LPGA installs lockers at Hilton Grand Vacation Tournament of Champions

The LPGA season kicks off this week on the Hilton Grand Trip Event of Champions and locker room discuss will possible be saved to a minimal this time.

Final 12 months, LPGA gamers and feminine celebrities started the week with out lockers after a storm broken the everlasting lockers which might be often in place within the girls’s locker room at Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership in Orlando.

The event deliberate to order non permanent lockers to put on the second degree of the clubhouse subsequent to participant eating, although that space didn’t embrace bogs. LPGA officers canceled the lockers, opting to make use of that house for different participant makes use of.

On Wednesday of event week, after a few gamers publicly voiced considerations, 36 non permanent lockers had been delivered to the course.

Even with the non permanent lockers, nevertheless, the locker room space was not designated as players-only – and subsequently not non-public and safe – because it was additionally utilized by sponsor VIPs and event workers.

This 12 months, event officers say LPGA gamers and celebrities will every have a chosen locker contained in the clubhouse for the Jan. 18-21 occasion, although the world will as soon as once more by utilized VIPs and workers.

“Much like different LPGA tournaments, choose event sponsors and workers may even have entry to the clubhouse and this consists of the restroom amenities throughout the locker rooms,” Aaron Stewart, VP of sports activities advertising at Hilton Grand Holidays, mentioned in a press release.

“LPGA gamers and feminine celebrities may even have non-public restroom amenities for players-only within the upstairs space of the clubhouse adjoining to their player-only eating room. Now we have labored intently with the LPGA to make sure all applicable safety and entry insurance policies are adopted.”

Brooke Henderson poses with the trophy after successful the 2023 Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership in Orlando. (Picture: Julio Aguilar/Getty Photographs)

When requested what number of LPGA occasions have locker room areas which might be open to non-players, the tour mentioned in a press release that “every LPGA Tour event has distinctive clubhouse setups, configurations, and entry guidelines based mostly on a wide range of components.

“Most significantly, each occasion has safety in place all through the venue, together with on the locker room entrance, to make sure the security and well-being of our athletes.”

LPGA winners from the previous two seasons are invited to compete for a $1.5 million purse on the TOC, whereas a discipline of celebrities vie for $500,000.

World No. 1 Lilia Vu headlines the sector together with No. 2 Ruoning Yin, Lake Nona member Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang.

One other Lake Nona resident, Annika Sorenstam, will compete within the celeb discipline together with NBC’s Dylan Dreyer, U.S. Soccer Corridor of Famer Landon Donovan, eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter, nation music star Chris Lane and World Sequence champion and Corridor of Famer John Smoltz.

Annika Sorenstam seems on after her shot on the 18th tee throughout the second spherical of the Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership on January 20, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Picture by Julio Aguilar/Getty Photographs)

“We’re honored to accomplice intently with the LPGA and the incredible golfers on the tour,” Stewart continued.

“Their suggestions is at all times taken to coronary heart in each choice we make in working this event as we wish it to be an gratifying expertise that they arrive again to 12 months after 12 months. We heard from many gamers that they appreciated how shortly the locker scenario was addressed final 12 months as a result of we perceive it was lower than ultimate.”