College Grove, Tenn. (July 11, 2023) – The Simmons Bank Open For the Snedeker Foundation, one of four events in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, returns to The Grove Club, Sept. 14-17, 2023. The tournament, named the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2022 Tournament of the Year, will be broadcast for the first time in event history on Golf Channel with 144 of the Tour’s top players competing for a tournament record $1.5 million. The broadcast schedule follows:
Thursday, Sept. 14: 2-5 p.m. CT
Friday, Sept. 15: 12:30 – 3 p.m. CT
Saturday, Sept. 16: 12- 3 p.m. CT
Sunday, Sept. 17: 12-3 p.m. CT
“Over the past two years, we have seen the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation become one of the premier events on the Korn Ferry Tour,” Tennessee Golf Foundation president Whit Turnbow said. “We are excited that this year it will be one of four tournaments making up the Korn Ferry Tour finals!”
“We are very grateful to Simmons Bank, Brandt and Mandy Snedeker and the Snedeker Foundation, and everyone who has passion for this event and the mission it has to not only identify the next stars of the PGA Tour, but to also make a positive impact on the community,” he added. “We look forward to showcasing it to the golf world this September as the event is televised for the first time on Golf Channel.”
The Korn Ferry Tour announced in August that it would move to a four-tournament Finals, each with a tournament purse of $1.5 million. The Finals will have an elimination format similar to the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. The first Finals tournament will have a 156-player field, the Simmons Bank Open (second Final) will have 144 players, the third event 120 players, and 75 players will advance to the finale in late September. Thirty (30) PGA TOUR cards will be awarded at the end of the Finals.
The Simmons Bank Open once again benefits The Snedeker Foundation, which was founded in 2012 by Nashville native, nine-time PGA TOUR winner and 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker and his wife Mandy. The Simmons Bank Open is operated by the Tennessee Golf Foundation, based at Golf House Tennessee (400 Franklin Rd.) in Franklin.
“Through our partnership with the Tennessee Golf Foundation and with the support of Brandt and Mandy Snedeker, the Simmons Bank Open has been recognized as one of the best events on the Korn Ferry Tour and we are proud to have the tournament become a marquee event in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals,” said Paul Craig, Nashville regional president for Simmons Bank. “This tournament is about more than just the game of golf. It also represents an opportunity for Simmons Bank to support the important work of the Snedeker Foundation and many other organizations in Nashville through community partnerships, service hours and philanthropic giving.”
In addition to the top up-and-coming golfers competing to earn promotion to the PGA TOUR, several fan favorite events will return to the Simmons Bank Open this year, including The Sandtrap, where fans can take their best shots at the floating guitar-shaped island green. The Sandtrap area is enhanced this year with more fan activities and food and beverage options, as well as a 60X60 elevated platform for socializing and viewing the action.
New for 2023 are the RTIC Tailgate Village and The Piggy Bank presented by Cooper Steel – two hospitality areas that are sure to become big hits with those looking for a fun day on the course. The RTIC Tailgate Village will be the spot to catch both golf and college football action on the weekend, with a tailgate setup featuring giant screens. The Piggy Bank is an exclusive hospitality area that will feature daily tastings from the best chefs in Nashville, unique cocktail pairings, live music and exclusive merchandise.
One of the primary goals of the Simmons Bank Open is to benefit the surrounding community and local charities. “Foundation Friday” features local nonprofits who specialize in providing support for children and families in the community. Participating nonprofits are Kulture City, the Jordan Thomas Foundation, Safe Haven Family Shelter, Our Kids, First Tee of Tennessee, Soles4Souls and The Store. These nonprofits will set up unique activations in The Sandtrap on Friday of tournament week and engage with fans while also raising awareness for their respective missions.
Tickets for the 2023 Simmons Bank Open go on sale on July 11 at www.simmonsbankopen.com. Active and retired U.S. military, first responders and healthcare workers will be admitted free with proper identification, courtesy of Servpro.
Wendy’s, a new partner to the 2023 Simmons Bank Open, will sponsor two kids
initiatives during tournament week. On Sunday, Sept. 10, the Wendy’s Junior Clinic at The Little Course at Golf House Tennessee in Franklin will feature Korn Ferry Tour professionals. Also, thanks to the generous support of Wendy’s, all kids 17 and under will receive free tournament admission with a paid adult.
Other new partners include Barstool Sportsbook, Gary Force Acura, Nelson’s Green Brier Whiskey, and more.
Volunteer opportunities for the event are still available and those interested should visit SimmonsBankOpen.com for more information.
