Walton Wrestles With Tantalizing PGA Tour Gamble

At the earlier TDC meeting, Commissioner Brad Drake (District 3), who also serves as the Chair of the TDC, expressed his reservations regarding the County’s $6 Million (per year) commitment to the PGA for a potential five-year contract. 

The original offer from the PGA Tour has a ‘sticker price’ of $ 30 million.

Commissioner Drake was not present at the BCC meeting this week and was not able to offer input to his fellow Commissioners and elaborate on his reservations.  

Drake said at the last TDC meeting that South Walton is not known for playing golf, but instead, is known for “our beaches – the sun and the sand.'” He contrasted South Walton to Myrtle Beach in his arguments.

RELATED: Is This The 30A Tourism Recession in Walton County?

It is important to note on June 3, 2025, the TDC voted 7-1 to NOT include money for the PGA event in their tourism plan and budget. Only Robert LaCasse (Seat 9) dissented in the vote. 

Rejecting the TDCs Advice

The BCC appears to be taking a different stance from the TDC. Clay Adkinson, Interim County Attorney, advised the TDC at their June 3 meeting that a vote to decline adding the PGA Tour to the Tourism Plan may be overridden by the BCC because the TDC serves as an advisory committee to the BCC.

Matt Algarin, Tourism Director of Walton County Tourism, began his presentation to the Commissioners, stating the decision that TDC had made [regarding the PGA Tour] and their recommendation to the Board.  Commissioner Glidewell (District 2) said, “Mr. Adkinson, I understand that the action of the TDC Council would require us [the BCC] to have a 4-1 vote?”  To which Adkinson responded, “Absolutely.  Because this is a multi-year and substantial financial commitment, this is not just a general action item of the TDC or general recommendation –  because it would be a part of the ‘raw tourist development plan’ – we would have to put in for,[sic] budget, and allocate for [the financial obligation of the contracted PGA Tour contract.]  This is an actual plan amendment – so under Florida statute, the plan cannot be substantially amended except by an affirmative vote of a majority plus 1 (of you) – if the TDC has not included or otherwise agreed to do it.”

Commissioner Glidewell then mentioned to the Commissioners present that the PGA has not provided a contract – inferring that the ability to decide on moving forward with the PGA is not possible at this time.  Mr. Adkinson added, “…I certainly don’t think that the Board [BCC] would be in a position to vote – especially if you don’t have a contract in front of you.”

The Chair, Commissioner Donna Johns (District 4), then requested that “Mr. Adkinson and a member of the TDC Board (whomever you choose) get together and talk to the ‘PGA folks’ and see if you can come up with a contract that would be amicable for everyone.  I would hate to stop this at this point.”

Commissioner Tony Anderson (District 5) added that he would like Commissioner Drake to be added to the group of individuals (representing the BCC) and provide representation for the BCC in those meetings and conversations.  Anderson added, “I have heard through the grapevine that the PGA is willing to consider a 3-year deal [in contrast to the 5-years that was first proposed by the PGA Tour]…I think we have some negotiating to do.”

A motion was made by Commissioner Glidewell and seconded to continue efforts to negotiate a potential contract with the PGA.  Following the motion, Commissioner Dan Curry (District 1) expressed concerns about “the current process” as it has evolved for the proposed Tour.  Curry said, “I keep hearing this word ‘compromise and compromise.’  But I have not heard anything back from their [PGA] side with anything to ‘compromise’ with.  If it is true what Commissioner Anderson says – that’s great.  But how long have we been on this, and we haven’t heard one thing from the other side [meaning the PGA] on the negotiation aspect of this?  They haven’t brought back anything to us to vote on or consider…We have to have someone from their side compromising on our side.  I want [them to have] some skin in the game – other than our empty checkbook.”

Jim Bagby, a Walton County citizen speaking to the BCC, expressed that he feels strongly about protecting the “beach nourishment” money and wants to ensure that the PGA Tour would not deplete monies that are allocated there.  Bottomline, he said, “I don’t see the juice being worth the squeeze.  It is a great idea, but we had a Korn Ferry Tour event here. – It didn’t make it.  We had a Senior PGA Tour event here, and it didn’t make it. So [for] some reason we think that if we bring the PGA Tour here – it will make it?”  Bagby began to share the list of professional golfers on the PGA Tour that played at the Las Vegas and Napa Valley PGA events.  He used these locations because they were held in the same timeframe as the proposed PGA Tour for Walton County.  Mr. Bagby’s research showed that the level of players participating in the late summer and early fall are not top contenders.  He added, “We are not going to get Scotty, Tiger, or anybody like that.”

Commissioner Curry spoke to the heart of finances for the County and approached the impacts that hosting the PGA Tour may have on other areas of spending and tourism promotion for  Walton County.  Mr. Curry asked Mr. Algarin what the current decline in revenue is for the County.  Mr. Algarin indicated that the County has a current decrease of 4.65%.  When asked what that means in revenue, Mr. Algarin stated that it was a “few million dollars.”  

They also discussed the impact on Tourism Development and the budget allocated to attract visitors to South Walton.  Mr. Algarin revealed that $8 million is spent annually on advertising, and it was inferred that major expenses for an investment like the PGA Tour could impact marketing to those who come to vacation on the beach.

Commissioner Johns spoke in favor of the benefits to the County through an investment in what she called the “Prestigious PGA.”

“Don’t forget about the return on investment.  This is not money that will go out the door and not come back,” Johns said, “There will be money coming back. In addition, it will be benefitting [sic] servers, the restaurants, and hotels.  In my opinion, it will also serve the artists…[and benefit] a lot of the restaurants that are on the North end [of the County] and Freeport.  Everybody will benefit from this.  It will not be isolated. It is for the entire County.”

Johns continued, “According to our [the County’s] strategic plan, it states on there [sic] that we need to be looking for something in the’ shoulder season’ which this is – that encompasses the entire County which this does…Money will be coming back.  This is a time where the servers will get good tips, I would assume. I wish people would just realize that money is not just going out, but it is coming back.”

Meagan Fiedler, an hourly employee and citizen working in hospitality believes that bringing in the PGA allows support for our employees during the off-season – the slower months. Commissioners were supportive and encouraging regarding her plea to bring in the PGA and potentially help hourly employees during the slower times. 

After public comment ended, Commissioner Johns asked for the “make-up” of the group that will be created to interact with the PGA.   Mr. Atkinson responded by saying, “TDC Staff, Mr. Algarin, Brad Drake, myself – [Referring to the group being formed, Atkinson said:] This is not as much a ‘committee’ because we are not [going to be] subject to [the] Sunshine [Law]…plus a bed tax collector.”  

Commissioner Johns summed up the discussion by saying, “The job [here] is to coordinate with the PGA to determine what kind of alternatives that there may be for us [in order] to move forward.”

The motion passed and connection with the PGA Tour begins in order to see if a deal is possible.