From March 30 to April 5, the Valero Texas Open, or VTO, will be held for the 17th year at The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio in the Stone Oak area. Founded in 1922, Larson Segerdahl, executive director of the VTO, said the city has a unique relationship with the tournament, which is the third-oldest event on the PGA Tour and the sixth-oldest professional golf tournament in the world.
“No city has hosted a professional golf tournament longer and more consistently than the city of San Antonio,” he said.
The VTO fields 132 professional golf players who compete in a four-round event running from Thursday through Sunday. Segerdahl said the tournament week also includes a range of activities, such as music performances and the military heroes’ appreciation banquet.
“The tournament has really transitioned from a niche golf event ... to now being a can’t-miss event on the San Antonio social scene,” Segerdahl said.
Each year, VTO brings in an estimated $36 million to $37 million in local economic impact, Segerdahl said.
Jeff Webster, president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, said that although the VTO is centered in North San Antonio, the economic impact ripples across the entire city.
“[Visitors are] in the heartbeat of one of the fastest growing communities in the city, [the] Stone Oak area, but [they] really get to visit the whole city,” Webster said.
Grant Moody, Bexar County Precinct 3 commissioner, emphasized that the VTO solidifies San Antonio’s reputation as a top tourist destination.
“Events of this caliber ... reinforce our reputation as a place that can successfully host world-class events,” Moody said.
Danny Yeargin, director of golf at TPC San Antonio, said the Oaks Course is unique in the
PGA tournament and includes the iconic 16th hole, known as the avocado hole.
“What gives Oaks, we’ll say its teeth, [is] it’s the hardest second-shot golf course I’ve ever
played,” Yeargin said. “O the tee is kind of forgiving, but then the second shot, you miss at all, you’re done.”
The specifics
Diving in deeper
Approximately 42% of VTO attendees come from outside San Antonio, and the average visiting attendee spends roughly $502 per day, including the cost of their hotel.
