LANCASTER, Pa. — The transformation of the Lancaster Country Club is underway, as the the golf course prepares for the USGA Women's Open at the end of May.
"This is their championship," said Alisa White, an operations manager for the USGA. "[It is] the one all the players want to win."
This is the second time since 2015 that the U.S. Women's Open returns to Lancaster County. Crews have been working for weeks to build out the course to welcome in fans.
So far, scaffolding for protective nets and TV towers, as well as fan tents have been erected along the golf course.
"It's a really cool process to start from the ground up, and then realize that in a short time, we'll have fans and players here," said White.
Roughly 60,000 people will be watching the best in women's golf tee it up at the Lancaster Country Club. The crowds are expected to generate between $25-30 million for the local economy.
“There is that longer-term effect where businesses are gaining from people dining out, staying in hotel rooms, and using local supplies," said Joel Cliff, the director of communications for Discover Lancaster.
Cliff said the ripple effects of the US Women's Open will be felt by local businesses throughout Lancaster County. He added that the TV coverage of the tournament will expose more people to what Lancaster has to offer.
“The media coverage will be a real benefit to showing off today’s Lancaster County, and a great chance to show people that there’s so much going on here, in addition to the golf, and that they should check out sometime," said Cliff.
The USGA Women's Open will kick off on May 30 and run through June 2.