LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — The Lancaster County Club is gearing up to host the biggest women's golf tournament in the world, the U.S. Women's Open, in a little over a week.
Following a deadly accident, charges were filed against top golfer Scottie Scheffler on his way to the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. Cell phone video shows the Masters Champion being handcuffed for allegedly not following police orders while trying to get around the taped-off scene.
Authorities say an officer screamed at Scheffler to stop and then grabbed onto the vehicle until Scheffler stopped about ten yards later. He was booked on charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.
Ultimately, Scheffler made bail and was released by police. He returned to Valhalla Golf Club to make his second-round tee time just after 10 a.m.
In Lancaster, the host site is a hub of activity from well before the sun comes up until long after the sun sets. As for the safety aspect, Lancaster Country Club is right off Route 23 and very close to Route 30.
There are people living right across the street from the club who will want to walk across, so drivers should exercise caution in the area. There will be shuttles bringing fans back and forth all day long.
As for security, the club sits in a unique location so multiple police locations are working together- Manheim Township on one end, East Lampeter Township on the other side.
"We want player safety and we want fan safety," said 2024 U.S. Women's Open Chairman Jerry Hostetter. "There will be pedestrian walkways but I would ask the public to adhere to the pedestrian walkway. We don't want people just haphazardly going across [Route] 23 and having an incident happen like in Louisville where someone tragically died."
"Police are there for our safety and your safety, so pay attention to the signs. Let's have a great week and make sure we pay attention," he continued.
Nine years ago, the U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster County Country Club set an attendance record with 135,000 spectators over six days. They're on pace to equal or even exceed that total.