Fry's golf course in Morgan Hill is seen from the air in this file photo.
The PGA Tour could be coming to Morgan Hill - and soon.
The organization is interested in holding a tournament at electronics tycoon John Fry's exclusive course in Morgan Hill but doesn't have a target date set, according to spokesmen from both the PGA Tour and Fry's company, Fry's Electronics.
Initial reports said the world's most prestigious golf tour planned to hold an event at "The Institute" golf course no sooner than 2010. A source close to Fry, however, said that announcement is only partially true.
"It's sort of been blown out of proportion," said Fry's spokesman Manuel Valerio. "We're excited that the PGA is showing interest in our course, but it's premature to say there's going to be an event here by 2010. It is logical to hypothesize something coming to fruition in the future, but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves."
Dave Lancer, a PGA Tour spokesman, added that 2010 seemed a good "target" date for a potential tournament.
"We want to make sure everything is in place before anything gets planned," Lancer said. "The interest is there, though."
To bring the Tour to his 192-acre "Institute," Fry reportedly has to submit a detailed plan for accommodating such an event with its enormous crowds and traffic. The course is mainly nonurban and unlikely to provide parking on site, which could spill over into environmentally sensitive land.
"An environmental impact report still has to be done, so there's still a lot to be finished," said Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate. "It's not going to be easy, but we want to do it right."
The immense 7,952-yard course has been tangled in controversy since its expansion from a nine-hole course in the early decade, a process done without proper permission.
Fry's company currently has specialists working to bring the course "closer in harmony with the environment," Valerio said.
"It's our intention to meet the requirements of any environmental agencies," Valerio added. "We want this to be a world-class institute without a second-class environment."
Fry's currently sponsors two major golf events, including the Fry's Electronics Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., that would be succeeded by the event in Morgan Hill, PGA Tour officials said earlier this week. Valerio said that, too, is just speculation.
The inaugural Fry's Electronics Open, held in October, drew a full field of 132 players with a purse of $5 million and $900,000 payout to the winner. Former Masters champion Mike Weir won the event.
Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Interim President Chris Bryant said if the event does come to Morgan Hill, it could be beneficial for the area.
"I imagine it would bring in a lot of people to the area, fill up our hotels, bring in people who would take advantage of our merchants, our restaurants, and it would be good for our city," he said. "At the very least, I would imagine the joint tourism board (Morgan Hill and Gilroy) would be interested in making sure as much information was provided to attendees as possible on what there is to do in the area. Hopefully, people would do more than just attend the event."
Gilroy officials agreed the event would be beneficial for the area.
"This would certainly be another feather in our hat, an incredible venue for bringing people into this area, and as a joint tourism partnership, we would want to be involved, to provide event attendees with information about all of the options in the area," said Jane Howard, executive director of the Gilroy Visitors Bureau, which is a part of the South Santa Clara Valley Tourism Partnership.
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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