
Cleaning services
Electrician services
Equipment and truck rentals
Event photography
Floral and landscape
Food and beverage products
Freight
Fueling
Furniture rental
Ice merchandisers
Laundry services
Lodging
Printing and signage
Security guard services
Staffing
Tenting services
Transportation (people)
The PGA VendorMatch registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday June 3 . After applications have been reviewed, follow-up meetings with prospective vendors will be planned for around August. The work to build up Aronimink’s grounds for the tournament will begin in February 2026.
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