♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

AND THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU TO VALHALLA GOLF COURSE, THE HOME OF THE 2024 P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS YEAR VALHALLA HOSTS ITS FOURTH PBA CHAMPIONSHIP.

MARK BROOKS, TIGER WOODS AND RORY McELROY WON THE THREE PREVIOUSLY CHAMPIONSHIPS AT VALHALLA.

THE 486-ACRE PROPERTY SITS NEAR EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY, A COURSE DESIGNED BY GOLF LEGEND JACK NICKLAUS AND FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS NAMED AMONG AMERICA'S 100 GREATEST COURSES BY GOLF DIGEST.

BUT IT ALL STARTED WITH A LOUISVILLE BUSINESSMAN BY THE NAME OF DWIGHT GAIN WHO HAD A VISION IN THE EARLY 80s TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSE THAT COULD HOST A MAJOR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DREAM COME TRUE.

IT STARTED ON A RAINY DAY WHEN MY OLDER BROTHER AND DAD WERE OVER AT OUR PLACE OF BUSINESS IN JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA AND I GOT A CALL THAT NIGHT.

WE ARE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT HEY, HOW ABOUT A GOLF COURSE.

I SAID WELL, WHY NOT?

THAT'S WHERE THE DREAM STARTED.

>> AND THAT DREAM CONTINUES TODAY, NEARLY A DECADE SINCE THAT INTERVIEW FIRST AIRED ON KET'S KENTUCKY LIFE WHEN GORDIE GAHM RECALLED HOW HIS FATHER CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.

THE COURSE OPENED IN 1986.

GENERAL MANAGER KEITH REESE CAME ON BOARD SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

>> WHEN I STARTED AS A GOLF PROFESSIONAL IN 1989, I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD BE BLESSED TO BE HERE 30 PLUS YEARS AND SEE EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE ON HERE.

IT HAS BEEN TRULY AMAZING.

DWAYNE WAS SUCH A KIND AND COMPASSIONATE MAN.

PLAYED GOLF EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT NOON AND THEN HIS THREE SONS, WALT, GORDIE AND PHIL, ALL FANTASTIC PEOPLE.

AND THE VISION THAT THEY HAD, IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT SOMEONE CAN HAVE A VISION LIKE THAT AND THEN HAVE THE DREAMS COME TRUE LIKE THEY HAVE HERE.

>> THE DREAM WAS TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART GOLF COURSE ON NEARLY 500 ACRES OF ROLLING TERRAIN ABOUT 20 MILES EAST OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

GORDIE GAHM AND HIS THREE SONS COMMISSIONED GOLF LEGEND JACK NICKLAUS TO DESIGN THE COURSE.

THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE THAT COULD HOST A WORLD CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT, LIKE THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND RYDER CUP, BOTH HAVE HAPPENED SINCE.

>> AND I THINK THE CITY IS SO BLESSED THAT THEY DECIDED TO BUILD VALHALLA AND MAKE IT INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.

THEY DEFINITELY SET THE GROUNDWORK FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

>> THE P.G.A.

OF AMERICA PURCHASED PORTIONS OF VALHALLA IN THE 90s AND EVENTUALLY TOOK FULL OWNERSHIP IN 2000.

DURING THAT TIME, VALHALLA HAS HOSTED SOME OF GOLF'S MOST MEMORABLE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> LOUISVILLE WELCOMES A NEW GENERATION OF PLAYERS IN MAY OF 2024.

EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT FOR YOURSELF.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE JUST SOME FANTASTIC FINISHES TO OUR EVENTS AND FANTASTIC CHAMPIONS.

I THINK REALLY, WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, THE 2000 P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP, I THINK, WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF THOSE MEMORABLE TIMES BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT TIGER WOODS AND IT WAS THE MAJOR OF THE MILLENIUM SO IT WAS PEBBLE BEACH, ST. ANDREWS, AUGUSTA AND VAL VALHALLA WAS IN THAT MIX BUT THE THRILL OF THE FINISH, THE PLAYOFF, THAT REALLY GOES DOWN IN MY MIND AS ONE OF THE GREATEST CHAMPIONSHIPS OF ALL TIME.

>> LAST YEAR A GROUP OF LONG TIME CLUB MEMBERS PURCHASED THE CLUB FROM THE P.G.A.

