What You Need to Know Before You Go to the PGA Championship at Valhalla
Two weeks after the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, the spotlight is back on the city of Louisville as it plays host to the 2024 PGA Championship. Valhalla Golf Club is hosting the event for the fourth time and golf fans in the area are anxious to see the star-studded field firsthand in what could be the last major tournament in the Commonwealth for the foreseeable future.
KSR will be on the grounds throughout the week and Kentucky Sports Radio will be broadcasting live from the event on Thursday and Friday. Before the action gets underway, there are a few things spectators should know before traveling to Valhalla to see the world’s best golfers.
Plan for a Lengthy Commute
I’ve never played a round at Valhalla. I can’t imagine they have spacious parking lots for thousands of people. That is most fans will be parking at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center and taking a shuttle bus to the golf tournament.
You don’t need a map to understand that the fairgrounds are not close to Valhalla. Without traffic, it’s about a 30-minute hike. WDRB’s Dalton Godbey hopped on the shuttle bus for Monday’s practice rounds outside of rush hour traffic. He clocked it at exactly 40 minutes between departure and arrival on the grounds of the golf course.
The Closest Way to Arrive to Valhalla
You don’t need to park your car to be able to watch the PGA Championship. If you are near the East End of town and don’t want to drive 30 minutes to park your car, only to drive 30 minutes back, rideshare services provide a loophole. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services can drop off patrons near the front door of Valhalla.
Even if you know someone who lives close to the golf course, they will not be taking walk-ins from Shelbyville Rd.
Put Your Phone on Silent
This is a golf tournament, not a football game. Don’t be the person whose ringtone disrupts a player’s backswing by keeping that phone on vibrate throughout your excursion at Valhalla.
What You Can Take Inside the PGA Championship Grounds
Most large entertainment venues have a clear bag policy in effect. That’s not the case at Valhalla. Excluding mothers who are nursing or bringing a diaper bag, all bags must be smaller than 10x10x10.
A few things that are permitted and encouraged: sunscreen, portable phone chargers, comfortable walking shoes, rain jackets, strollers, and umbrellas. Small foldable lawn chairs are also permitted on the grounds at Valhalla.
The PGA Championship is Cashless
And it breaks my heart. American dollar bills are worth something, yet some businesses refuse to accept them. It infuriates me and one day I will transform into the old man yelling at clouds over this very stupid policy.
PGA Championship Schedule
Inclement weather may change these tentative plans and Accuweather is giving us a greater than 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Friday.
Practice Rounds
Tuesday, Wednesday: 7:00 am-7:30 pm, 1st tee closes at 3 pm on Wednesday
Championship Round Tee Times
Thursday, Friday: 7:15 am-2:57 pm
Saturday, Sunday: 7:45 am-2:45 pm
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