Tournament pairs golf with plenty of food for players, fans

By Kathryn Reed

Oh, to dine like a celebrity.

It’s possible at the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Although not everything that is available to the players is available to their admirers, some of it is.

During the six-day event that begins today at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline, a lot of food is consumed. In stock at the golf course for just this event are:

• 2,400 hamburgers

• 4,000 hot dogs

• 1,200 pounds of chicken

• 400 pounds of tomatoes

• 250 pounds of onions

• 400 pounds of a variety of seafood

• 50 kegs of beer.

The Edgewood restaurant is closed during the tournament, but Brooks’ Bar & Deck is open to the public.

“We always get one midweek Michael Jordan visit,” Bryan Davis of Edgewood told Lake Tahoe News. “He comes in for an hour or two. It’s a nice surprise for the guests.”

Other players come by the sports bar as well.

Players mostly dine in the clubhouse – which is off-limits to the public. Each day something different is served. It could be fajitas one day, burgers the next and usually a more elaborate seafood spread on the final day.

Most of the players are eating at the American Century tent the first three days because the clubhouse is not open until Thursday.

The public can get a taste of what the celebs are chowing on by going to the Soroptimist International South Lake Tahoe booth. Edgewood provides the burgers, dogs and sandwiches, while the women provide the labor. Proceeds are split 50-50.

The snack bar between the 9th green and 10th tee is open. It has a grill, but not the caliber of food of Brooks’.

New this year is a concession on the 17th hole, where the party crowd tends to gather along the sandy beach. Food and alcohol will be served there.

Guy Fieri is coming back – but just for a few hours on Saturday. The Food Network star was creating pork sandwiches in 2009. Pizza is what he will be assembling this year on the 17th hole.

If eating at the golf course is on your itinerary, be warned Thursday and Saturday are usually the two most crowded days. Thursday because of the family and friends tagging along during the celebrity-amateur event; Saturday with the public out en masse.

Over at Harveys and Harrah’s, the host hotels for the 22-year-old tournament for the past handful of years, various events involving food are geared toward the celebs with no one from the public invited.

A big dinner is put on Thursday to recognize the celebrity-amateur winners. NBC and American Century Investments, which own and sponsor the tournament, respectively, also put on a pairings dinner for everyone.

These events are elaborate buffets with food stations featuring cuisine from around the world.

John Packer, spokesman for the casinos, would not divulge names of players who request gluten-free food, vegetarian fare or other dietary requests.

There is no mandate they must stay in the casino corridor, but many do because of the convenience.

“A lot of times celebrities like to go out on their own. For instance, Marcus Allen likes 19 (Kitchen-Bar),” Packer said.

For the players partaking in casino games, food is always available in the Diamond Lounge.

“I don’t think any of them are underfed. There is plenty of opportunity for them to have great food,” Packer said.