BOLTON, Mass. — The LIV Golf tournament at The International got good reviews from the Select Board, though the board did hit the tournament director with a fine for not getting a permit for temporary signs.
“Overall, I’m really pleased with how things worked out,” Tournament Director Michael Goggin told the Select Board on Sept. 15. “I know it took a lot of effort from everyone.”
Goggin said that he thanked people “for the support and the patience and understanding.
“It sounds like generally speaking our feedback has been really positive,” Goggin said. “It’s really hard to share the scope and scale of this thing until you’re actually sitting in front of it.”
Goggin noted the tournament got lucky with the weather and had “a great finish. I’m really pleased with how it went,” but he added that “hiccups are inevitable.
“I think we did above my expectations in terms of having some of the hiccups.”
“From my perspective, I didn’t see much of any difference in the town with the influx of spectators,” Select Board Chairman Stan Wysocki said.
“I think the event went off pretty much without a hitch, nothing in the way of incidents. With all the planning done with you folks and other agencies,” Wysocki said. “I think we couldn’t have asked for anything better relative for how the event went.”
“It did take a big part of support locally,” Goggin said, adding, “Apologies for the signage snafu.”
The tournament did not get board approval for the temporary signs, which Wysocki said the board was a stickler about.
“I’ve never witnessed anything like the planning meetings and preparation that went into that tournament,” Town Administrator Don Lowe said.
But, Lowe said that “this board and every board does take the temporary signage very seriously,” noting that the board could issue a fine not to exceed $300.
“I’m totally fine with that,” Goggin said.
“We do have an issue of consistency here,” Wysocki said.
“I don’t think the board wants to create the impression a large event can come into town and it would not be held to the same standards,” Lowe said.
“I don’t want to set a bad precedent, so I’m fine with that,” Goggin said.
Select Board member Bob Czekanski said there was an issue of consistency and moved to levy the fine, which the board approved unanimously.
“I’m assuming we’ll be having this again next year?” Wysocki asked.
“Nothing is set in stone,” Goggin said. “We’re looking at nine events next year but that schedule is still in flux. When we know you’ll know.”
Select Board member Emily Winner asked about money being donated to community organizations.
The release by Par 5, which did not detail the amounts going to each organization and referred to the event as “The Boston Invitational LIV to Give,” listed the following:
• Recipients locally were Bolton Conservation Trust to fund trail maintenance, environmental and educational programs, and support land stewardship in the town of Bolton; Friends of Bolton Seniors to provide Bolton senior citizens with fuel, nutrition and financial assistance; WHEAT – United Way of Tri- County to fund food security programs; The Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation to feed area families this upcoming holiday season, fill canned food at food banks, and fund a local diaper bank; and Nashoba Neighbors to fund services that empower seniors to age in place/at home.
• Other organizations receiving funds were Coaching4Change to provide low-income students critical mentorship services, empowering youth with life skills that unlock success; Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation to fund scholarships to special operations vets as they transition out of service and into employment opportunities; Boys and Girls Club of Assabet Valley to fund after-school and summer programs, STEM education materials and supplies, and partnership with the local museum to provide enhanced instruction; and Bridge Over Troubled Waters to widen the pathways to self-sufficiency for homeless youth through education, employment, mental health care and life skills development.
