CLYMER – The return of professional golf to Peek’n Peak Resort’s Upper Course proved to be a success – and a record breaker – as thousands lined the galleries for the LECOM Health Challenge.

With a week’s worth of activities and four rounds of Web.Com Tour action, county officials say their expectations were met. Kevin Sanvidge, CEO of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation, said the tournament was an absolute success as Thursday saw record crowds for the first day of a Web.Com Tour event. Sanvidge said they’re waiting to receive final attendance figures.

“It not only met our expectations, but it exceeded the expectations of the PGA Tour and The Golf Channel,” Sanvidge said. “The owners of Peek’n Peak Resort – the Scott family – were receiving reservations on Saturday and Sunday from people all over the U.S. as they were watching the tournament on TV.”

The event was televised via The Golf Channel from Thursday to Sunday as Chautauqua County was put on full display throughout the U.S. and 180 countries. County Executive Vince Horrigan said he received a call from a summer visitor who caught the action and got a glimpse of Chautauqua County from an airport in Houston. Horrigan said the events leading up to the tournament and the four days of competitive golf proved to be an incredible success.

“I drove through the parking lot on Sunday and saw over a dozen different license plates, everywhere from Alabama to Illinois and Michigan to Canada,” Horrigan said. “The number of attendees we got, the tremendous exposure we received nationally and all the sponsors and volunteers who put this on were huge.”

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I really think this puts Chautauqua County on the national map as a great place to live, work, play and learn.”

Horrigan said the LECOM Health Challenge at Peek’n Peak is an important component to the county’s growing tourism and hospitality industry. At the same time, Horrigan said the event is meeting the objective of growing the county by bringing more people to the area.

“That’s what we need to do,” he said. “LECOM has invested $3 million to bring it here for four years. We see this as a tremendous area that’s going to help us. Together with our wineries and craft breweries, the National Comedy Center and other attractions, it’s all part of the plan to grow this county and support economic development.”

George Borrello, county Planning and Economic Development Committee chairman, said the event expanded throughout the county as events were held before the tournament in Sunset Bay, Dunkirk and Hanover among other areas.

“We had an event at Sunset Bay where golfers came out and signed autographs right here on the beach. That was a great event and it drew a lot of attention,” he said. “There were events also at Rosebrook Golf Course and Shorewood Country Club. In addition to the golf tournament, the impacts went even beyond the immediate area.”

As the word spreads quickly on the tournament’s success, Sanvidge said they’ll be working to ensure more people will come out to enjoy next year’s activities.

“It was over the top,” he said.

The LECOM Health Challenge will return to Peek’n Peak Resort’s Upper Course July 3-9.