Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007 | 7:24 a.m.
Charlie Baron recently announced that he was resigning as tournament manager of the Frys.com Open - a position he has held for 22 years - but he made it clear he isn't retiring.
Instead of trying to drum up sponsorship to keep the local PGA Tour stop afloat, Baron, who turns 62 this month, will focus his energy on coaching at and raising funds for a prep school he became involved with in Thompson, Conn.
Baron sent both of his daughters to Marianapolis Preparatory School, and when he learned it was about to be closed and sold, he and some friends formed a foundation and raised the necessary money to keep the coed school open.
"My hopes are to be able to go back and help with the fundraising efforts and get back in and do some things with kids and do some coaching, probably with the girls basketball team and the golf program and the tennis program," he said. "I've been dwelling on this since we got involved in it, and now is the time."
Baron, who has commuted between Las Vegas and his native Massachusetts since joining the Las Vegas Founders (the nonprofit group that puts on the Frys.com Open) in 1984, reflected on his two decades in charge of the golf tournament and addressed some of the problems facing his successor.
1. Biggest challenge
The PGA Tour's new FedEx Cup competition, a seasonlong points bonus program that runs from January through mid-September, could prove to be a death knell for some tournaments - such as the Frys.com Open - that are played after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup.
"The FedEx Cup will be strong, but what's the perception of the general public going to be for those events after the FedEx Cup? And what's going to be the value for title sponsors after the FedEx Cup?"
This year's Frys.com Open will be played Oct. 11-14 - four weeks after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup.
2. Squeezed out
Although the population of Clark County has more than tripled since Baron came to town, he has witnessed a gradual decline in attendance at the local tournament.
That growth, especially in Summerlin, where the final two rounds are played, has led to the development of areas that once were used for spectator parking. The tournament has to shuttle many spectators from parking lots about three miles from the course.
"I can go to the Thomas & Mack, park my car and I walk into the arena; I can't do that here. You, as a sports fan, have to be flexible. You have to be willing to get on a shuttle bus, and that's a challenge in this town."
3. Good work
Baron said he is most proud of the charitable work the Las Vegas Founders has done in the community since the tournament's inception. Baron said the group has raised more than $15 million for local charities during the past 25 years.
"This past year, the 2006 event, will be a banner year in terms of donations back to the local community; it'll be in excess of $2 million. We've averaged a million dollars a year over the last eight years, and there aren't too many tournaments that can say that - or too many other community events that can say that."
4. "Most fun"
In addition to putting on the Frys.com Open, the Las Vegas Founders supports UNLV's men's and women's collegiate golf tournaments as well as an annual junior tournament.
"The college tournament has probably been the most fun event to work on. It's great seeing the kids come from the junior ranks that you worked with, play in that (collegiate) event and then go on to catch up with them again when some of them come out onto the PGA Tour."
5. Parting words
Baron offered the following advice to his successor:
"I think the guy that sits in this seat is going to have to work closely with the tour to ensure there's a good line of communication to the players, to emphasize to the players that they need to support" the fall tournaments.
His replacement also needs to continue "to communicate with the tour and with the players about what the city has to offer and what a great experience it is to come here and play."
"I think the guy that sits in this seat is going to have to ... communicate with the tour and with the players about what the city has to offer and what a great experience it is to come here and play."
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