2023 BMW Championship Player-Caddie Booklet

Olympia Fields Country Club

August 15 - 20, 2023

PLAYER & CADDIE GUIDEBOOK

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Since 2007, BMW North America has partnered with the Western Golf Association to present the BMW Championship. The event has raised over $44.5 million for the Evans Scholars Foundation, and BMW is proud to have helped send more than 3,300 caddies to college.

At the tournament BMW is providing X5 courtesy cars for all players, as well as all caddies. However, if you would like to test drive another model for an evening, the BMW test drive fleet is comprised of the latest models and is available for your use. Please visit Player Transportation to coordinate a test drive.

On the course BMW will again award a four-year, $125,000 Evans Scholarship if a PGA TOUR player records a hole-in-one on any hole during tournament play, Thursday - Sunday. Additionally, should you be the first player to record an ace on the 16th hole, you will also drive away with the first ever, all-electric BMW i5 sedan.

ABOUT THE WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION

The Western Golf Association conducts championships for professional and amateur golfers, promotes the use of caddies and supports the Evans Scholars Foundation’s efforts to award full tuition and housing college scholarships to hardworking caddies with limited financial means.

We’re a driving force in the game of golf, a respected charitable cause for tens of thousands of supporters and a distinguished leader in the nation’s golf community.

The WGA began in 1899, when 11 Chicago-area golf clubs formed an organization to promote their interests in golf. It was in Golf, Illinois, where the WGA established its headquarters. At the nearby Glen View Club, the WGA held its first Western Open and Western Amateur championships to showcase the exceptional talent of golfers who called the west their home.

Today, we conduct four amateur championships – the Western Amateur, Western Junior, Women’s Western Amateur and Women’s Western Junior – and two professional events – the Korn Ferry Tour’s NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank and the BMW Championship, the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoffs.

ABOUT THE EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION

In 1929, famed amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. asked the WGA to administer the fund he had established to send deserving caddies to college. The WGA awarded its first two scholarships in 1930, sending caddies Harold Fink and Jim McGinnis to Northwestern University. Until World War II, all Evans Scholars continued to attend Northwestern, and it was there that the first Scholarship House was established.

As the Evans Scholars Foundation grew, WGA Directors realized the impact of Chick’s dream on the lives of young men and women with limited access to a college education. When Chick’s original investment was exhausted, the WGA Directors perpetuated the Evans Scholars Program by making contributions of their own.

Today, the Foundation is funded by contributions from Par Club members across the country as well as proceeds from our championships. The Evans Scholars Program provides academic, professional and social resources that help students maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA and 95 percent graduation rate. There were a record 1,100 Evans Scholars enrolled in 22 leading universities during the 2022-23 academic year, and more than 12,000 young men and women have graduated as Evans Scholars since 1930.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The host hotel for the 2023 BMW Championship is The Even Hotel - Tinley Park, conveniently located 15 minutes from Olympia Fields Country Club. The recently renovated “wellness lifestyle” hotel is suitable for a comfortable week-long stay. In addition to the spacious fitness center and yoga room, each individual guest room is equipped with light workout and stretching equipment. Select guest rooms also have a stationary bike. Rates start at $169 per night for a standard “Wellness Room” and $389 for suites.

Additionally, a small amount of guest rooms will be available at La Banque and the Marriott Burr Ridge. La Banque is a boutique hotel located 10 minutes from Olympia Fields Country Club and rates start at $319 per night. The Marriott Burr Ridge was the previous host hotel in 2020, located about 30 minutes from Olympia Fields Country Club, and rates start at $175 per night.

Private housing options, are also available in the local community surrounding Olympia Fields Country Club. Please contact the housing coordinator to explore options which are also posted on Player Links.

To submit reservation requests, please visit Player Links or contact Madison Banas (info below).

