Sarasota County commits $4.5M to promote Senior PGA Championship

The Sarasota County Commission on Tuesday agreed to support the Senior PGA Championship golf tournament with $1.5 million in each of the three years it’s scheduled to be played at The Concession Golf Club, beginning in 2026. The Concession is in east Manatee County, in Lakewood Ranch, near the Sarasota County line. 

Appearing before the commission, former State Sen. President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, followed up an email to chair Joe Neunder seeking the financial support. (Galvano, now an attorney in Bradenton, is the son of PGA golf pro and avid golfer, according to a bio on his website.)

“What I’ve learned is that folks coming to this area or to any area for an event such as this, 74% will return within the next 12 months,’’ Galvano told commissioners. “Restaurants, shops, businesses. This is quite significant.’’