By Torleif Sorenson on 6/29/15

Last Thursday, we told you the story of the rebirth of Del Paso Country Club, where Jeff Maggert won the U.S. Senior Open on Sunday. The club's membership, especially president Dan Spector and general manager Bob Kunz auditioned several golf architects for a major redesign and lengthening of the course. In the end, they chose the "retro-traditionalist" architect Kyle Phillips (at right) and his firm.

After the reconstruction was complete and unveiled, Spector and other Del Paso CC members retained experienced tournament organizer Brian Flajole for a second round of petitioning the USGA to bring the U.S. Senior Open to Del Paso. In January of 2012, they finally succeeded — but only after Spector and several financial advisors produced several reports illustrating the financial viability of a Senior Open in the Sacramento area.

Among those who praised Del Paso and the Senior Open layout was well-known player Billy Andrade:

"This golf course is fantastic, great crowds. I wish the Champions Tour could come here on a yearly basis. The USGA has done a wonderful job setting the course up. Today, we had a little variety with No. 9 playing short and No. 15 playing shorter. But all in all, I'm tickled to death and very happy with the outcome."

Andrade is reportedly not the only person who wants Del Paso to host another important tournament or national championship.

Spector (at right), who was the Del Paso's tournament chair for the U.S. Senior Open, told the Bee's Ailene Voisin that he has received at least one inquiry from the PGA Tour, although he refused to elaborate further. And by no means is his Senior Open work done:

"We will do an economic impact report after the event. And by all indications, it appears that our impact will be potentially higher than what we forecast."

The Bee reported on Sunday that the attendance is likely to have been over 100,000. Spector's initial study projected a $16.7 million impact on the Sacramento area economy, largely in hotel room bookings, car rentals, ticket sales, and at local restaurants and clubs.

Even though that report has yet to be developed and written, Spector — the originator of the idea of a Senior Open in Sacramento — is now looking at the possibility of Del Paso holding another USGA championship:

"The USGA only holds a national championship in the same location every seven to ten years. But because the club has renewed our relationship with the USGA so successfully, it's also possible the members would have a smaller championship here in three to five years, say, a girls amateur or some sort of junior event, with the goal of hosting another Senior Open in seven to ten years."

Sacramento may be viewed as a small-market city that happens to have an NBA franchise in its third location — and almost moved to Seattle three years ago. Of course, the area hosted a popular LPGA Tour event from 1996 until 2010.

But given the attendance, a strong reception from U.S. Senior Open competitors, and what is expected to be a healthy economic boost, residents of the Sacramento region might find themselves hosting either another USGA championship soon, or possible another regular golf tournament.

And they will have Dan Spector to thank for it, amongst others.


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Images via Del Paso Country Club, Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design, Spector Weir LLP