The Simmons Bank Open For the Snedeker Foundation, Part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, debuts at Vanderbilt Legends Club

Media Contact:

Darren Reese, Tennessee Golf Foundation, Director of Communications | dreese@tngolf.org |Mobile: 865-621-4806

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (July 16, 2024) – The future stars of the PGA TOUR will return to middle Tennessee this September for the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation. There will be a completely new and exciting look to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals event, though, as Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin will be the host golf course.

The Simmons Bank Open – the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Tournament of the Year – will be contested Sept. 12-15 on the North Course. The Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) will continue to serve as operator and host organization of the event. The tournament was held at Nashville Golf and Athletic Club its first four years and at The Grove the last three.

All four rounds of the 2024 Simmons Bank Open will be broadcast on Golf Channel.

“We are thrilled about the future of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation,” said Tennessee Golf Foundation President, Whit Turnbow. “Vanderbilt University and the Legends Club have been interwoven into the history of the TGF dating back to the early 1990s, and to align that relationship with the strategic vision of the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR University was a match made in heaven. The golf teams, staff and membership have been a joy to work with and we look forward to showing the Legends Club to the world in September!”

Founded in 1992, Vanderbilt Legends Club is a 36-hole golf club located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Nashville. The North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club, which stretches 7,190 yards from the championship tees, was designed by world-renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, as well as World Golf Hall of Famer and 19-time PGA TOUR winner Tom Kite.

The courses at Vanderbilt Legends Club, as well as its pristine 19-acre practice facility, are widely recognized among the finest in Tennessee. The club has hosted numerous competitions, including the Tennessee State Open (1993-96), Southeastern Conference Women’s Championship (1995), LPGA Franklin American Mortgage Championship hosted by Vince Gill & Amy Grant (2000-06), NCAA Women’s Golf Championship (2012), NCAA Women’s Golf Franklin Regional (2022), and the annual Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt.

“I’m delighted that Vanderbilt University has partnered with the PGA TOUR to keep the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation in the middle Tennessee area,” said Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt’s vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “We are extremely fortunate to have Vanderbilt Legends Club host a world-class event that will bring in some of the best golfers in the world to compete on the same course that our golfers play at on a daily basis. We hope that this partnership will continue to enrich a growing golf community in the greater Nashville area while showing support for Brandt, Mandy, and the Snedeker Foundation.”

The Simmons Bank Open is the second of a four-tournament Finals series, which has 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 will have 144 players, the third event 120, and 75 will advance to the finale in late September. Thirty (30) PGA Tour cards will be awarded at the end of the Finals series.

The Simmons Bank Open first announced in 2017 that The Snedeker Foundation would be the official charitable beneficiary of middle Tennessee’s only PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament. The Snedeker Foundation was founded in 2012 by nine-time PGA TOUR winner, 2012 FedExCup champion and Vanderbilt alumni Brandt Snedeker and his wife, Mandy, to help serve different charities in middle Tennessee. The foundation supports a variety of efforts on both the social and athletic fronts, including Our Kids, which provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse while also working to increase community awareness, education and training about child maltreatment.

“Mandy and I can’t wait to welcome the Simmons Bank Open and the golf world to Vanderbilt Legends Club this September,” said Brandt Snedeker. “Vanderbilt University has played such a vital role in my life and career, and we have so many special friendships and relationships that continue to this day. To bring those together with our nationally televised Korn Ferry Tour event, which directly benefits the Snedeker Foundation, is very exciting. We know our friends at the Tennessee Golf Foundation will put on a first-class experience that all of middle Tennessee can be proud of.”

The change of venues for the Simmons Bank Open will not only highlight the championship caliber that is the Vanderbilt Legends course, but it will also allow the Tennessee Golf Foundation to integrate Golf House Tennessee into the tournament buildout.

Golf House Tennessee, located at 400 Franklin Rd. in Franklin, is home to the three governing bodies of golf in the state – the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Tennessee Golf Association and the Tennessee Section PGA. Golf House Tennessee will serve as the main tournament entrance, and a large portion of the property’s nine-hole par three course will be used for tournament hospitality and activations.

“We are extremely excited to show off Golf House Tennessee to the golf world,” Turnbow said.  “What we do here is so unique when compared to all of the other states across the country, and we welcome the opportunity to showcase it to people who might not otherwise know about it.”

