Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
FRENCH LICK – Three thousand followers of Good Good Golf came to French Lick June 18 to watch their golf heroes play the Pete Dye Course and left behind a trail of goodwill with local businesses.
Zach Kellams, owner of Papa John’s on Ind. 56 between West Baden and French Lick said the store recorded one of the busiest weekdays it’s ever had. He said sales were up 70% over a typical Tuesday. Papa John’s and the adjacent Fast Eddie’s did a brisk business that day.
“We close at 10 and we got so busy that we had to stop taking orders at 9:45 that night,” Kellams said of Papa John’s.
Kellams said he always prepares for surges when the French Lick Resort is hosting large events but this event generated business beyond what he expected.
“I was very surprised with this one and I was surprised that many people showed up for a one-day tournament,” he said. “But it’s a new world with influencers and social media stars. The amount of kids and younger people who came through our doors was incredible.”
The Bagel Bistro, a cafe in West Baden Springs, also saw an increase in business.
Co-owner Rachel Mensch said the cafe is usually closed Mondays and Tuesdays but made plans to open on Tuesday after learning the Good Good Golf Midwest Open would bring in a few thousand visitors.
“We were steady open to close and busy Wednesday as well,” said Rachel, who owns the cafe with her husband Jack. “We stayed busy all through the week because the Good Good Golf people stayed in town until Saturday.”
The Midwest Open was a two-person scramble featuring a number of influencers with large followings. The $100,000 tournament prize was claimed by the father-son duo of Michael and Dylan Block. Michael is a club professional who made headlines when he shot a hole in one at the 2023 PGA Championship.
Dave Harner, director of golf operations for the French Lick Resort, said the event’s 3,000 spectators came from near and far. Harner said he met fans who came from Texas, Colorado and North Carolina.
The guys of Good Good Golf, twenty-somethings known for having a good time on the links, are bringing legions of new fans to the game.
“These guys have figured out how to appeal to the new golfers and younger players,” Harner said. “It’s not like the old days when everybody thrived on it being quiet and it was all proper. They are very good players and were playing for a $100,000 purse but found a way to play competitive golf and have fun at the same time.”
They also engaged with fans, making sure to stay and sign autographs.
Video of the tournament recorded over 1 million views in the first five days.
“That gives you an idea of the power they have and the draw they have,” added Harner, who said he would love to see the Good Good Golf Midwest Open return to French Lick.
Events of that scale are a boost for the local economy. At the Bagel Bistro, sales on the day of the Midwest Open were about 30% higher than a typical weekday and on the day following the tournament, Rachel said the cafe saw about a 40% increase in business.
The Bagel Bistro opened in 2017 and Rachel and Jack bought the business in 2022.
The cafe specializes in steamed bagel sandwiches and also serves crepes and biscuits and gravy along with coffees. Some of the cafe’s meats are pasture-raised on the couple’s farm.
Located on Ind. 56 in the Homestead Hotel Plaza, the Mensches have been in business long enough to anticipate the seasons and large events that bring visitors to the county.
“Definitely when the hotel has events, there’s increased traffic,” she said.
Based on the store traffic of the Midwest Open, Rachel said she now knows to expect several busy days this fall when the Korn Ferry Championship comes to the Pete Dye Course Oct. 3-6.
More golf tournaments
On July 1-2, more than 300 youth will compete in the Indiana junior age group champion, playing on all three courses at the French Lick Resort.
On July 8, nearly 150 golfers will play in the Indiana Open Championship at the Donald Ross and the Pete Dye.