Tulsa Hosts Biggest Event In NCAA Women's Golf

The biggest show in women's college golf is at the Tulsa Country Club, just outside downtown Tulsa. Tuesday is the first day of tournament play which will decide the winner of the NCAA Women's Golf Championships.

Teams and individuals from Seattle to Gainesville, Florida are here in Tulsa - and our economy is expected to get a nice boost. 

And the people who worked years to secure the first bid since 1999 for this tournament couldn't be more excited.

"It does nothing but help us as a community, especially with women's sports/girl's sports," said Vince Trinidad, Tulsa Sports Commission.

"We want the community to come out and see what we can do."

Vince Trinidad is the executive director of Tulsa Sports Commission and he thinks The NCAA division I women's golf championship is a golden opportunity for Green Country to shine.

"This is money that is not part of the Tulsa economy whatsoever, so we want them to have a great time. We want them to eat in our restaurants, we want them to stay in the hotels, we want them to recreate," Trinidad said.

Two dozen teams from across the country are in town for the event. Because of the players and their fans, organizers are expecting a half million dollar economic impact to the Tulsa area.

Local business owners, especially in the downtown area, are already seeing a boost.

Darell Christopher runs the Kennedy Mansion Bed and Breakfast, within a mile from the course and downtown. He says his rooms are filling up.

"To have the NCAA's here, there's a lot of excitement, a lot of buzz in town. And being so close to Guthrie Green and Brady District, this area's really happening," said Darell Christopher, Kennedy Mansion proprietor.

This historic home of one of Tulsa's founding fathers was just converted to a bed and breakfast in 2007, and Christopher thinks this tournament will help put the Mansion, and the city, on visitors' radar.

"This golf tournament, I tell you, there's going to be ripple effect as far as people saying, 'I'm going to go back there and spend a little time in Tulsa,'" he said.

"So we know, economically it's important. But also, Tulsa's a pretty cool city to live in."

The tournament wraps up Friday, when an individual and team champion will be crowned.