Madison Banas

Housing Coordinator

banas@wgaesf.org

(847) 508-8409

AIR TRAVEL & COURTESY VEHICLES

Below are the recommended private and commercial airports. This year the BMW Championship is proud to provide courtesy vehicles to both players and caddies. As soon as players and caddies know their travel information, they should reach out to Transportation Chairman, Andreas Kraemer (info below), to coordinate the pickup of their courtesy vehicle.

PRIVATE

Lansing, IL (KIGQ)

Midwest Business Center (FBO)

3259 Airport Drive

Lansing, IL 60438

(708) 889-6288

9 miles / 20 minutes from OFCC

Chicago Midway (KMDW)

Atlantic Aviation

6150 S Laramie Ave

Chicago, IL 60638

(773) 582-5720

29 miles / 45 minutes from OFCC

Chicago Midway (KMDW)

Signature Flight Support

5821 S Central Ave

Chicago, IL 60638

(773) 767-4400

29 miles / 45 minutes from OFCC

Chicago O’Hare (KORD)

Signature Flight Support

825 Patton Dr., Building 825

Chicago, IL 60666

(773) 686-7000

43 miles / 60 minutes from OFCC

COMMERCIAL

Chicago Midway (MDW)

29 miles / 45 minutes from OFCC

Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

43 miles / 60 minutes from OFCC

CONTACT INFORMATION

Andreas Kraemer

Transportation@golf-volunteers.com

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

ON-SITE PARKING

Both players and caddies will be parking in the “A-Lot.” Please note that the A-Lot sticker applied to your courtesy car allows only your vehicle access to the A-Lot. Due to limited space, each player and caddie will receive only one sticker. If it is adhered to a different vehicle for sponsorship reasons, only that car will be allowed in the A-Lot.

A BMW Championship vehicle without an A-Lot Sticker will not have access to the A-Lot for any reason. There will be no extra spots available in the players’ lot. For immediate family members who need extra parking, arrangements can be made through Player Registration or at the Player Hospitality desk located in the clubhouse.

Players with vehicle sponsors will receive an A-Lot sticker to be applied to their alternate vehicle at Player Registration.

TRANSPORTATION

For all transportation and courtesy car requests, players and caddies should contact Andreas. Andreas may be able to accommodate special arrangements outside of the above hours.

Andreas Kramer Transportation Chairman transportation@golf-volunteers.com

(703) 395-5856

PRACTICE (NEW FOR 2023)

Evans Scholar caddies will be available Monday and Tuesday of championship week to carry the professional’s bags during practice rounds. This service will be complimentary and will allow the professional caddies to perform their course work and further engage with their TOUR professional. ESF caddies can carry the bag and perform other duties like raking bunkers and tending to flag sticks.

Steve Hulka will serve as caddie manager and be the liaison between the professional caddie and our volunteer Evans Scholar caddies. Steve will be located on the driving range and available to assist in pairing an Evans Scholar with a player and their caddie.

Contact Steve Hulka at (630) 258-0847 for more information.

PRO-AM

All TOUR Professionals will be assigned an Evans Scholar to carry their bag in the Gardner-Heidrick Pro-Am on Wednesday.

In 1974, Evans Scholars and other top Chicago-area kids caddied for the TOUR Professionals playing in the Western Open, ThursdaySunday. That tradition ended in 1986 for various reasons.

This tradition was revived in a limited fashion in 1997 when current Evans Scholars caddied for the PGA TOUR Professionals during the Wednesday Pro-Am. Scholars would carry the professional bags and TOUR caddies would either take the day off or walk along with the group and continue with their course preparation without having to carry the bag.

In 2019, the PGA TOUR allowed us to bring back this tradition and it was greeted with open arms by the Players.

LOCKER ROOM

Players and caddies will both be utilizing the Olympia Fields men’s locker room during the BMW Championship.

