Three years of preparation for the U.S. Senior Open golf tournament have come down to a final few days at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento County.
Dark green grandstands are in place along the greens as are 19 bright white, air-conditioned hospitality tents.
The gates don't open to players for practice rounds and fans until Monday, but organizers say it is already the one of the most successful U.S. Senior Opens ever.
Dan Spector is chairman of the event.
"We've sold over $4 million in hospitality, which puts us only one-of-three championships in the last ten years have done that. Our ticket sales are robust. We expect in the order of 130,000 people."
Anyone under 17 gets in free with a paying adult.
Del Paso Country Club does not get television revenue for the four-day tournament, but it does get to keep money from ticket, food and beverage sales for the seven days the club will host players and fans. That includes three days of practice rounds.
"What you'll see around the 18th fairway, the 17th and the 16th fairway are 19 what we call villas, temporary structures, which are air-conditioned, big-screen TVs, beverage service."
Spector says those two figures make for an excellent forecast for sales of food, beverage and merchandise.
There is no public parking at the golf club and Marconi Avenue will be closed for the week. Shuttles to the event will be available from Cal Expo.
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