PLYMOUTH, Mich. – With about a month to go, there is growing uncertainty over whether the LIV Golf tournament will return to Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, and questions about what a last-minute cancellation could mean for local businesses.
The event is still being advertised at The Cardinal at Saint John’s, which hosted the 2025 LIV Golf Team Championship which drew large, energetic crowds. But on Wednesday, there were no visible signs of preparation or construction on the course.
Local 4 reached out to the executive director of golf at the resort, who said he would forward questions about the event. Local 4 also emailed the marketing department for the resort, and have yet to hear back.
However, sources connected to LIV Golf, indicated the organization is currently focused on its upcoming tournament in New Jersey.
The company’s priority “is delivering a successful LIV Golf New York event at Bedminster,” sources said. They added:
“The League has not announced any further updates on LIV Golf Michigan. Important context here is discussions with prospective investors remain positive and are moving at pace. With that in mind, {they} must stay open to all actions that best position {them} for LIV 2.0…{they} don’t anticipate making any announcements until after Bedminster, at the earliest, and we have no specifics to share today while discussions are underway.”
That uncertainty has raised concerns about the potential economic impact if the tournament does not return to Plymouth this year.
According to the director of Plymouth’s Downtown Development Authority, the effect of last year’s event on downtown, was limited.
“It was kind of a self-contained event at Saint John’s,” said Sam Plymale, director of the Plymouth DDA. “They did hold some parties downtown, so there was a minor economic impact.”
Plymale said the tournament brought about a 2% to 3% increase in foot traffic downtown compared with the same time the previous year, a welcome bump, but not enough to significantly harm businesses if the event does not come back.
That view was echoed by a restaurant located across the street from the golf course.
The executive chef of The Ledger and The Ebenezer, in downtown Plymouth, said the tournament provided a nice boost in business the weekend the tournament was in town, and he would like to see it return.
“Obviously there’d be a little bit of disappointment because, you know, it’s nice to host these out-of-town events on special occasions,” said Executive Chef Gregory Alexieve. “So it’d be fun to invite all those people in. But if it doesn’t happen, the world will keep spinning.”