Kiawah 'ready' for 2012 PGA Championship

Kiawah Island's president and the 2012 PGA Championship tournament director believe the venue is all set to welcome the world's best

Kiawah crowds

It has been a busy seven years since Kiawah Island learned it would host the 2012 PGA Championship, but the resort president believes the venue will be ready come Monday of tournament week.

The championship director, Brett Sterba, has had a range of logistical difficulties to overcome, and has spent the last three years putting together the physical pieces. Monday marks the culmination of seven years of hard work.

"After all the years of waiting for this, for it to be here next week is exciting," said resort president Roger Warren.

"The major stuff is done. We're just putting the finishing touches on things now. We'll be ready."

Because of the nature and location of Kiawah Island, no more than 30,000 people will be allowed on the site during tournament rounds.

With no public parking within the resort and limited roads leading in, the traffic plan was a matter of priority, which officials believe will ease congestion near the resort.

Another logistical difficulty was creating special viewing areas, as coast and dunes severely affect spectator passage between some of the holes on the course.

"The thing I'm looking forward to is the reaction of people when they arrive at the course and see the scope of the effort that has been put forth," Warren added.

One element that cannot be controlled, however, is the weather, with prevailing winds from the Atlantic often sweeping in and buffeting the course.

"I want to see how the course stands up to the greatest players in the world," Warren said.

"It could be extremely challenging if the wind blows. We hope that will be the case."  

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x