Some of the main staples that became fan favorites at the Simmons Bank Open in previous years will return and be better than ever in 2024. 

One of those is The Sandtrap – a hospitality area where fans can enjoy activities, food trucks and a variety of beverage options. Also returning is The Piggy Bank – 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 charities, and one way we do that is through “Foundation Friday”, which features local non-profits who specialize in providing support for children and families in our community. Non-profits will set up unique activations in The Sandtrap on Friday, Sept. 13, of tournament week and engage with fans while also raising awareness for their missions.

Tickets for the 2024 Simmons Bank Open will go on sale Tuesday, July 16.  All kids 17 years old and younger get in free with a paid adult admission.  Active and retired military and first responders also receive free admission, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Servpro.

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:

WHAT: Simmons Bank Open For the Snedeker Foundation – One of Four Events in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals

WHEN: Sept. 12-15, 2024 (Thursday-Sunday)

WHERE: Vanderbilt Legends Club | 1500 Legends Club Ln, Franklin, TN 37069

WHO: 144 golfers compete for the Simmons Bank Open title and coveted guitar trophy

Ticket Information: Tickets are available at SimmonsBankOpen.com

Day Ticket: $20 | 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

Spectator Parking: TBA

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About Simmons Bank Open

The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation is owned and operated by the Tennessee Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Franklin, Tenn. The Simmons Bank Open was the Korn Ferry Tour Tournament of the Year in 2022. In 2023, the Simmons Bank Open became one of four tournaments making up the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, which determines which players receive PGA TOUR membership the following season. The Simmons Bank Open is played at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin. It was formerly held at Nashville Golf and Athletic Club from 2016-19 and The Grove from 2021-2023. The Snedeker Foundation, the family foundation for 9-time PGA TOUR winner and 2012 FedExCup Champion Brandt Snedeker and wife Mandy, became the primary beneficiary of the tournament in 2017. Simmons Bank was introduced as the title sponsor of the tournament in February of 2020. For more information, visit www.simmonsbankopen.com.

About 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 115 consecutive years. Simmons Bank operates 233 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 2024, Simmons Bank was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the 2024-2025 Best Companies to Work For in the South and by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Banks 2024 in Tennessee. In 2023, Simmons Bank was recognized by Forbes’ as one of “America’s Best Midsize Employer” and among the “World’s Best Banks” for the fourth consecutive year. Additional information about Simmons Bank can be found on our website at simmonsbank.com, by following @Simmons_Bank on X (formerly Twitter) or by visiting our newsroom.

About 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.

About Tennessee Golf Foundation

The Tennessee Golf Foundation was founded in 1990 with the vision to impact Tennesseans, particularly youth, veterans and the disadvantaged, through the game of golf. TGF initiatives include the Sneds Tour, The First Tee of Tennessee, the Scott Stallings Kids Play Free Program, PGA HOPE, the Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Academy, the Tennessee Middle School Golf Association, Special Olympics Golf and much more. The Tennessee Golf Foundation operates out of Golf House Tennessee, which is located in Franklin and is home to the state’s governing bodies of golf – the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Tennessee Golf Association, and the Tennessee Section PGA. Golf House Tennessee features The Little Course at Conner Lane, a state-of-the-art learning center owned and operated by the TGF, which features a nine-hole, par-three course, driving range and practice area and has year- round programming for all ages and skill levels. The Tennessee Golf Foundation is a 501c(3) organization. For more information, visit www.tngolffoundation.org.

About Korn Ferry Tour

Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour identifies and develops golf’s next stars, preparing them to compete and win on the game’s biggest stage. The Korn Ferry Tour, which has served as a path to the PGA TOUR since its inception, will award 30 PGA TOUR cards based off its points list in 2024, with the No. 1 player earning exemptions into the following year’s PLAYERS Championship and U.S. Open. With more than 600 PGA TOUR titles, 30 major championships and seven FedExCup champions, Korn Ferry Tour alumni make up 83 percent of the PGA TOUR’s current membership. To learn more about the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour and to follow the season-long quest for PGA TOUR cards, visit PGATOUR.COM or follow the Korn Ferry Tour on social media. At least seven Korn Ferry Tour events are televised annually on Golf Channel in the United States, with tournament coverage available internationally in more than 170 countries and territories via 23 media partners.