THE PLAYERS Championship names new chairman

Matt Welch vows for return to normalcy — and change

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As a volunteer for The Players Championship, Matt Welch has helped park cars, helped players make reservations and picked up trash.

But when the tournament returns to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass next March, Welch will have his most significant role yet as the new tournament chairman.

The retired construction executive from Fleming Island will be the front man for more than 1,500 volunteers when the Players return to Northeast Florida on March 8-13.

Next year’s Players won’t be like any other. Welch said organizers will fold in what they learned a year ago when crowds were limited by the COVID-19 pandemic to the popular aspects of tournaments past.

“It will be a lot like it was,” he said. “There will be some things that will change, some things that we’ll keep. We will always be changing. We’re always working to make it better. That will be the new normal from now on.”

As the chairman, Welch will greet players, dignitaries and fans for the first full return to golf after struggling through the virus for the past two years. He will shuttle the winner to their post-tournament commitments and share the stage when the golden trophy is presented in front of the clubhouse.

But most importantly, he will continue to offer support and encouragement to everyone who works thanklessly behind the scenes.

“The one thing I ask the volunteers to remember is we’re trying to help Northeast Florida, both financially and with our nonprofit organizations,” Welch said. “It takes a village of volunteers, so let’s make it work.”

When Welch served as the first vice-chairman earlier this year, he played a prominent part in organizing volunteers, players, patrons and hospitality.

“The first vice-chairman is the one who gets down in the weeds,” he said. “The chairman is the guy who shakes hands. That’s what I’m doing this year. That’s certainly not my strong part.”

Welch was working with players’ services in 2020 when the PGA TOUR and tournament organizers decided to cancel the event after the first round, a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its data showed the virus had spread throughout the state.

“That was the lowest point,” Welch said, “seeing players trying to make reservations to get home. Everyone wanted to get out.”

This year’s tournament limited crowds to reduce the chances of spreading the virus.

Next year, the gates will be open to anyone with a ticket, and that will keep Welch — and the rest of the volunteers — busy for the next nine months.

“There’s a lot more to a golf tournament than meets the eye,” he said. “At each stage, you see the amount of work. We ask our people to go above and beyond, and everyone understands the big picture. We’re already in discussions on what we need to accomplish.”

Organizers already are conducting meetings, creating committees, meeting with staff and delegating leadership roles for next year. There already are plans for Saturday workdays, Welch said, and shortly after the new year, “you can basically write off your weekends.”

Welch moved to Fleming Island in 1981 from Augusta, Georgia — another Southern city with a rich pedigree in golf. He immediately transplanted his passion for golf to the Players Championship.

“The most important thing about this golf tournament is what it means to our nonprofits in Northeast Florida,” Welch said. “When the tournament was canceled in 2020, and then we had limited galleries this year, revenues to our nonprofits went down, too.

“I’m glad I’m going to be part of when we’re back at full force next year. It’s going to be back to like it was — even if it’s a little bit different.”

In addition, Kevin Copeland has been appointed vice chairman (Blue Coat), joining Houston Bowles, Lee Nimnicht, Tyler Oldenburg and Marc Hassan.

Copeland began volunteering with THE PLAYERS in 2017 and has directed the efforts of numerous committees, including volunteer shuttle, golf cart management and hospitality services at Benefactor and The Patio locations.