AND ARE READY TO BEGIN VALHALLA'S NEXT CHAPTER.

>> WE REFER TO THIS KIND OF PERIOD THAT WE ARE IN AS CHAPTER 3.

CHAPTER 1 BEING THE GAME FAMILY WHO FOUNDED THE CLUB AND CHAPTER 2 WITH THE P.G.A.

OF AMERICA OWNING THE CLUB FOR 20 YEARS.

AND NOW CHAPTER 3, WITH Mr. NOVAK, JUNIOR BRIDGEMAN, WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP.

THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US FOR SURE.

>> I THANK MY DAD AND MY BROTHER , MY OTHER BROTHER, TOO.

IT'S JUST-- I KEEP SAYING IT'S A DREAM THAT HAS COME TRUE AND IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND THAT'S WHAT IS REALLY, REALLY UNBELIEVABLE.

>> THIS MAY BE THE FOURTH TIME VALHALLA HAS HOSTED THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT BUT IT IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HOSTED SINCE A GROUP OF LONG TIME CLUB MEMBERS PURCHASED VALHALLA GOLF CLUB FROM THE P.G.A.

OF AMERICA.

DAVID NOVAK IS ONE OF THOSE PARTNERS.

HE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER AND FORMER CHAIRMAN OF YUM BRANDS AND THE CURRENT FOUNDER OF THE DAVID NOVAK LEADERSHIP.

WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT LET'S START WITH VALHALLA, THIS BEAUTIFUL COURSE.

AND YOU ARE ONE OF THE CO-OWNERS NOW.

TELL US ABOUT THIS CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP HERE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO REALLY REPRESENT OUR OWNERSHIP GROUP.

AND IT'S JIMMY WHO IS A LOCAL LOUISVILLIAN, RUNS ISCO, JUNIOR BRIDGEMAN, HALL OF FAME BASKETBALL PLAYER, COCA-COLA BOTTLING WENDY'S FRANCHISEE, OWNS EBONY MAGAZINE.

TERRIFIC GUY AND CHESS WHO IS A HOTELLIER WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB HELPING US GET THIS ORGANIZATION MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT THE WAY ALL THIS HAPPENED WAS THE P.G.A.

HAD HAD SOMEBODY COME AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY SHOULD NOT OWN GOLF COURSES.

IN FACT THEY SAID WE WANT TO OWN IT.

AND THEY WERE FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THEY WEREN'T-- THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH KENTUCKY, NOTHING TO DO WITH LOUISVILLE.

BUT THEY WERE GOING TO BUY THE COURSE.

WELL, WE GOT WORD OF THAT AND JIMMY THE PRINCIPAL OWNER, JUST COULDN'T FATHOM THE IDEA OF SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE COMING IN AND RUNNING VALHALLA.

AND HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT GOLF.

WE ARE ALL PASSIONATE ABOUT GOLF.

AND YOU KNOW, WE SAID HEY, LOOK, WE'VE GOT TO PUT A BID IN FOR THIS BECAUSE HERE WHAT IS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WE WERE CONCERNED THAT AN OUTSIDE INTEREST WOULD COME IN, WITH NO LOUISVILLE TIES, NO KENTUCKY TIES.

WE HAVE 500 ACRES HERE.

YOU COULD BUILD HOUSES ALL AROUND THE COURSE IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO AND BE FOCUSED ON MAKING MONEY.

AND THAT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL VISION OF DWIGHT GAHM.

DWIGHT GAHM, WHETHER HE BUILT THIS COURSE, HE WANTED TO CREATE A MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE THAT WOULD ATTRACT LIKE MAJOR EVENTS LIKE THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH WE HAVE COMING HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

MAY 2024.

AND FOR THAT REASON, HE BOUGHT ALL THIS PROPERTY SO THAT WE COULD CREATE REALLY SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.

AND HE DID.

HE BROUGHT IN MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AND WE JUST FELT LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO KEEP GOING.

WE WANTED TO MAKE THE 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP FANTASTIC.

BUT WE WANTED TO CHANGE THIS PLACE, MAKE IT EVEN BETTER SO WE COULD GET FUTURE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP TO COME HERE SO WE COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE GOT INVOLVED.

WENT TO DALLAS AND MET WITH THE P.G.A.

AND THEIR BOARD AND THEY SAW OUR PASSION.

