Oneida Nation Brings LPGA Tour To Wisconsin

Women’s professional golf comes back to Wisconsin this week with the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic near Green Bay. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
is behind the tournament.

The Oneida own the Thornberry Creek course, and have recently made major improvements to the facility. The tribe has also put up the two million dollars in prize money that convinced the
Ladies Professional Golf Association to hold an event in Wisconsin.

Tournament and course director Josh Doxtator said the Oneida wanted to make Thornberry Creek a tourism destination and particularly aimed at the women’s golf tour.

“Historically, in Oneida culture, it’s a matriarchal society, where we absolutely value women, because they give life. It was just a great fit for us,” Doxtator said.

Doxtator also said the Oneida are trying to promote the tribe’s hotels, casino and other companies.

“It’s bringing a spotlight to tribally-owned businesses that can do big business and do it the right way,” Doxtator said. “You know, it tells a great story, also the story of the Oneida culture, the history and their movement from poverty to prosperity.”

High-profile men’s tournaments have recently been held in Madison, and near Milwaukee. But Doxtator said he doesn’t think golf spectators have had enough this summer. He predicts crowds of between 50,000 and 70,000 for the week. That’s even though the Wisconsin competition is sandwiched between two LPGA major tournaments, and several of the top women golfers won’t be at Thornberry Creek.

The Oneida said they plan to run the Wisconsin tourney at least two more years.