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Rochester Prepares for Week in the World Spotlight

www.oakhillcc.com

The PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club is just over two weeks away, and Rochester is getting ready.

Many area hotel rooms are already booked for the week of August 5, and a local tourism official says even restaurant reservations might be hard to come by that week, with Buffalo Bills Training Camp underway at the same time at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford.

Don Jeffries, president and CEO of VisitRochester estimates between 40,000 and 50,o00 visitors to descend upon Oak Hill each day of the tournament.  He says he's expecting some 900 media personnel from across the country and around the world to be here--double number that covered the 1995 Ryder Cup at Oak Hill. "You look at the players from Korea. Look at Rory (McIlroy) from Ireland. Where countries weren't represented on the professional golf level then, they are now. You'll have reporters from Japan, Australia, Korea, all over the world. It gives us a chance to show off Rochester."

Greater Rochester Enterprise estimates the event will infuse up to $80 million into the local economy.