Throughout town – from motels to restaurants to convenience stores and more – the impact of hosting a statewide high school event of this magnitude was an overwhelming positive for the local economy.
From the China Buffet, to the All Star Grill & Pub, to Woolly’s Western Grill, all reported increased numbers over the extended weekend.
“Everyone that stayed with us said they felt very callaway diablo edge irons good about being here,” Truth said. “They really liked the course, and said it was a difficult course, but they all seemed to have a good time and enjoyed themselves.”
When the State “A” Girls tournament returned to Hot Springs on May 21 and 22, it brought with it a total of 104 high school girls’ competitors, representing 30 schools from across the state – as well as another couple hundred parents, family members and fans. Most teams arrived over the prior weekend, in time to play practice rounds at the course on Sunday, followed by the 36-hole competition on Monday and Tuesday.
While not normally open on Sunday nights and Mondays, the Wetzels opened up their restaurant especially for the tournament on those two days, for all-you-can-eat buffets both nights for the teams and the community.
He added that the comments he heard from the visitors to Hot Springs were all positive – from the golf course itself - to the gift packets that were given out to all of the competitors which Ping G20 irons featured discounts to local businesses.
Wetzel added that the team and parents from Canton had also rented out the restaurant’s upstairs to host their end-of-the-year celebration over the weekend.
“I think almost every team stopped in at our place over the weekend,” said Phil Wetzel, who, along with his wife Vickie, own and operate Woolly’s Western Grill in Hot Springs. The two also have a close connection to the Hot Springs golf program as their daughter Schuyler was a senior on this year’s team and went on to place third overall in the individual competition.
Scott Haden, executive director of the Hot Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, said he felt the tournament had a huge impact on the community and at a perfect time to help kick off the tourist season the weekend before Memorial Day.
“We’ve been to a lot of other golf tournaments ourselves, thro-ughout the state with our kids, and that’s something you just don’t see other towns doing who host state tournaments,” he said. “And people loved the course; they couldn’t stop talking about it.”
“They said they don’t always receive that at other tournaments,” he said. “They felt very welcome here and liked the fact that there were a lot of other activities to do in Hot Springs too.”
Karen Truth, front desk manager at Stay USA Hotel & Suites, said all 86 of their rooms were booked solid for two days discount golf clubs during the tournament. She added that they are normally filled to only 25 percent this time of year, and can attribute at least 75 percent of their business last week to the state golf tournament.
The positive impact of hosting the statewide event however was not just confined to this past weekend. Many teams – including the eventual state champions from Parkston – traveled to Hot Springs numerous times over the past few months to practice on the course.
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