CME Group Tour Championship: Expanding along the Oasis Trail

Matt Hilliker wants to give spectators more to explore, so the CME Group Tour Championship tournament director is expanding the Oasis Trail in its second year next month.

The idea is an on-the-go hospitality package where those ticket holders have exclusive places to go at a handful of spots around Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort during the LPGA's season-ending championship from Nov. 15-20.

Last year was its first run-through, and Hilliker and the staff thought enough of it to add more stopping points on the trail, which this year will have local restaurants rotating on the four tournament days. So far, Chicken Salad Chick, Black Eyed Pig, Parmesan Pete's, and New York Pizza and Pasta have been confirmed.

"You're not stuck looking at the same green for the entire day," Hilliker said. "They watch a player hit two shots and then when they're off the green, and they don't see them again."

The Oasis Trail locations include spots at No. 1 tee, No. 4 green, No. 10 green, No. 14 green, No. 16 green, and then the Oasis Deck, the largest structure that offers views of both Nos. 8 and 17 greens. At those spots, ticket holders can have unlimited cold beverages (beer, water and soda), grab-and-go snacks, and the food samples. Tickets are $75 per day Thursday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, Nov. 20, or current ticket holders can upgrade for $50 per day.

"This gives the opportunity to follow your favorite players and still have access to the food and beverages, and a place for people to sit down and rest," Hilliker said. "People who are going out on the front nine, you're going for a long walk."

Last year there were four different spots -- one at the main entrance and three along the back nine. Andy Bush, an Octagon senior vice president, mentioned that his parents didn't have many places to stop, and that led to the idea.

No. 14 will have the second-largest deck behind the one at No. 17 green, with No. 16 more of a tent.

"We've got stations throughout the front nine all the way to No. 10, just kind of like resting areas and opportunities to get a drink, some water, and a snack," Hilliker said. "Nos. 14, 16 and 17 are going to be kind of our bigger venues. No. 14's actually going to have a deck. It's going to look like your typical hospitality suite. No. 16 sets up nice because there's that area behind the green that's been cleared out. It's going to be enough for hospitality to be on the other side of the bleachers. It's actually a great view."

The deck that's sat between Nos. 8 and 17 green was known as the party deck, but now is part of the Oasis Trail.

"It's now the Oasis Deck," Hilliker said. "We've taken that and incorporated it into this program. It gives us that kind of hub. It's going to be the place to be.

"We're encouraging people to go out and follow the players. We get a lot of kids and a lot of families that come out here for this event. It gives them the opportunity to partake in the hospitality program and also see the best in the world play."

Hilliker hopes this is something that takes hold.

"It's a different concept, so it's going to take a few years for everybody to fully understand what this is," he said.

LPGA's CME Group Tour Championship

Info: Nov. 15-20 at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

Contact: 593-3900 or CMEGroupTourChampionship.com