Championship Golf on the Shores of Lake Michigan!
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship returns for a historic sixth time to Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, MI, bringing the most accomplished senior golfers to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. In addition to Championship golf, this family-friendly fan event provides a variety of experiences such as celebrity cooking demonstrations, a Kids Zone, and more!
About Whirlpool Corporation
As the last remaining major appliance company headquartered in the United States and founded 113 years ago in Benton Harbor, MI by Lou and Fred Upton, Whirlpool Corporation is singularly focused on improving life at home, and Benton Harbor has been home to Whirlpool Corporation since its founding in 1911. As a significant employer in Southwest Michigan, the company’s commitment starts with its people and its investments in the local communities in which it operates.
Whirlpool Corporation is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, committed to being in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with their brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator.
Acquired by Whirlpool Corporation in 1986, the KitchenAid brand is well known for its legendary stand mixer, first launched in 1919 and the first dishwasher in 1949. KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for those with a passion to create. Today, the brand offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators and whisks to wine cellars.
The Harbor Shores Story
In the 1980’s there was a decline in American manufacturing and in a matter of 12 months, approximately 6,000 jobs were lost and 80% of the manufacturing facilities were closed, leaving the majority of people without work.
The re-investment in this area and the Harbor Shores clean-up removed 3 million square feet of old buildings and 140,000 tons of waste to create a development area encompassing over 500 acres in the cities of Benton Township, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor. Over $15,000,000 was expended to remediate the Superfund site including removal and offsite disposal of contaminated soils - enough waste to fill a football field, 60 feet high.
In addition, the Harbor Shores project helped to generate an additional $74 million in clean-up, new roads, and infrastructure for the community, including replacing wooden water lines and other ancient infrastructure.
The area is now home to the beautiful Harbor Shores Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and more than five residential developments. The eighteen-hole course sits along Lake Michigan and has become a premier destination for golfers throughout the Midwest.
For more on the story of Harbor Shores, go to https://harborshoresresort.com/golf/our-story
The Sponsorship Was Born
As Harbor Shores looked to bring golfers to play the course, the principals knew the best way to attract people to this new course was to bring a Championship-caliber event to it. People would come to town to play golf and might also stay for other attractions. In 2011, KitchenAid brand signed on to be the presenting sponsor of the Senior PGA Championship. Every other year it would be held at Harbor Shores and receive international attention.
The Championship has brought golf legends such as Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, John Daly, and others to the local area for one week every other year. Droves of tourists have come to watch great golf and experience Southwest Michigan and it is broadcasted to over 170 million households and 79 countries & territories. Since the first Championship in 2012, the number of hotels rooms available have more than tripled. The Championship also brings temporary jobs and contributions to local non-profits in the community.
2024 will be the final Championship at Harbor Shores, but it won’t be forgotten, as the event has given the small community proof that it could host large, national events with great success.
Fan Experience
Throughout the sponsorship, the KitchenAid brand has delivered one of the best and most unique brand activation programs of any golf championship. Creating a bridge between cooking and golf that has never been considered in the past. The brand excites spectators, bringing new audiences to the sport and creating a one-of-a-kind family friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy.
During Championship Week, there are a variety of culinary experiences, kitchen design inspiration, and product demos and displays from KitchenAid. The KitchenAid Fairway Club is the main fan-experience center and is geared towards the entire family. It features local and celebrity chef demos, samples at the KitchenAid Cafe, an opportunity to try out KitchenAid small appliances and to be inspired by a fully designed kitchen and special guest designer. There’s something for everyone at the Fairway Club.
That’s not all - throughout the golf course, there are KitchenAid photo ops to commemorate your experience, chances to win KitchenAid products, and unique ways to interact with your favorite kitchen appliances.
For more from the brand, visit Kitchenaid.com
Impact
The Championship showcases Southwest Michigan as a great place to work, live, and play and helps to attract residents and visitors alike to the area.
Broadcasting of the Championship to over 170 million households and 79 different countries & territories shows the world how great the southwest Michigan area is to visit.
The championship has an average impact of $7-$8M to the local economy each year according to two studies.
Roughly 600 temporary jobs are created around the championship each year and over 20 national and local vendors to help prepare and execute the championship.
1,000 volunteers per year helping in many facets - disability services shuttle, hospitality services, community showcase, transportation, crowd control and more.
The impact of the KitchenAid Sr PGA Championship will live on for many years. The Championship has donated nearly $1 million dollars to Benton Harbor youth organizations. Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, First Tee Benton Harbor, Benton Harbor Promise, Benton Harbor Area Schools Athletic Department, Curious Kids Museum and YMCA.
In 2018, a scholarship was created in the name of Jack and Barbara Nicklaus for Benton Harbor Promise recipients who graduate from LMC and want to pursue a 4-year degree. One recipient used the scholarship to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He is working as a nursing supervisor in the Corewell Health System. He also funded Sabroso, a Mexican restaurant in Benton Harbor, that is run by his family members. A second recipient used the scholarship to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Advanced Visual Communications at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has gone on to have positions including Lead Graphic Designer and Brand Strategist. He is also Founder and Creative Director of his own graphic design studio, Witkindness, launched in November, 2023.
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will provide funding to the scholars through 2029.
2023 marked the 8th annual Holiday Food Share, which provides over 400 families each year with holiday meals around Christmas.