WE MADE A VERY COMPETITIVE BID AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THIS PROPERTY AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUR TAILS OFF EVER SINCE WE DID.

YOU KNOW, THE P.G.A.

WILL BASICALLY BE HELD HERE 18 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT.

AND NEIGHBOR THAT COMES IN HERE NOW, IS GOING TO GO, WOW, WHAT A TRANSFORMATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT HAS BEEN A LOT HAPPENING IN THOSE 18 MONTHS.

TELL BUS SOME OF THOSE CHANGES THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE WHEN THEY COME HERE?

>> WELL THE THING WE DECIDED TO DO AS A PARTNERSHIP GROUP, WE WANTED TO RUN THIS LIKE A BRAND.

WHAT IS THE VALHALLA BRAND?

WE WANTED TO RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT-- AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IN ANY BUSINESS IS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOU U INTO UNIQUE.

SO WE GOT TOGETHER WITH OUR KEY LEADERS ON OUR STAFF HERE AND WE SPENT A DAY AT A BRAND PLANNING REASONS RIGHT HERE AT VALHALLA AND WE ENVISIONED WHAT WE WANTED.

AND WE ALL AGREED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT MAKES VALHALLA UNIQUE IS IT'S LOCATED IN KENTUCKY AND THERE IS NO COURSE THAT EVEN COMES CLOSE TO VALHALLA IN KENTUCKY BUT WE WEREN'T REALLY SHOWCASING THAT.

WE DECIDED TO CREATE A UNIQUE GOLF EXPERIENCE YOU CAN ONLY FIND IN KENTUCKY.

THAT WAS OUR BRAND POSITIONING.

FROM THAT POINT, THE IDEAS JUST STARTED FLOWING.

WHEN YOU COME AND YOU SEE OUR CLUBHOUSE HERE, YOU WILL SEE LIKE CHURCHILL DOWNS, KENTUCKY ARCHITECTURE, WHITE, BEAUTIFUL CLUBHOUSE, A PORCH THAT OVERLOOKS THE 18th AND 13th HOLES.

YOU LOOK OUT AND SEE WHITE FLOOR BOARD FENCES.

MOST GOLF COURSES DON'T HAVE A REALLY INCREDIBLE ENTRY WAY.

WE DO.

WE CREATED BLUEGRASS WAY.

WHEN YOU COME IN, WE HAVE A GATE THAT REMINDS YOU OF A LEXINGTON HORSE FARM.

YOU LOOK OFF TO THE LEFT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE HORSE FARM.

WE'VE GOT FLOOR BOARD WHITE FENCES, LIMESTONE FENCES AND SHOWCASE LIMESTONE BECAUSE THAT'S WHY KENTUCKY HAS THE BOURBON BUSINESS AND THOROUGHBRED BUSINESS HERE AND YOU SEE THE LIMESTONE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE WHERE WE REALLY BASICALLY PULLED IT OUT AND GIVEN IT ACCENT FEATURES.

THAT'S ALL KENTUCKY.

WHEN YOU COME INSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE BOURBON BAR AND WE HAVE A KENTUCKY FAMILY ROOM WITH SOFT SEATING WHERE WE SHOWCASE SOME OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS WITH JUSTIN THOMAS FROM GOASHIN, KENTUCKY, J.B. HOMES FROM CAMPBELLSVILLE.

KENNY PERRY FROM FRANKLIN.

THESE ARE KENTUCKY ICONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF.

WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS MAKE THIS ICONIC KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LOUISVILLE, WHAT IS ICONIC?

WELL NUMBER ONE IS CHURCHILL DOWNS.

NUMBER 2 VALHALLA IN TERMS OF BRINGING MAJOR EVENTS HERE AND WE WANT TO GET MORE OF THEM AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE GONE ALL OUT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAS REALLY BEEN FUN IS WE'VE GOTTEN KENTUCKIANS INVOLVED IN REALLY MAKING ALL THIS HAPPEN.

WE HAD ANN SWOPE WORKING WITH MY DAUGHTER, ASHLEY BUTLER, DO THE INTERIOR DESIGN AND THEY BOTH UNDERSTAND WHAT KENTUCKY IS ALL ABOUT.

AND THEN WE HAD ED JAMES DO ALL THE WOODWORKING.

