A Look Back at Ryder Cup 2016

The welcome receptions were some of the best we’ve ever presented in the many years Premier Golf has been the official distributor of Ryder Cup packages. The events had everything:  great food, fun outfits and camaraderie. Our Taste of Minnesota reception was truly unique and exciting.

Michigan Golf Live (MGL), a multi-media company, did a superb job of covering the Ryder Cup and featuring the Premier Golf experience. Bill Hobson of MGL was seemingly everywhere on the grounds whether it was immersing with the crowds, in the media center or following Premier Golf activities. If you’re looking for an engaging and entertaining presentation of the entire Ryder Cup week,

Oh, the memories. The 2016 Ryder Cup will long be remembered for the Patrick Reed/ Rory McIlroy singles match on Sunday that was filled with phenomenal shots, in-your-face putts and over-the-top player theatrics. Both golfers exhibited the passion and performance that golf fans love about the Ryder Cup. In the end, Patrick Reed prevailed, but everybody was the winner in this match that was “one for the ages.”

Almost overlooked was the spectacular duel on Sunday between Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, which featured the best  performance of the week. They both made a combined 19 birdies (Lefty had 10) and shot a combined score of 58 (14 under). The match ended in a tie with each player garnering a half point for their team.

Premier’s Golf Chalet on the 16th fairway at Hazeltine National was a huge hit. It was a calm oasis for our guests to relax and recharge. Brimming with luxurious appointments, the air-conditioned chalet had a bar with stools, casual, comfortable seating, wide-screen televisions and executive washrooms. In addition, there was an open bar, breakfast/lunch buffet and snacks throughout the day. The Chalet put our guests right near the action and provided an amenity-loaded enclave to relax, enjoy a libation, grab a bite to eat and talk about golf and the Ryder Cup.

Arnold Palmer had passed away on the Sunday before Ryder Cup week and his presence was felt at Hazeltine National. Palmer’s 1975 Ryder Cup golf bag was placed near the first tee in this memory and fans were able to pay tribute to “The King” by signing a huge mural.

In the days leading up to competition on Friday, there were a couple of notable controversies swirling through Hazeltine National. In a media conference, Phil Mickelson was highly critical of 2004 Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton, who paired Lefty with Tiger Woods that year at Oakland Hills. The pairing was a huge disappointment and Mickelson implied that Sutton mishandled the situation. The next day, Mickelson realized his criticism was improper and later apologized to Sutton in a face-to-face meeting in the Hazeltine National locker room. The second controversy involved Masters Champion/European Team player Danny Willett, whose brother P.J. Willett blasted American fans in an article in a British golf publication. P.J. Willett suggested that U.S.A. fans tended to eat too many hot dogs and drink lousy beer among other things that were even worse. While Danny Willett apologized profusely before the matches, his brother never did apologize.