Below are more details and information on tickets and parking:
WHAT: Simmons Bank Open For the Snedeker Foundation – One of Four Events in the Korn Ferry Tour Final
WHEN: Sept. 14-17, 2023 (Thursday-Sunday)
WHERE: The Grove Club | 6200 Wildings Blvd., College Grove, TN 37046
WHO: 144 golfers compete for the Simmons Bank Open title and coveted guitar trophy
Ticket Information: Tickets are available at SimmonsBankOpen.com
Day Ticket: $15 | Weekly Ticket (four days): $50
- Active and Retired U.S. Military, National Guard, Veterans, First Responders, Healthcare and Education Workers will be admitted free-of-charge with proper identification, courtesy of Servpro
- Children, 17 and under, are admitted free with a paid adult, courtesy of Wendy’s
Spectator Parking: Caste Park | home of the annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival | Parking is free (donations requested)
All spectator parking is located at Castle Park, home of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival at 2135 New Castle Road Arrington, TN 37014. A shuttle will transport spectators to the Main Entrance of The Grove and back to Castle Park. Parking is free, but Page High School will be accepting donations.
Below are more details and information on tickets and parking:
WHAT: Simmons Bank Open For the Snedeker Foundation
WHEN: Sept. 14-17, 2023 (Thursday-Sunday)
WHERE: The Grove Club | 6200 Wildings Blvd., College Grove, TN 37046
WHO: 144 golfers for the Simmons Bank Open title and coveted guitar trophy
Ticket Information: Tickets are available at SimmonsBankOpen.com
Day Ticket: $15 | Weekly Ticket (four days): $50
- Active and Retired U.S. Military, National Guard, Veterans, First Responders, Healthcare and Education Workers will be admitted free-of-charge with proper identification, courtesy of Servpro
- Children, 17 and under, are admitted free with a paid adult, courtesy of Wendy’s
Spectator Parking: Caste Park | home of the annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival | Parking is free (donations requested)
All spectator parking is located at Castle Park, home of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival at 2135 New Castle Road Arrington, TN 37014. A shuttle will transport spectators to the Main Entrance of The Grove and back to Castle Park. Parking is free, but Page High School will be accepting donations.
MORE ABOUT THE SIMMONS BANK OPEN:
The Simmons Bank Open
The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation – formerly the Nashville Golf Open – was first held at Nashville Golf and Athletic Club in 2016. Boston native James Driscoll was the inaugural champion that year. Simmons Bank was introduced as the title sponsor of the tournament for the next eight years on Feb. 11, 2020. The 2020 Simmons Bank Open was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced on Oct. 29, 2020, that the tournament would move to The Grove in College Grove, Tenn., beginning with the 2021 tournament. Also beginning in 2021, the Tennessee Golf Foundation – a nonprofit organization which promotes golf and its life-enhancing values statewide – took over operations of the Simmons Bank Open. Previous winners of the Simmons Bank Open include: Driscoll, Lanto Griffin (2017), Cameron Davis (2018), Robby Shelton (2019), Austin Smotherman (2021) and Brent Grant (2022), all of whom are current members of the PGA TOUR.
Simmons Bank
Simmons Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a Mid-South based financial holding company that has paid cash dividends for 114 consecutive years. Simmons Bank operates 231 branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Founded in 1903, Simmons Bank offers comprehensive financial solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. In 2023, Simmons Bank was recognized by Forbes’ as one of “America’s Best Midsize Employers” and among the “World’s Best Banks” for the fourth consecutive year. In 2022, Simmons Bank was named to Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Banks” for the second consecutive year. Additional information about Simmons Bank can be found on our website at simmonsbank.com, by following @Simmons_Bank on Twitter or by visiting our newsroom.
Snedeker Foundation
The Snedeker Foundation has been the official charitable beneficiary of the Simmons Bank Open since 2017. Founded in 2012 by FedExCup Champion and nine-time PGA TOUR winner Brandt Snedeker and his wife Mandy, the Snedeker Foundation supports a variety of social and athletic endeavors in middle Tennessee, including: Our Kids, which provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse, and The Sneds Tour, a statewide junior golf tour in Tennessee that allows kids to learn, play and enjoy the game while also making the sport affordable and accessible.
Tennessee Golf Foundation
The TGF operates out of Golf House Tennessee, located in Franklin, and is home to the state’s governing bodies of golf – the Tennessee Golf Association, the Tennessee Section PGA and TGF Junior Golf. Golf House Tennessee also features The Little Course at Conner Lane, a state-of-the-art learning center with a nine-hole, par-three course and driving range, with programming for all ages and skill levels. The TGF focuses on initiatives for juniors, veterans and the disadvantaged, with such offerings as the Sneds Tour – a statewide junior tour – Special Olympics, PGA HOPE, The First Tee, Tennessee Middle School Golf and the Scott Stallings Kids Play Free Program.
The Grove
The Grove, located in College Grove, Tenn., opened in 2012 and offers an unparalleled golf experience in middle Tennessee. It has quickly gained the reputation as one of the state’s premier private golf facilities. The course features Zoysia fairways and Bermuda greens, which are kept in championship playing condition year-round. It plays to a length of 7,300 yards from the championship tees.
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