50 Years of Professional Sports In Memphis

This past weekend marked fifty years of professional sports in Memphis as the big boys on the PGA Tour made their annual stop here in Memphis for the Stanford St. Jude Championship. I think we Memphians tend to forget that we've been a "big league" city for many years -- not just since the Grizzlies and the NBA came here. I'm certainly grateful for the Grizzlies and root for them and support them. However, we need to be grateful for the golf tournament and all the great things that it's done for Memphis and for St. Jude. Many other cities would love to have a stop on the PGA Tour.

We've had fifty years of great golf. Giants like Nicholas, Palmer, Player and Trevino have all played here. In recent years Michelson, Sing, Scott, Garcia, Toms and other leading players have all played here. Of course, we can't forget Big John Daly. These guys have certainly entertained us.

We've had three different world class golf courses to enjoy the rest of the year: the old Colonial Country Club (where the Target in East Memphis is now), the newer Colonial with its two great courses and the TPC at Southwind. We'll likely have a fourth golf course to be thankful for in the years to come as there are certainly rumors that Spring Creek Ranch will host the tournament in the years to come. I have had the privilege to play Colonial North, Colonial South and Southwind. All three are amazing courses that will really challenge your game. I've been to but not played Spring Creek. The course there is amazing and the new golf house is spectacular. When you consider the residential development around all of those courses, the economic impact has been huge.

Of course, we can't forget the impact that the golf tournament has had on St. Jude. The tournament and its thousands of volunteers have donated millions to St. Jude and the life saving work that they do. Countless children are alive today or have grown up to have their own children because of the work of St. Jude and the financial support of the golf tournament.

This last year was the fiftieth year of the tournament but the first year for the Stanford Financial Group to be the lead sponsor. They did an amazing job and made the tournament even better than it has ever been.

The Standford St. Jude Tournament is just another reason that Memphis is a great place to live, work and play. I certainly have lots of fond memories from the tournament over the years. If you feel inclined, share your great tournament memories with us.