From a PGA of America press release:
With many local companies eager to take part in the excitement of the upcoming 2009 PGA Championship, PGA of America officials are advising them to check the source before purchasing corporate hospitality packages for the event, to be held Aug. 10-16, 2009, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.
Officials of the 2009 PGA Championship have learned that independent entertainment companies are marketing unofficial hospitality packages to the local corporate community. Some of these packages imply an affiliation with PGA of America and the 2009 PGA Championship and that their venues are located on event grounds; however, only PGA of America offers official hospitality packages.
PGA of America operates all tents and facilities available on the grounds at Hazeltine and has no plans to offer space to outside groups. According to PGA of America sources, unofficial hospitality products are marketed for many PGA events, including the 2002 PGA Championship,
the last PGA event held in Minnesota.
“We’re concerned that companies are being misled about what they’re buying and where it’s located,” says Kerry Haigh, managing director of tournaments for the PGA of America, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., “but the PGA of America has no legal authority to stop the
sales of unofficial hospitality packages.”
“Every year, we get many complaints from people who buy these packages and then become upset when they realize that they’re not on site, or even close to the golf course, and there are no official benefits included,” said Michael Belot, 2009 PGA Championship tournament director. “We’re committed to providing Minnesota companies a world-class experience at a world-class event in their own backyard.”
PGA officials recommend contacting the PGA of America directly about hospitality before purchasing a package. Official 2009 PGA Championship information can be found by visiting the tournament's official site [2] [3]or by calling Shannon Loecher, regional director of sales, at (952) 368-4795.
A partial list of independent entertainment companies can be found here [4].