Preparations are going smoothly as the staff seeks to make the tournament a truly special event for players and fans.
By: Bob Nuse
John Buser remembers what it was like to be the head pro at the Tournament Players Club at Jasna Polana the first year the Instinet Classic came to town.
"Any time you have an event of this magnitude, especially with the professional players involved, it’s a lot of fun," said Buser, who is now the general manager of TPC Jasna Polana. "At the same time, there is so much work that needs to get done, you don’t get the opportunity to fully enjoy having such great players around you."
Two years ago, Buser was responsible for the golf operation at Jasna Polana. Now, after a year away, he’s back at the club as the general manager. With the Instinet Classic growing nearer, Buser and his staff once again have their hands full awaiting the invasion of thousands of fans for the Senior PGA Tour event.
"As the head pro I was more focused on the golf operation, whereas now I have a broader base with food, beverage, merchandise and lodging," Buser said. "What is great about being at a TPC club like this is that each department has a head who is capable of handling what needs to be done."
In preparation for the Instinet Classic, there is certainly plenty that needs to be done. Buser, who spent last year as the general manager of the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Gables, Fla., has a staff of 110 preparing for the event. In each of the two previous years that staff was closer to 150, but because the season staff is not yet available, everyone will be carrying a heavier load this year.
Because this is the third year the tournament has been held in Princeton, preparations for the event are going much more smoothly.
"Certainly, the more often you have an event like this the more prepared you are for the next one," Buser said. "With the tournament being held in May this year instead of June or July, we don’t have the same seasonal staff available to us.
"But the people we do have here are all working hard and we’ll just cover what needs to be done with less people. When you have a great staff like we do, it makes it so much easier. They’re all willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to make the tournament a success."
As the man in charge, knowing that he has people working who care as much about making the tournament a success as he does makes it easier for Buser.
"I feel fortunate to have the people here that we have working for us," Buser said. "The course will be in magnificent shape. And the people that come in from the Senior PGA Tour also work well with the people we have here. The ultimate goal is to make the time people spend here for the tournament enjoyable.
"I think the first two years the people who have come here have left feeling like they’ve been to a special event. That’s the way we want people to feel when they come here."
The first two years of the Instinet Classic, 125,000 people paid to see the tournament. This year, an earlier spring date may or may not have an affect on attendance.
"Part of the pros and cons of hosting an event like this is that the dates do change," Buser said. "They try not to have a tournament have a date after a major each year or the same weekend of a major. So the dates tend to change. But that’s a part of the pro tour and it’s something you learn to deal with."
The first year the Instinet Classic was held at Jasna Polana, it was played the same weekend as the British Open. Last year, the tournament was played on the same weekend as the U.S. Open. This year, the MasterCard Colonial will be held in Fort Worth, Texas, at the same time as the Instinet Classic.
With anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 fans set to converge on Jasna Polana for nearly a full week, the staff will need to be prepared for anything.
Buser is confident they’re ready. And based on the success of the tournament’s first two years, he has every reason to feel that way.