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<\/a><\/p>\nThis year\u2019s Sanford International runs Sept. 7-13, with tournament play Sept. 11-13 and a full week of events leading up to the final round Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere really is something happening all week,\u201d said Tenny Snyder, assistant tournament director. \u201cWe\u2019re proud of the golf, but we\u2019re also proud of how this tournament has grown into a community event with something for families, kids, veterans, first responders and fans who just want a great experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s your guide to the events ahead.<\/p>\n
Pre-tournament: Private hunt for pros and vets<\/p>\n
The week begins with a private pheasant hunt for PGA TOUR Champions professionals, giving players a chance to experience one of South Dakota\u2019s signature traditions. As part of the tournament\u2019s military appreciation efforts, four veterans or active service members will participate in the hunt with professionals on behalf of Silencer Central.<\/p>\n
Special events for women and children<\/p>\n
Tuesday, Sept. 8, is Women\u2019s Day, featuring a pro-am in the morning followed by a luncheon with Mayor Christine Erickson as keynote speaker.<\/p>\n
Also Tuesday, the InSports Foundation Junior Golf Clinic will bring more than 90 children and teachers from Children\u2019s Home Society of South Dakota to Minnehaha Country Club. Instructors from First Tee of South Dakota, the InSports Foundation and Sanford Golf Academy will provide lessons and introduce the children to the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s one of the special parts of the week,\u201d Snyder said. \u201cYou have kids who might not otherwise have the chance to be exposed to golf coming out to Minnehaha Country Club, learning from great teachers and getting to experience the atmosphere of the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tournament also has partnered with the InSports Foundation on a used golf club drive, with donation boxes at SCHEELS and GreatLIFE golf courses. Donated clubs will be provided to First Tee of South Dakota to support its programming.<\/p>\n
Pro-Am play starts Wednesday, admission is free Thursday, Friday\u2019s round honors 9\/11<\/p>\n
The EMC Championship Pro-Ams take place Wednesday and Thursday, with free admission for the public Thursday, Sept. 10, \u2014 the first day the course is open to spectators.<\/p>\n
Tournament play begins Friday, Sept. 11, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and the first tee time at 10:15 a.m.<\/p>\n
Because the opening round falls on 9\/11, the tournament will debut Folds of Honor Friday. Patrons are encouraged to wear red, white and blue to honor U.S. service members, veterans, first responders and their families.<\/p>\n
Through partners SCHEELS, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort and the GIVE Foundation, first responders and active, reserve, veteran and retired military personnel, plus one guest, receive complimentary grounds admission. A dedicated Military and First Responders Outpost on hole No. 17 will offer steak sandwiches from Beef Logic Inc. each day.<\/p>\n Opening ceremonies presented by Silencer Central will include the national anthem, a color guard presentation, an F-16 flyover from the South Dakota Air National Guard and a ceremonial tee shot by Sanford Children\u2019s Hospital Ambassador Owen Ragsdale.<\/p>\n The tournament also will provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders through Folds of Honor South Dakota.<\/p>\n \u201cSept. 11 is a meaningful date, and we wanted to be intentional about how we recognized it,\u201d Snyder said. \u201cFolds of Honor Friday gives fans a way to show appreciation, and it allows the tournament to support families who have sacrificed so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Ragsdale, a 10-year-old from Madison, was named this year\u2019s Sanford Children\u2019s Hospital Ambassador in partnership with the Sanford Health Foundation. The ambassador represents Sanford Children\u2019s Hospital at tournament events throughout the year.<\/p>\n Once again, the tournament also will feature the Brave Bands initiative, a grassroots fundraiser led by sisters Blakely and Gracyn Langner in partnership with the Sanford Health Foundation to benefit Sanford Children\u2019s Hospital. The Langner family and friends handcraft thousands of bracelets and offer them to tournament patrons for a freewill donation. In 2025, the effort raised $18,127 to support Child Life Programming, which provides comfort and care to young patients at The Castle.<\/p>\n Strong field expected<\/p>\n For fans focused on the field, this year\u2019s Sanford International is shaping up to be one of the strongest yet.