Diablo Fit: President’s Cup Showcases Trophy at the Stadium Pub Walnut Creek

This weekend's U.S. Open foreshadows big-time golf tournament in the Bay Area this fall—tickets still available.

Ian Knight/Photo by Jason Shueh

Glasses were raised last Thursday at Walnut Creek’s Stadium Pub to celebrate Golf’s prestigious President’s Cup, a traditionally East coast tournament that will be coming to San Francisco’s Harding Park Golf Course on Oct. 6–11.

Underneath an array of flat screen TV’s, framed jerseys and a myriad of other sports memorabilia sat the tournament’s 14-inch high sterling vermeil trophy. Sitting next to it was Stadium Pub co-owner Richard Sherman.

Sherman was pleased to have the honor of showcasing the famed trophy and said he hoped the tournament would help to grow the sport in the Bay Area and especially the East Bay.

“I think our golfers are going to be able to appeal to this, anybody who's a golfer will be able to see the cup. It’s something that normally you’d have had to go Virginia to see,” Sherman said. “How many people on the West coast have been able to see that sort of thing let alone be able to take a picture with the trophy?”

Also on hand was President’s Cup Director of Sales Ian Knight, he said the event was a way to get people excited about the tournament and added that Walnut Creek and the East Bay, for them, are an integral part in spreading the word.

Knight said he expected the tournament, as usual, would be a great crowd pleaser with big names such as Tiger Woods hitting the fairway and newcomers to the tournament such as Camilo Villegas and this year’s Master’s winner Angel Cabrera.

“The players love coming to San Francisco. They love the Bay Area. They love the weather and Harding Park is a great old style golf course. It’s got Tee boxes close to the greens and its got a look and feel that has the look of a classic golf course,” Knight added.

As of yet, it’s still unknown whether or not President Obama will be making an appearance during the tournament. Obama invited Tiger Woods to the White House in April and accepted his invitation, in behalf of tournament officials, to be the honorary chairperson, customary for the hosting country's head of state.

"if he came out to this event, I think it would be fantastic," Knight said. "He’s a charismatic leader and he’s loved in the Bay Area.”

The Presidents Cup has been a part of the PGA Tour since its inception in 1994 and has raised more than $17 million for different charities over the years. Unlike most tournaments the athletes will not be paid but allowed to donate to charities of their choosing. Knight also added that the competition should generate more than a hundred million dollars in revenue for Bay Area businesses.

However, he insisted that golf fans are going to have to act fast if they want choice seating. “The event has sold out every year since 1996 so I’d recommend people purchasing tickets soon. There are still great tickets available.”

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