LOOKING IN ON: GOLF

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 | 7:47 a.m.

Charlie Baron has seen more than a few local sports teams and events come and go during his two-decade tenure as tournament manager for the Las Vegas PGA Tour stop.

So, while the announcement last week that the LPGA Tour would not return to Las Vegas in 2007 hit a little close to home, it didn't come as a big surprise to Baron.

"It's always sad when we lose an event," he said. "It just comes back to community support, I guess, to keep these things going."

Baron knows all about community support - and the lack thereof. The local PGA Tour event, known as the Frys.com Open, has come close to dropping off the PGA Tour schedule on a couple of occasions while tournament organizers scrambled to find sponsorship.

The LPGA Takefuji Classic's four-year run at the Las Vegas Country Club was marked by sparse attendance, prompting the LPGA Tour to pull out of Las Vegas after staging 29 tournaments in the valley since 1961.

In Las Vegas, where competition for the entertainment dollar can be fierce, Baron said, merely putting on a golf tournament no longer works. Unless you support a tournament with other entertainment that appeals to the whole family, Baron said, it's going to be a hard sell.

"You've got to get charities involved, you've got to give the people good value, you've got to put on an entertaining event and you've got to give something where the whole family can be a part of it," he said.

"We've tried it all; we've done everything but put the Ferris wheel in the parking lot."

The problem of lagging community support is not unique to Las Vegas, Baron said.

"We're not the only community where attendance is down at sporting events," he said. "We're unique in that we're a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week environment but to attract the community to get out, I think lifestyles have changed and that's what you're seeing (nationwide)."

Baron also said he wouldn't be surprised to see the women's tour return to Las Vegas. Since 1961, the LPGA Tour's longest stint here was a six-year run from 1979 to 1985 - largely as the J&B Scotch Pro-Am at the Desert Inn Golf Club.

"The LPGA has really got some good recognition going lately with the younger crop of players that are coming up - not only with Michelle Wie, but Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis and Morgan Pressel," Baron said.

"I'd love to see them come back. Maybe another group will come along and convince the LPGA that this market is a good market."

Bob May's 54-hole score after shooting a 1-over-par 73 in the first round of last weekend's B.C. Open

Former UNLV standout Adam Scott's ranking on the PGA Tour money list

Strong field expected

Although it still is nearly three months away, Baron said the field for this year's Frys.com Open is looking good.

"We've probably got commitments right now from 10 guys who have already won on the tour this year," Baron said, although none is a household name. "Some of the marquee names wait until later in the season to commit (but) we're going to be strong.

"When you look at our field compared to some of these events early in the year, outside of the majors, ours will be better than all of them."

The Frys.com Open will be Oct. 12-15 at the TPC at Summerlin and the TPC at The Canyons.

Also noted