Philly-Area Businesses Can Help Shape 2026 PGA Championship In Delco

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — In 2026, the PGA Championship is coming to Newtown Square's Aronimink Golf Club.

As one of golf's biggest events, the PGA is already getting ready for the Delco festivities.

And they are looking for local, small businesses to help make the tournament a success.

The PGA of America opened its VendorMatch program for next year's championship.

VendorMatch is the PGA's national procurement program that connects local, small and diverse-owned businesses to sourcing opportunities for the 2026 PGA Championship.

Now through June 3, 2025, businesses in Delaware County, Newtown Township, and the Greater Philadelphia region can register to potentially become part of the supply chain supporting one of the most prestigious global sporting events, offering service opportunities in everything from food and beverage, florals, transportation, staffing, and more.

"It's very important to us that local small and diverse owned businesses have the opportunity to be at the procurement table and participate in the economics of golf," Sandy Cross, Chief People Officer of the PGA of America, told Patch.

When the PGA hosts events such as the PGA Championship, they work with large-scale vendors to provide security, decor, food, transportation logistics, and more

But Cross said these vendors do not bring all their labor and subcontractors with them.

"This is where VendorMatch comes into play," she said.

She said local businesses and vendors can submit applications to provide various services.

Opportunities include:

• Audio Visual Services
• Catering & Concessions
• Cleaning Services
• Electrician Services
• Equipment/Truck Rentals
• Event Photography
• Floral & Landscape
• Food And Beverage Products
• Freight
• Fueling
• Furniture Rental
• Ice/Ice Merchandisers
• Laundry Services
• Lodging
• Printing/Signage
• Security Guard Services
• Staffing
• Tenting Services
• Transportation (People)

Cross said while applying, candidates will answer pre-screener questions that are category specific.

Applicants that meet baseline requirements will be pushed through to prime suppliers as a potential candidate for hire.

"Most hired are before, during, and after the event," Cross said. "There's a lot of work before and after. Some work in the categories can last weeks or months."

Potential hires will move on to one-on-one interviews with the suppliers, some in person and some virtually. The prime suppliers ultimately select the candidates and hire them directly. PGA of American merely facilitates the process.

And applicants that do not get hired still have opportunities, Cross said. All registered applicants are automatically put into the golf industry procurement database, a resource where people in the golf industry can search to find companies to include in bids.

"There are 15,000 golf facilities around the United States that are looking for goods and services every day," Cross said.

While the main goal of the VendorMatch program is to make PGA events run smoothly, Cross said the program also aims to give opportunities to local, small businesses and to boost the area's economy.

"When we take these championships into cities, we need to make an impact on the local economy," she said. "We can't just roll into town with a circus, tear up the course, and leave. This is a great opportunity for us to impact the economics, the well-being, the livelihood of the economy.

Cross said local business are the backbone of communities, and their lived experiences in the area are crucial to successful PGA events

"We get incredible feedback from partners," she said of businesses who have become VendorMatch hires. "Some never thought they'd be on such a large stage.

PGA championships are broadcast across the globe and are attended by captains of industry and other movers and shakers, she said.

In many cases, Cross said, local contractors will continue to do with business with prime suppliers that hired them through VendorMatch, and not even necessarily for golf-related reasons.

Cross said a large part of the VendorMatch program's success is due to local, regional, and national outreach partners

In the Philadelphia region, she said the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network, and the Delaware County Economic Development Corporation have been instrumental in spreading the word about the program.

"Without them, I don't think we'd be successful in getting the word out to these businesses," Cross said.

Learn more about the VendorMatch program online here.