Family patriarch John Paterakis Sr. couldn't be reached for comment, but Frank Quinn, who along with Lotman has run the tournament, said last week that "I can't see us leaving Johnny." For good reason: Paterakis doesn't charge McDonald's to rent Bulle Rock.
Still, the possibility exists that changes could occur as part of a strategic plan that Bivens calls "Vision 2010." The LPGA's two major television contracts, with ESPN and The Golf Channel, will be up for renewal after next year, as will other tournament contracts besides the one at Bulle Rock.
"2010 is the first year we have the opportunity to reshape the course of the LPGA, how it's covered, the type of television contracts, sites, sponsors, the entire business model of the LPGA," said Bivens, who was hired in 2005 and recently signed a three-year extension through 2011.
Asked about the dramatic decline in charitable donations since coming to Bulle Rock, Bivens said, "It's not that it's unimportant, but the venue, the setup, the fans, the field, the buzz, the whole fan experience -- especially for a major -- is what's most important to the LPGA."
Bivens was quick to point out that the charitable donations from the LPGA Championship generated from the two pro-am events and other corporate involvement such as tents and on-course suites is "still substantial" and ranks among the top five on the LPGA Tour.
Quinn said that despite his disappointment in last year's charitable donations, he is "more realistically optimistic" about the tournament than he was when it left Wilmington. In other words, the loss of charitable donations was unavoidable considering the downturn in the economy.
"I think that when you raise a million bucks, the only people who think you're not as successful as you want to be are us," Quinn said. "You just keep going and try to make it better for the following year. [The corporate involvement is] about the same. With some nice crowds, we should do better."
Generation gap
The reactions from the players have been decidedly mixed, usually split along generational lines. While many of the younger players say they enjoy Bulle Rock and believe it will grow into a major championship setting, if it hasn't already, many veterans are less than enthusiastic.
"Nothing against Bulle Rock, because it's a beautiful piece of land, but to me it just doesn't set up like a major should," veteran Lorie Kane said. "I think where women's golf is, it would probably be better for us to be in an environment for more people to come."
