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 Michael Milthorpe
Tournament Director
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
La Quinta, Calif.
In 1977 Michael Milthorpe volunteered on the operations committee of the Magnolia Classic in Hattiesburg, Miss. The event was a PGA Tour-sanctioned event opposite the Masters and for Milthorpe it was the beginning of a long career in the golf industry.
He has served as the tournament director of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (BHCC) since 1996. In addition to the Classic, he also serves as the tournament director of both the American Century Championship (an NBC Sports-owned celebrity event) and the ADT Golf Skills Challenge.
How do you plan, organize and execute your annual event?
The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic has eight full-time staff that work on the event, we hire another 10 to 15 part time and consultants for three to four months prior. The two NBC events we use all consultants and temporary workers.
Do you use volunteers and how do you recruit them?
We use approximately 1,200 volunteers for the BHCC, we employee a volunteer coordinator on staff. The celebrity event we rely on the local tourism authority (Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority) to recruit and train the volunteers (400 strong) and for the Skills event we do not use volunteers, the event is private.
Are you responsible for securing sponsorships? Advice to others on obtaining sponsorships?
For the BHCC we have a sales manager who is responsible for sales of the event. I also assist in this capacity as do our board of directors.
Perseverance.
How are players recruited?
We recruit and solicit our celebrity field to play in the BHCC, we usually have between 25 to 30 celebrities play each year. With regards to the Tour players, we usually begin contact with their managers the beginning of November. Our event is different as we are a four-day pro-am event, 90-hole tournament.
What is the event format?
Our format is a four-day pro-am. We play on four courses, the low 70 pros and ties play on Sunday.
What logistical issues do you take into consideration?
Playing four courses over four days is always a challenge; we have 384 amateurs and 128 pros.
Any contingency plans, such as for bad weather?
We are lucky we live and play our event in the California desert as the weather is always good in January. However we are prepared should we have bad weather.
Anything special planned for this year being that it's the 50th anniversary?
Was planning any different than in other years?
Mr. Arnold Palmer is hosting the 50th BHCC. Mr. Palmer won the very first event in 1960. The 50th is an exciting time for us, this year we are playing two courses at PGA West, the Nicklaus and Palmer Privates.
Do you conduct a post-event critique?
We meet with our executive committee and board 30 days following the event to recap. We also meet with all our committee heads for their input. We send out a player evaluation (pro-am players) and ask for their input as well.
Best golf event ever that you produced?
Looking forward to the 50th playing of the BHCC and having Mr. Arnold Palmer serve as our host, he won the first event in 1960.
Surefire way to ruin an event?
Weather, whether it be rain or wind.
Biggest challenge to managing the event?
The Bob Hope is a challenge each year as we play on four courses for four days and one course for the final round (90-hole event), so in a way it is four separate tournaments each day. We have 384 amateurs, 128 pros and 1,200 volunteers. You depend on your volunteers and staff members at the four courses. Communication is key.
What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started in this industry?
When I started in 1977 I was at the bottom of the food chain, you just need to persevere, keep looking for opportunities. | 
