Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 4

4 A TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2003 DemocratandChronicle.com DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE hMlW mi in! m- iifinoniiiioniiQr 2012. "To be on TV for six days last week and have people saying what a great course this is and what a great area it is We just can't calculate what that's worth," said Donoghue of the Visitors Association. The Visitors Association should know next month how much the local economy benefited from the event. The association assumes that a tourist to the area typically spends $150 a day during an overnight stay. Ratings fall CBS's preliminary ratings were down 40 percent for a PGA Championship final round that featured a duel between two golfers who had never won a PGA Tour tournament and Tiger Woods out of contention.

Sunday's coverage on the Viacom Inc. network was watched in 4.8 percent of homes in the top 55 U.S. media markets, according to Nielsen Media Research Inc. A year ago, 8 percent tuned in to watch Rich Beem's one-shot victory over Woods. CBS's telecast of Saturday's third round drew a 4.1 percent rating, down from 5.6 last year, the network said.

Because of a blackout in the Northeast, New York, Cleveland and Detroit weren't included in the rating. Bloomberg News But "for an event like this you 4 Jl 1lJLJUI can double that," Donoghue said. That may be, but suggesting that the event will inject $35 million to $40 million into the Rochester economy may be misleading, said Stanley Engerman, an economics professor at the University of Rochester. Similar estimates were made after the Ryder Cup, which produced $4 million in sales taxes. Oak Hill and the PGA split ANNETTE LEIN staff photographer Wegmans Food Markets Inc.

has announced its intention to close its Mt. Hope Avenue store rather than expand it. Wegmans said that the store, the smallest in its chain, isn't making money. Trillo, who owns three clothing PGA FROM PAGE 1A that will make them want to come back, even when Tiger Woods doesn't. "We're just hoping that people say, "This was a nice place, maybe I'll come back to visit or open a business or come here to said Patti Donoghue, director of public relations at the Greater Rochester Visitors Association.

But that grand vision should be tempered with realistic expectations, some local business leaders and economists warn. How much Rochester not the PGA or Oak Hill benefited financially from the tournament is still to be determined, and not all stores near the course said the event was a windfall. If other major golf tournaments held here are any indication, the events haven't produced long-lasting boosts to the economy, some business leaders said. "The event could not have gone better," said Thomas Moo-ney, chief executive of the Rochester Business Alliance. But "to think that somebody is going to move a plant here because of a week of watching golf is a real stretch." Busy or ghostly For Brad Sluman, PGA week was a big boon for his business, the Pittsford Pub.

The place had a two-hour wait for a table each night, and the bar had shoulder-to-shoulder traffic. The pub was also popular because Brad's brother is Jeff Sluman, hometown hero and PGA golfer. "We did unbelievable business," he said Monday. "Every square foot was filled every night." Merchants not in the hospitality industry tell a different story. They describe a ghostly Main 1 yftr' 'iwfrff wr Wegmans FROM PAGE 1A most profits from the event, said Bob Jeffrey, the PGA's on-site director.

So money from ticket, merchandise and food sales largely doesn't get kicked back into the community except for sales tax revenue. "If one looks at how much was spent, it probably overstates the benefits," to Rochester, said Engerman, who teaches a course on the economics of sports and entertainment. And while the PGA Championship put Rochester in the limelight for a week, the plugs f.Ki inside Rochester city limits on Driving Park Avenue and on East Avenue. But Natale also said the company is considering a possible expansion in the city. "We would very much like to open a new store in the southeast portion of the city, if we could find the right parcel of land," she said.

Natale said that Wegmans has mm, stores in the village. "Even though we had thousands of people from out of town, they are looking for places to eat. But I don't think they are coming into my store to buy a sweater," added Jim Cronin, owner of the Pittsford Pendleton Shop at 1 S. Main Street and treasurer of the Pittsford Village Business Association. Yet local businesses that didn't directly profit from the PGA Championship hope that some day, indirectly, they will if visitors come back to explore the region further.

Pittsford Supervisor Bill Carpenter said tourism to the town increases after it hosts such events as the Ryder Cup in 1995 and Buffalo Bill training camp. He said the town heavily promoted the village shops during the Ryder Cup, but it didn't bring hordes to Main Street. This year, the town held a PGA welcoming party in the village on the Monday before the event. "I think long-term we are marketing ourselves as a great place to visit," he said. Looking to the future Local marketers also think the success of the PGA tournament could increase Rochester's ability to draw conventions and other PGA events.

Oak Hill executives are already eyeing a U.S. Open golf tournament in 2011 or have already been pulled and installed somewhere else. The PGA Championship, Engerman said, doesn't carry the same long-term impact like hosting an Olympic Games, which brings the construction of new sports and convention facilities. The event means "Oak Hill can become a better course, but that isn't going to do much for Rochester," he said. Nancy Shea shops on Monday at the Mt.

Hope Wegmans with granddaughter Jadelynn. The store is to close by Thanksgiving. looked at the site of the former Rochester Psychiatric Center on Elmwood Avenue but said she could not be more specific about the company's level of interest. Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson who was informed of the news in a Friday meeting with Wegmans President Danny Wegman, called the closing "regrettable." "The city is not as bereft of can't put it here?" Hupp said the community would support a larger store on the site.

"They'll probably build a bigger store out in the suburbs," she said. Joyce Magee said she was shocked at the news. "I run up here all the time to shop." James Blount, also of Rochester, said he understood Wegmans needed to make a business decision. "But I'll miss the mom-and-pop flavor of this store," he said. DTYLERioDemocratandChronicle.com appointment.