<\/p>\n New tournament rookies include Zach Johnson, the Iowa native, two-time major champion and Ryder Cup captain; Henrik Stenson, winner of The Players Championship and The Open Championship and a five-time Ryder Cup participant; Justin Leonard, a Players Championship and Open Championship winner with 12 PGA TOUR victories; and Ben Crane, a five-time PGA TOUR winner.<\/p>\n The field also includes World Golf Hall of Fame members Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, Fred Couples and Retief Goosen, who returns as the 2025 defending champion.<\/p>\n Several other former Sanford International champions are expected, including Steve Stricker, Rocco Mediate, Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez.<\/p>\n Fan favorite John Daly also is set to appear, along with major champions Angel Cabrera, Corey Pavin, Tom Lehman, David Duval and Y.E. Yang.<\/p>\n \u201cThe players love coming here,\u201d Snyder said. \u201cThey talk about Minnehaha Country Club, but they also talk about the crowds. Sioux Falls consistently shows up with one of the largest and most enthusiastic crowds of the year, and that makes a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Round two Saturday, round three Sunday<\/p>\n Tournament weekend begins early Saturday, Sept. 12, with a free sunrise yoga session on the 18th fairway at 7:30 a.m. The tournament\u2019s second round begins at 9:05 a.m.<\/p>\n Saturday also includes the EMC Greats of the Game nine-hole exhibition, featuring Pro Football Hall of Famer and Minnesota Vikings legend John Randle, former Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, country music star Jordan Davis and tournament host Andy North.<\/p>\n The exhibition will begin on hole No. 10 at approximately 2:15 p.m. and will be followed by an autograph session at the driving range, beef samples from local ranchers and Beef Logic, and live music by GoodRoad.<\/p>\n Sunday, Sept. 13, marks the final round of the Sanford International, with tee times beginning at 9:05 a.m. and play expected to conclude at 4 p.m. Closing ceremonies will take place about 4:15 p.m.<\/p>\n Also Sunday, the tournament will host the age-group winners from the South Dakota Golf Association\/Sanford International Series. The top junior golfers are invited to lunch with North and Cindy Rarick, a Minnesota native and five-time LPGA Tour winner, and will be recognized during closing ceremonies.<\/p>\n New for families, expanded options, ways to win<\/p>\n For families, the tournament includes activities throughout the weekend. The InSports Foundation Kids Zone will offer entertainment such as a face painter, clinics led by First Tee and the InSports Foundation, and arts and crafts from the Great Plains Zoo.<\/p>\n New this year is the Family Care Lounge presented by Connection Enterprise and Ergotron. The air-conditioned venue offers a place for kids to escape the heat and includes a nursing room and diaper-changing station.<\/p>\n \u201cThe tournament prides itself on being family-friendly,\u201d Snyder said. \u201cKids 15 and under get in free with a ticketed adult, and we\u2019ve added amenities that make it easier for families to spend the day with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Fans also will find expanded hospitality and food options throughout the course.<\/p>\n On hole No. 17, the Maestro Dobel Tequila Deck overlooks multiple holes and features the tournament\u2019s signature cocktail, The Ace Paloma, along with a Fairway Margarita. Nearby, The Ranch presented by Beef Logic offers a tailgate-style venue with video boards to watch football; cornhole and mini-golf to play; and the tournament\u2019s signature South Dakota Ribeye Sandwich prepared by South Dakota ranchers to enjoy.<\/p>\n Fans looking for prime sightlines can visit the AARP Viewing Deck behind the No. 9 green or Tinners on Twelve, a popular location offering views of three holes with hospitality service.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s fan experience also includes an expanded partnership with CJ Schwan\u2019s, bringing its bibigo brand to a dedicated concession stand. Items such as egg rolls and dumplings \u2014 soon to be produced in Sioux Falls \u2014 also will be served throughout the week at pro-am and hospitality events.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to make the entire course feel like an experience,\u201d Snyder said. \u201cWhether you\u2019re following your favorite player, bringing your kids, stopping for food or meeting friends at one of the venues, we want people to feel like they had a full day of entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n Grounds tickets start at $25, and kids 15 and younger receive free tournament admission with a ticketed adult, with youth admission provided on behalf of the University of South Dakota.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n