There are a lot of events held in Milwaukee each and every summer. There's Summerfest - the world's largest music festival. There's Jazz in the Park. There's the Wisconsin State Fair. There's also Brewers baseball, and trips to Green Bay to watch the Packers at training camp.
Then there is the U.S. Bank Championship at Brown Deer Park. It has become one of the signature events of the summer here in the city.
It is also in danger of going away.
In case you missed it, and chances are you probably did, U.S. Bank has decided not to be the main sponsor for the tournament after the 2009 edition later this year. Aurora Health Care, a secondary sponsor, has also decided it will scale back its financial participation, leaving Dan Croak and the fine folks who bust their butts all year long to make it a success scrambling.
U.S. Bank has decided it's pulling out because of sagging attendance numbers and poor ratings on The Golf Channel. In these trying economic times, Croak and his staff are going to find it tough to replace the money U.S. Bank brought to the table.
If you want to blame anyone for what is happening to a tournament that - at one time - routinely hosted some of golf's biggest names, look no further than the fine folks with The PGA Tour.
If you want to know why people aren't going - if you want to know why people aren't watching - it's very simple. The USBC just happens to be held the same weekend as The British Open. The USBC just cannot compete with that.
Golf fans have a choice. Watch the greatest players on the face of the Earth battle for one of the sport's biggest prizes (The Claret Jug) or watch the second, no make that third, no make that fourth tier of golfers fight for what is considered a minor trophy. Is it any surprise people would rather see Tiger and Phil as opposed to some of the non-descript golfers that come to Brown Deer? It isn't a surprise to me.
Had the tour not moved the tournament to the same weekend as The British Open, there is more than a good chance the field would be better than it is now. And if that were the case, attendance would be higher, ratings would be higher, and U.S. Bank would not have decided to withdraw.
As it is, Croak and his staff of tireless workers deserve a lot of credit for some of the names they have been able to con vice to come to Brown Deer over the last couple of years. Getting Corey Pavin to defend his title in 2007 was a nice victory for the tournament. But, getting Kenny Perry, who was one of the hottest golfers in the world at the time, to honor his commitment when he could have easily played across the pond was nothing short of incredible.
I spoke with Perry the day before the tournament started last summer. He told me the reason he came to Brown Deer was simple. He was keeping his promise. The promise he made to Croak to come.
There might not have been as many people at the tournament as there had been in years past (stormy weather had a lot to do with that) but those that did show up had a great time. I had a great time.
Brown Deer is a public course. That means anyone can play. It was fun to watch golfers who are way better than me battle with some of the toughest rough on tour.
But, because The British Open is played on the same weekend, the USBC has lost a lot of its luster. And now the main sponsor is leaving.
It's likely the tournament will survive for a couple of years, but if Croak can't replace U.S. Bank as the title sponsor, it's a good bet the tournament will be history by the time 2011 rolls around.
If that happens, all the charities this tournament has benefited over the years will lose out. Believe it or not, charity is the main reason this tournament takes place. Croak is proud of all the help the tournament provides all the various charities it benefits.
So, it would be more than golf fans who would lose here. It would be more than just local business taking a hit. It would be those less fortunate than you and I.
Think about that and then decide if this tournament is worth saving.
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