Friday, May 14th 2021, 9:42 pm
Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa is busy preparing for the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, which runs May 25-30. Organizers said they have been working behind the scenes for two years.
Friday afternoon, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt stopped by to check out the progress. The club told said it is about 70 percent done with preparations and has confidence everything will be ready in time.
Cary Cozby is the director of golf at Southern Hills and one of the 156 players in the tournament.
"We're excited to get people on the property, let them see the golf course,” said Cozby. “If you look at the players, I mean, there's like 30 major champions that are going to be playing here and some big names that haven't always played in some of the champion's tour events."
To get ready for the 8,000 to 10,000 people expected every day, Cozby said hundreds of employees have put up temporary fences and tents, laid five acres of sod, and even put down gravel to make a parking lot for the media.
"I think we're going to be great,” said Cozby. “It's going to be right down to the wire, but thankfully, we've got the best in the business doing it.”
Meanwhile, members are getting in their last few rounds of golf before the club shuts down next week for three weeks. John Frame has been a member for 30 years and said he cannot wait to see the pros.
“It's a lot of fun, and it's a great honor for the club and for all the members of the club, and I think it's great for the city of Tulsa as well,” said Frame.
News On 6 asked Cozby how he is able to do his job and prepare to play in a major tournament at the same time.
"I do know the golf course well, I get to sleep in my own bed, I don't have to do any of the things you do for the life on tour," explained Cozby.
Cozby also said local and state law enforcement will be involved with security for the event.
May 14th, 2021
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