WHEN YOU WALK IN, YOU WILL SEE AN INCREDIBLE TROPHY CASE, WE SHOWCASED THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.

WE'VE GOT AN UNBELIEVABLE TABLE WHERE WE HAVE ALL THE SCORE CARDS FROM MAJOR CHAMPIONS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL.

YOU KNOW, MIKE THORPE BUILT THE BUILDING, AND DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE TEAM.

AND RANDY, HE IS FROM KENTUCKY.

HE HAS DONE THE LANDSCAPING AND WE TOOK DOWN A LOT OF THE TURF SO COULD YOU SEE THE 18th HOLE FROM THE PORCH THAT WE NOW HAVE.

AND WE CAN OPEN UP THIS ENTIRE CLUBHOUSE, TAKE OUT THE WINDOWS, 0E7 IT UP AND LOOK STRAIGHT OUT AND SEE ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE VISTAS IN GOLF.

BUT ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT VALHALLA STANDS FOR AND THAT IS THAT UNIQUE EXPERIENCE YOU CAN ONLY FIND IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S GREAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING UP WITH ALL KINDS OF IDEA.

KYLE CRAMER, OUR HEAD PRO IS FOCUSED ON SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY.

OUR STAFF HERE HAD THE IDEA, LAUREN HAD THE IDEA OF LET'S HAVE KENTUCKY-SOURCED INGREDIENTS WITH OUR FOOD.

WE HAVE A MENU INSPIRED BY THE COLONEL.

A GREAT CHICKEN SANDWICH, A BIRD DOG, WHITE CHICKEN CHILLY.

WE HAD A-- CHILI.

WE HAD A BLAST WITH EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A GREAT GOLF COURSE BUT WAS WE REALLY WANT, KELSEY, IS WE WANT TO YOU COME IN HERE AND SAY MAN, YOU CAN ONLY GET THIS IN KENTUCKY.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS WITH LOCAL OWNERSHIP.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES?

>> WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE BENEFITS.

THE P.G.A.

DID A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR THIS COURSE AND MADE SOME REALLY GOOD INVESTMENTS BUT THEY'RE LOCATED IN DALLAS.

WHAT LOCAL OWNERSHIP BRINGS IS A DAILY PRESENCE.

AND SO WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE SAID WE WANT THIS COURSE, OUR GREENS TO BE FAST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHICH THEY WEREN'T.

WE WANT THE FAIRWAYS TO BE FIRM EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY WEREN'T.

WE WANTED TO CREATE AS FUN AN EXPERIENCE AS YOU COULD WITH THE GOLF COURSE ITSELF.

WE DID A LOT OF THINGS TO REALLY BEAUTIFY THE COURSE AND MAKE THE COURSE MORE PLAYABLE FOR THE MEMBER.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND VALHALLA.

WE HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE VALHALLA FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

WE KNOW WHAT THIS COURSE CAN BE.

AND THE SAME STAFF, I THINK, HAS ELEVATED ALL THE STANDARDS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE SAID THE DAY-TO-DAY EXPECTATIONS ARE AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT STAFF, GREAT GREENS SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW, JOHN BALLARD.

HE HAS A FANTASTIC TEAM.

WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO KEEP THIS COURSE IN PRISTINE CONDITION.

BUT WE EXPECT YOU TO KEEP IT IN PRISTINE CONDITION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO THAT'S THE REAL BENEFIT.

THE CHALLENGES FOR US, HAVE JUST BEEN BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZING WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN 18 MONTHS.

WE HAD A LOT TO DO, BUT WE'VE GOT THE CLUBHOUSE DONE.

EVERYTHING I TALKED ABOUT IN THE COURSE, WE'VE IMPROVED THE WATER FEATURES, THE CREEK BEDS.

ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND IT JUST LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

ALL OUR HOLES ARE SIGNATURE HOALSZ.

ONE HOLE IS CALLED THE LIMESTONE HOLE AND IF YOU LOOK OUT HERE OVER 13, YOU CAN SEE HOW LIMESTONE IS FEATURED AND WE HAVE THIS GREAT, YOU KNOW, WATER FEATURE WHICH IS SENSATIONAL AROUND THE ISLAND GREEN.

THAT HAS BEEN THE CHALLENGE.

HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE.

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?

