For one unforgettable week each September, Pinnacle Country Club becomes far more than a championship venue—it becomes a week-long celebration of community. As the LPGA Tour’s “Fun Beyond the Fairway” stop returned September 15–21, the story on the ground wasn’t just world-class golf. It was community: neighbors opening their homes, kids discovering confidence, local chefs serving up their best, and an army of staff and volunteers making magic before sunrise. From the first early-morning roll of the greens to the last cheer echoing across 17, the energy was unmistakably Pinnacle: welcoming, hands-on, and proud.

“We kick off planning almost as soon as we wrap,” says Payton Enzbrenner, Event Coordinator. “Our crew is small but mighty, and the way this community wraps its arms around the tournament is unmatched.” Now in its 19th year, the event is one of the LPGA’s longest-running—and one of its most beloved, especially by players who routinely call it a favorite stop.

While fans see perfectly manicured fairways, big build-outs, and a buzzing festival footprint, the heartbeat of the week begins months earlier. The tournament team closes out partner and volunteer follow-ups in October, then pivots straight into November/December planning. Throughout the year, staffers travel to support sister LPGA events and welcome those crews back to Northwest Arkansas during tournament week. The result is a finely tuned machine that still leaves room for local flavor.

Behind the scenes, a meticulous course crew delivers championship-caliber conditions. “Chase Turpin and his team are incredible,” Payton says. “They’re here at 4 a.m. cutting greens to regulation, and they’re among the last to leave. People see the big structures and the food festival—and those are great—but the players still have to play golf. The course team keeps it pristine.”

Players notice. Over the years, many have called this one of their favorite stops on tour—high praise from athletes who travel the globe.

Calling the Hogs (and Hosting the World)

Community pride pulses through the property, especially on the famed 17th, where “calling the Hogs” has become an almost daily ritual. With five Razorbacks on the field this year, the local roar felt even louder. Add in the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 players committing to compete, and the 

Another uniquely Pinnacle hallmark: player housing. Coordinated by member Marjorie Heinous, the program pairs competitors with local host families—arrangements that often turn into enduring friendships. “At this point, a lot of players and hosts just text each other directly, ‘Can’t wait to see you—same room as last year?’” Payton says, smiling. “There are dinners together, kid milestones celebrated, even a wedding attended by a touring pro. It’s special—and it makes the week easier on players who would otherwise face a heavy hotel bill. It’s one more way the community wraps its arms around this event.”

If the tournament is the heartbeat, Bite is the flavor. Friday through Sunday, roughly 30 local restaurants per day set up on site, inviting fans to sample the best of the region without leaving the course. Tickets include entrance to both the festival and the tournament, making it a can’t-miss experience for dedicated foodies and casual spectators alike. (Friday and Saturday sold out quickly; Sunday remained the insider’s pick.)

Across from Bite, the Walmart & P&G Kids Confidence Club turns curiosity into courage. Throughout the week, local organizations—First Tee, the Scott Family Amazeum, the Jones Center, Crystal Bridges, and others—host hands-on activities for families. Earlier in the week, elementary students arrive on field trips as part of a year-long confidence curriculum led by University of Arkansas women’s golf coach Shauna Taylor.

“Many of these kids have never stepped onto a golf course—let alone a country club,” Enzbrenner says. “Watching them meet LPGA players and realize, ‘I belong here,’ is one of the most rewarding parts of the week.”

Behind every great moment stands a network of partners who believe in elevating women’s sports. Walmart and P&G continue to lead by growing the tournament purse—raised to over $3 million last year, among the tour’s highest outside the majors—while dozens of other sponsors power everything from community programs to on-site operations. “We couldn’t do it without them,” Enzbrenner notes. “Their commitment shows up in every detail fans experience.”

If you wandered the course this September, you felt it: families lingering after putts dropped, neighbors greeting chefs they know by name, kids high-fiving volunteers, and a chorus of Hog Calls riding the breeze. “The players travel to Hawaii and Japan and everywhere in between,” Payton says, “and so many of them say Northwest Arkansas is their favorite stop. That speaks volumes about this community and this course.”

For Pinnacle Country Club residents, it’s a point of pride—and a reminder that when a community shows up, magic happens. From sunrise greenskeeping to backyard barbecues with host families, from field-trip awe to bite-sized culinary adventures, the LPGA’s Northwest Arkansas week is proof that sport can be a stage for something bigger: connection.

And around here, that connection lasts long after the final putt.

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