Good said the neighborhood association supported the Wegmans expansion plans and spoke favorably of the project at the zoning hearing. "Wegmans seemed very excited about expanding the store when they talked with our members," Good said. Shoppers expressed sadness at the news. "I can't understand it," said Betty Hupp of Rochester as she shopped Monday afternoon. "They can put money into expanding to Maryland but they Street in Pittsford because regular customers were either at the tournament or too afraid about traffic tie-ups to come downtown even though traffic actually moved smoothly.

And few of the 20,000 tourists for the PGA tournament made their way to the local shops after spending eight to 10 hours a day at the course, they said. "Is it good for the economy? (For) certain people," said Sue Others see the tournament another way: It was an exciting sports event for visitors and local residents and could produce new economic opportunities in the future. "The intention for having the event is because it's a championship golf tournament," said Mooney. "Anything else is a spin-off benefit." JSPECTORiaDemocratandChronicle.com grocery stores as it was say 10 years ago, but I still feel some sadness, because this is a local institution," he said. The city will try to get Wegmans to reconsider or look at other expansion possibilities, Johnson said.

Bob Good, president of Upper Mt. Hope Neighbors, the area's neighborhood association, called the decision a major dis- Rochester, still smiling, says goodbye to the PGA 't rA- 'mil-i-i ran rn JIM MEMM0TT SENIOR EDITOR PITTSFORD It was a day for goodbyes and packing up at Oak Hill Country Club on Monday, as workers began to undo all that had been done to stage the PGA Championship. "Everyone is still running on adrenaline," said Eric Rule, Oak Hill's general manager. "But the reality will set in soon. They'll realize it's over." The bottle of ibuprofen on Rule's desk indicated that the championship, which began with three days of practice rounds followed by four days of competition ending Sunday, had not been stress-free.

It had taken years of planning, thousands of volunteers and some luck with the weather to accommodate the 213,000 spectators who came to the course during the week. Still, as Rule sat in his office, reading about 40 congratulatory e-mails, he had the look of a man without complaints. Kinder, gentler fans In Rule's opinion, the spectators for this championship one of four major championships in men's professional golf had been less boisterous, indeed more polite, than the spec- mellow," he said as he collected television cable from the course Monday. "I've been doing this for four years, and some of the crowds are ruthless. I can't blame them.

They had been standing at a hole for five hours and then we come and stand in front of them. But they can be ruthless." Flower power While the Oak Hill crowd was generally polite, it was hard on the flowers. Judi Munski, Oak Hill's horticulturist, and her assistant, Tina Rogers, were busy Monday planting annuals that had been around the corporate chalets in the gardens near the player's walkway to the clubhouse, where crowds had gathered in hope of getting autographs. "This garden got trampled," Munski said, as she pointed out one high-traffic area. She and the other staff and volunteers who helped maintain the course and clubhouse area during the championship had worked long hours.

But Munski had no regrets. "It was a very enjoyable experience. One I'll never forget." Dream on Plans call for both the East WILL YURMAN staff photographer Curtis Wilson of Sky TV gathers up cables quickly when the sprinklers come on at the 18th green Monday at Oak Hill Country Club. and West courses to be reopened to Oak Hill members on Wednesday. It will take a few weeks for all of the temporary structures on site to be removed.

Work will also have to be done on the course itself, to bring back some of the ground that was worn down by spectators. There were golfers on the East Course on Monday, as CBS had reserved the course for members of the media and other guests. Consequently, Scott Bramlett of Atlanta stood Monday where Shaun Micheel had stood the day before to make the shot that won the championship. Bramlett swung as Micheel had swung. Well, not exactly.

Bramlett's ball did not sail 174 yards straight, to within 2 inches of the cup, as did Micheel's. No, Bramlett's ball took an immediate left turn and clanged off the leaderboard that had posted Micheel's winning numbers. But Bramlett, who worked behind the scenes on TNT's coverage of the championship, didn't mind. He had played a round of golf on Oak Hill's East Course. He walked in the footsteps not just of Micheel, but of Woods, Mike Weir, Greg Norman.

"I could shoot a 150 out here today, and it would still be a perfect day," Bramlett said. "I did shoot 150 and it was a Voices in the crowd out at Oak Hill C.C. The PGA Championship was great for people-watching. It was also great for people-listening. Some intriguing overheard comments from the week: Young spectator near a creek: "You know what I think? I want to jump in there." Young spectator's mother: "That's what silly people do." Conflicted spectator: "One of these times, she's gonna ask me out.

I gotta say no." Wise spectator: "These guys are like machines. And the worst part of it is, they can lose it as fast as they got it." Spectator with inside information: "It was just the two of them, in the shower at Midtown, nude." Rowdy spectator as Tiger Woods walks down the fairway: "OK guys, now would be the time for the full Monty." Jim Memmott perfect day," said TNT's Beau Estes of Atlanta, who also played, along with their coworker, J.R. Krause of Rochester. As they savored their round, another group stood 174 yards away, about to duplicate Micheel's shot sort of. JMEMMOTTDemocratandChronicle.com tators at the 1995 Ryder Cup matches at Oak Hill.

Those matches pitted teams from the United States and Europe against each other, with Europe emerging victorious. There was flag-waving, singing, cheering and chanting. The PGA Championship was not a team competition. Rather, 156 players took to the course Thursday. At 7 p.m.

Sunday, one of them, Shaun Mi-cheel, emerged with the lowest score. The players both those who are famous, like Tiger Woods, and those who aren't so famous, like Micheel consistently described the spectators as supportive and knowledgeable. Curtis Wilson of Greenville, N.C., agreed. He was on the course all week working for Sky TV, which broadcast the championship to Europe. Wilson blocked the views of hundreds of spectators as he assisted the television photographers near the greens.

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