WE HAVE A LOT OF FUTURE PLANS WE WOULD LIKE TO DO BUT WE HAD TO PUT THEM ON THE BACK BURNER.

BUT LET'S FOCUS ON IT GOING GETTING THIS COURSE READY FOR THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP.

SO WE PUT ON A FANTASTIC SHOW AND THE P.G.A.

WANTS TO COME BACK AND OTHER MAJOR GOLF EVENTS WANT TO COME TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY SO WE CAN SHOWCASE OUR GREAT CITY AND SHOWCASE LOUISVILLE AND OBVIOUSLY SHOWCASE WAS WE'VE DONE HERE AT VALHALLA.

>> I KNOW THAT IS A GOAL.

ARE THERE ANY COMMITMENTS OR DO YOU KNOW OF ANYTHING COMING UP?

>> WELL, ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE P.G.A., IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO GO ALL IN ON THIS.

AND THERE IS A TACIT AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL ULTIMATELY GET ANOTHER MAJOR AT SOME POINT.

BUT THE SPECIFIC DATE HASN'T BEEN AGREED UPON.

BUT WE HAVE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER EVENTS COMING TO US, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT, THAT WE WILL ANNOUNCE IN THE FUTURE, THAT I THINK EVERYBODY WILL REALLY FEEL GREAT ABOUT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE HISTORY OF THE COURSE, WITH THE FAWM GAHM FAMILY WHAT DO YOU THINK DWIGHT GAHM WOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT VALHALLA.

>> I THINK HE WOULD BE SO THRILLED THAT THERE IS LOCAL OWNERSHIP.

HE WOULD BE SO THRILLED THAT WE CARE SO MUCH.

I THINK HE WOULD LOVE THIS KENTUCKY EXPERIENCE THAT WE ARE CREATING AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE IS SMILING DOWN FROM HEAVEN ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, YOU KNOW, SAYING YOU GUYS DID A HELL OF A JOB HERE.

>> WHAT ABOUT LOUISVILLE AND VALHALLA IN PARTICULAR KEEPS THE P.G.A.

COMING BACK?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE A MID MAJOR MARKET.

PEOPLE LOVE IT.

SO WITH WE HAVE AN EVENT HERE, PEOPLE SHOW UP.

WE HAVE 3,000 VOLUNTEERS WE WILL HAVE 200,000 PATRONS SHOW UP AT OUR GATES.

THE MOST TICKET SALES EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE P.G.A.

AND WE SOLD MORE HOSPITALITY TENTS THAN ANYBODY HAS EVER SOLD BEFORE IN THE P.G.A.

WE WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE THAN ANYBODY ELSE ELSE HAS IN THE HISTORY OF THE TOURNAMENT.

>> IT'S A NO BRAINER, RIGHT?

>> YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY WE WILL HAVE OVER 90% OCCUPANCY OF THE HOTELS.

WE WILL GENERATE ANYWHERE, DEPENDING ON WHO DOES THE SURVEY OR WHATEVER DOES THE ANALYSIS, ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, 100 TO $200 MILLION OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY AND THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, IT GENERATED $150 MILLION.

WE WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE SAME BASIC LEAGUE.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE FEEL GREAT ABOUT.

I MEAN WE ARE A PART OF LOUISVILLE, AND WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE LOUISVILLE AND THE STATE AND, YOU KNOW, THAT KENTUCKY FLAG FLIES HIGH OUT THERE IN THE FRONT OF THE CLUBHOUSE.

AND WE WEAR KENTUCKY ON OUR SLEEVES AROUND HERE.

>> OUTSIDE OF VALHALLA, MOST PEOPLE KNOW YOU ASSOCIATE AS FOUNDER OF YOUNG BRANDS AND NOW DAVID NOVAK LEADERSHIP.

TELL US WHAT THAT IS ALL ABOUT?

>> WHEN I WAS AT YOUNG BRANDS, THE THING I FOCUSED ON THE MOST WAS DEVELOPING LEADERS.

SO WHEN I RETIRED SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, I SAID, YOU KNOW, HOW AM I GOING TO SPEND MY TIME?

THE THING THAT GIVES ME THE MOST JOY IS DEVELOPING LEADERS.

I DECIDED TO CREATE A LEADERSHIP COMPANY.