Various amenities will be available in the men’s locker room, including but not limited to:

• Dry cleaning

• Private dining for players and caddies ONLY

• Designated areas for personal trainers and stretching

• Fitness center

PLAYER/CADDIE LOCKERROOM

EQUIPMENT TRUCKS

SHORT GAME PRACTICE AREA

PLAYER/CADDIE FAMILYDINING

AUTOGRAPH ZONE RANGEPLAYER/CADDIE LOUNGE

DRIVING RANGE

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Food and beverage offerings will be located in the 73rd hole for players, caddies and families during the championship. All players and caddies will be allowed one additional guest badge upon request at registration.

All menus this week have been designed to boost nutrient density for optimal athletic performance, health, hydration, and recovery.

Ingredients are 100%...

• Non-GMO

• Grass-fed/finished meats

• Pastured eggs, poultry and dairy

• Wild caught seafood

• Seasonal local organic produce and whole grains

Focus Areas

• Gluten-free

• Dairy-free

• Plant-based

• Sprouted whole grains, nuts, and nut butter

• Nutrient dense grab & go

• Health benefit signage

Menu items target pre-round fueling and post-round recovery. Look for the icons above.

*Additionally, evening dining at Olympia Fields Country Club is available Wednesday through Sunday. Reservations can be made at the player and caddie hospitality desk in the 73rd hole.

GARDNER HEIDRICK PRO-AM |

The Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am is the largest fundraiser for the Evans Scholars Foundation, with almost $1 million being raised from the day each year. The Western Golf Association is proud to dedicate the Pro-Am in the honor of Gardner Heidrick, for his outstanding commitment to the Evans Scholars Foundation.

EVANS SCHOLAR CADDIES

During this year’s Pro-Am, Evans Scholars will get the unique opportunity to caddie for the professionals. This tradition began in 1974 when Evans Scholars caddied for the TOUR Professionals playing in the Western Open, Thursday - Sunday. That tradition was put on hold in 1986 and was revived in a limited fashion in 1997 when current Evans Scholar students caddied for the PGA TOUR Professionals during the Wednesday Pro-Am. We are proud to hold this tradition up during tournament week this year.

PRO-AM FORMAT

This year’s pro-am format is a 9 and 9 with 4 amateurs in the group. Our title sponsor, BMW, will have 13 groups, with 3 amateurs in each group. The remaining groups are Western Golf Association partners and corporate hospitality buyers, many whom have participated in the pro-am since 2007.

TEE TIMES

The first nine hole tee times will run from 8:00 a.m. – 10:12 a.m., with the second nine hole tee times running from 10:25 a.m. - 12:42 p.m. You will receive your pro-am tee time at registration and the amateurs will receive theirs on Tuesday night at the ProAm Reveal Party.

PHOTOS

Pictures with both professionals will be taken after the Pro-Am groups finish their first nine holes, and you will be asked to autograph the photos for the amateurs.

PLAYER, CADDIE HOSPITALITY & CHILD CARE

For additional information on restaurants and local attractions, please contact:

Phillip Faso

(708) 906-0372 (cell)

pfaso419@gmail.com

Philip can also be visited at the Player and Caddie Hospitality desk located in the 73rd hole (player and caddie dining).

CHILD CARE

During the championship, child care will be provided at:

Marion Catholic High School

700 Ashland Ave.

Chicago Heights, IL 60411

Hours:

Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday - Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

No Drop Off/Pick Up between: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Cindy Crampton (PGA TOUR) is the on-site manager and can be reached at (908) 619-6999.

CONTACT US

The Western Golf Association is proud to have the opportunity to present the BMW Championship. Should you need anything during the tournament, please do not hesitate to contact us:

John Kaczkowski President & CEO

kaczkowski@wgaesf.org

(847) 477-4027 - cell

Vince Pellegrino

Tournament Director

pellegrino@wgaesf.org

(847) 420-4108 - cell

Patrick Timson

Tournament Operations

timson@wgaesf.org

(630) 220-4897 - cell

Christina Leonhard Tickets & Credentials

leonhard@wgaesf.org

(214) 235-3111 - cell

Madison Banas Hotel Accommodations

banas@wgaesf.org

(847) 508-8409 - cell

PAST CHAMPIONS

The Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation