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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m A u g u s t 2 0 14 • I nsIgh t | 15 Links to the world stakeholders and corporate clients," mengel says. "We have new viewing locations, new products, a new main entrance and merchandise tent." By early July, 30 companies had committed to sponsor chalets planned for the ninth, 17th and 18th holes, mengel says. Kohler recently announced it would add a chalet village on the 15th hole, which will allow another 10 companies the opportunity to sponsor. some 40 more companies have committed to other sponsorships, including the 30-person gene sarazen suites on the 16th hole, as well as tables for 10 in the Champion's Club near the first hole. more than half of available sponsorships were sold out by July. When Kohler hosted its first Pga event in 2004 – setting an all-time record for Pga ticket sales at the time -- none of the suites were on the course, and in 2010, viewing areas along the links were limited, mengel says. For 2015, course designer Pete dye and the Kohler Company have engineered the edges of the golf course to accommodate more chalets to be built close to the action. (Corporate sponsors of the 2015 Pga will have first right of refusal to sponsor suites for the 43rd ryder Cup, which comes to Kohler in 2020.) organizers expect each day of the Pga will O ne year from now, the international spotlight returns to Whistling straits when the 97th Pga Championship comes to Kohler for the third time, aug. 10-16. one of the most widely broadcasted sporting events in the world, the Pga plans 28 hours of live television coverage, reaching more than 500 million households in 200 countries. Pre-registration for tickets, ensuring prime viewing spots, are on sale through aug. 10, 2014. regular tickets go on sale aug. 11. many of those prime spots will be in new locations, affording spectators the chance to get up close to the action while enjoying comfortable seating, rest rooms, concessions and more, says Jason mengel, championship director for the Pga of america. starting next spring, construction workers will transform the perimeter of the links overlooking lake michigan into a series of temporary spectator "villages" made up of climate- controlled chalets, each accommodating 50 to 100 guests. Corporate sponsorships for each of the chalets as well as tables within hospitality suites are selling fast, mengel says. "We've had two very successful Pgas in 2004 and 2010, but we are continually looking to improve things for our Hole 7 at whistling Straits, overlooking Lake Michigan, illustrates the classic Irish "links" course the kohler property was modeled after. whistling Straits hosts the PgA Championship next August. Advance-sale tickets are available through Aug. 10 and some corporate hospitality suite sponsorships are still available. B y M A R g A R e T L e B R U N C o u r t e s y o f C o u r t e s y D e s t i n At i o n K o H L e r kohler gears up for PgA 2015 at whistling Straits Tourism in Sheboygan County Destination Kohler, with its golf courses, Kohler Waters Spa, hotels, restaurants and shops, makes an important impact on tourism in Sheboygan County. In 2013, the county captured $198.92 million in visitor spending and has steadily increased from $169.7 million in 2010, the last time the PGA was held at Kohler's Whistling Straits. Tourism accounts for 3,391 equivalent full-time jobs in Sheboygan, with more than $71 million in labor income derived from the industry. – Source: Tourism Economics: An Oxford Company PGA 2015 website www.PgAChampionship.com [continued ] »