IT'S CALLED DAVID NOVAK LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE A FOCUS OF TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE BY DEVELOPING BETTER LEADERS.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO DO IT AT EVERY LEVEL IN LIFE.

YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH JAN HELLSON, A LOUISVILLIAN AND PARTNERED WITH HER ON GLOBAL GAME CHANGERS, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

WE CREATED FOR CHANGE, THE LARGEST PRIVATELY FUNDED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN OUR COUNTRY WITH NEARLY 20,000 TEACHERS.

WE HAVE REACHED OVER, I THINK CLOSE TO TWO MILLION STUDENTS SINCE WE STARTED ALL OF THIS.

WE SAID WE WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SO WE HAVE THE NOVAK LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.

EVERY INCOMING FRESHMAN WILL TAKE A LEADERSHIP COURSE ABOUT THE NOTION OF TAKING PEOPLE WITH YOU WHICH IS A BOOK I WROTE AND WE HAVE 12 ACCREDITED HOURS THERE AND WE WANT TO MAKE THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI THE PLACE TO GO TO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BECOME A BETTER LEER.

AND I CREATED THIS DAVID NOVAK LEADERSHIP WHICH IS FOR ASPIRING LEADERS.

I HAVE A PODCAST THAT I POST EVERY THURSDAY AND IT'S WITH THE BEST LEADERS IN THE WORLD, LEADERS LIKE JAMIE DIAMOND FROM JP MORGAN CHASE, SPORTS LEADERS LIKE TOM BRADY, MUSIC LEADERS, I JUST DID ONE YESTERDAY WITH ERIC CHURCH.

YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S ALL FOCUSED ON HOW DO THESE GUYS GET IT DONE?

HOW DO THESE WOMEN MAKE IT HAPPEN?

WHAT IS THEIR LEADERSHIP APPROACH?

AND THEN YOU AS A LEADER, OR AN ASPIRING LEADER, CAN LISTEN TO THAT PODCAST AND DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.

SO-- AND WE ALSO JUST STARTED, KELSEY, A LEADERSHIP APP CALLED HOW LEADERS LEAD.

IT'S FREE.

YOU CAN GO ON, YOU CAN GET THE APP AND YOU CAN GET AN UNDER TWO MINUTE LEADERSHIP INSIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S LIKE A BIBLE DEVOTIONAL EXCEPT THIS TIME IT'S ON LEADERSHIP.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, TOUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP FROM P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIRECTOR RYAN OGLE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ RYAN OGLE IS THE P.G.A.

CHRP DIRECTOR.

SO MUCH GOES INTO PLANNING AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

HOW FAR OUT DO YOU START PLANNING.

>> IT HAS BEEN A THREE YEAR PROCESS OF ACTUAL PLANNING.

WE COMMITTED TO COMING BACK TO LOUISVILLE IN 21 SO IT STARTED THEN BUT TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS AGO WHRS WE STARTED IN EARN-- EARNEST.

>> WHAT MAKES LOUISVILLE AND VALHALLA TRACTIVE TO THE P.G.A.?

WHAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK.

>> WE HAVE A STORIED HISTORY HERE.

ONE OR TWO OTHER COURSES HAVE THE HISTORY WE HAVE DATING BACK TO 1996 AND OUR FIRST APP CHAMPIONSHIP HERE.

2024 WILL GO THE FOURTH P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP AND SEVENTH LARGEST SPECTATOR EVENT.

WE HAVE A TON OF EXPERIENCE AT VALHALLA, A TON OF GREAT RELATIONSHIPS.

WHAT KEEPS US COMING BACK FIRST AND FOREMOST A CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE TO TEST THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD.

I CAN HOLD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR CHAMPIONSHIP.

I SAY MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY COMES OUT, SUPPORTS IT EVERY TIME.

THEY MAKE IT EXTREMELY EASY TO OPERATE A MAJOR LARGE SPECTATOR EVENT AND WE ARE THRILLED WITH THE RESPONSE WE GET EVERY TIME SO IT CHECKS A LOT OF THE BOXES.

YOU CAN SAY IT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES OF A PERFECT HOST SITE.

>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR FOR US IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT IT GOES THE OTHER WAY, TOO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AN EVENT LIKE THIS ON THE CITY.

>> WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON PUTTING ON A TREMENDOUS EVENT THAT NOT ONLY HAS A GREAT IMPACT THAT WEEK BUT LONG LASTING IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITIES.

WE EXPECT 200,000 TO COME THROUGH THE GATES AND ATTEND THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PEOPLE GOING TO HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS WE EXCEED ANNUALLY OVER $100 MILLION.

IN MOST RECENTLY IN 2023, THE ROCHESTER NEW YORK, THEY RECORDED 192 MILLION IMPACT FOR AN EVENT.

WE ARE EXCITE DODD THAT AGAIN HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

THEN YOU TAKE IN THE EXPOSURE FROM OUR BROADCAST BEING SHOWN TO HALF A BILLION HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE WORLD.

THE VALUE IN THAT MEDIA EXPIECE-- EXPOSURE EXCEEDS $100 MILLION.

IT'S PUTTING KENTUCKY, IT'S PUTTING LOUISVILLE ON A GLOBAL MAP AND ALL THE EXPOSURE IT GETS AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

>> WE JUST HEARD ABOUT CHAPTER 3, THEY'RE CALLING IT HERE AT VALHALLA GOING FROM BEING OWNED BY THE P.G.A.

TO THE NEW OWNERSHIP GROUP.

WHAT HAS THAT BEEN LIKE FROM YOUR END?

>> IT'S MORE NORMAL TO WHAT WE ARE USED TO.

WE GO INTO COURSES AND THEY'RE NOT OWNED BY THE P.G.A.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIPS AND HISTORY HERE AS THE OWNERS OF VALHALLA, BUT TO PASS IT ON TO A LOCAL GROUP, I THINK, HAS BEEN PAN TASS TICK NOT ONLY FOR THE P.G.A.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON OUR 30,000 MEMBERS AND DEPLOY RESOURCES IN A CERTAIN WAY TO BENEFIT THEM AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE THE COURSE BACK TO A LOCAL GROUP THAT HAS BEEN A BENEFIT TO THE P.G.A., A BENEFIT TO THE COURSE BECAUSE IT IS THE LOCAL MEMBERS THAT LIVE HERE AND PLAY HERE AND THEN IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE IT STAYS A LOCAL GEM, HIGHLIGHTED KENTUCKY IN MANY OF THE CHANGES THEY'VE MADE WHETHER IT'S THE CLUBHOUSE OR LIMESTONE EXPOSURE.

I THINK IT HAS BEEN A WIN FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

THEY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS PARTNERS AND CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER IS ASKED OF THEM AND THEY HAVE SET US UP FOR SUCCESS SO WE ARE GRATEFUL.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORY LINES WE BE LOOKING FOR IN THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT?

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE STRONGEST FIELD IN GOLF.

HISTORICALLY WE HAVE THE DEEPEST FIELD IN GOLF OF ALL PROFESSIONALS.

THE STORY LINE IS WHAT DRAMA, WE ARE GOING TO SEE?

YOU LOOK BACK AT 1996, MARK BROOKS WINNING THE PLAYOFF.

2000 TIGER WOODS PLAYING IN A-- WINNING IN A PLAYOFF AND RORY MCELROY WINNING IN THE DARK.

VALHALLA CREATES DRAMA.

WHO IS GOING TO BE ON THE LEADERBOARD WITH THE CHANCE TO INWITH.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOMEONE WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

NOT PROTECT THE LEAD.

IT'S ABOUT GOING OUT AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT AND SEE THE BEST GOLFERS COMFEET ON THE COURSE AGAIN AND SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A HOUSEHOLD NAME LIKE RORY WIN AGAIN OR SCOTTY CHEF SHEFFLER.

>> CAN WE EXPECTS THE P.G.A.

TO RETURN TO VALHALLA IN THE FUTURE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SHOW ONCE AGAIN WHY VALHALLA CONTINUES TO BE AN AMAZING HOST SITE.

THE CITY AND BUSINESSES HAVE SUPPORTID.

VOLUNTEERS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STATE.

WE HAVE CHECKED EVERY SINGLE BOX AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE LOUISVILLE HAS FOR PROFESSIONAL GOLF AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IN GENERAL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ DON'T FORGET YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME ONLINE AT KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

PLUS GIVE US A FOLLOW TO GRAM.

YOU CAN GET A BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR INSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE AND WHAT IS THE HARDEST HOLE AT VALHALLA?

YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY.

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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