What a sham. The long history of great professional golf tournaments at Kingsmill comes to an end after 29 years. Here are just a few things that I will miss now that the LPGA is no longer coming to Kingsmill:

Natalie Gulbis

Beer baths at the 18th hole

Boats out on the James

The party at the 17th hole

Free golf on media day

Natalie Gulbis

All the volunteers

Pro-Am day

Kids seeking autographs

Introductions at the first tee by the gentleman wearing knickers

All those smooth backswings

The action around the putting green

The latest golf fashion

Paula Creamers pink ball

Cristina Kim’s big smile

That big winners check

Difference making birdies at number 15

Great food in the press room

The list of things I will miss about the LPGA at Kingsmill is long, but the list of things I will  not miss is short and that’s getting through the tunnel to make my deadline.

Did we really witness the final Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill this past weekend? Was the likable Cristie Kerr the final champion to stroll the grounds of the River Course? If so, what a shame! For 7 years, the worlds greatest female golfers graced our local links giving local golf  moms a great Mothers day to enjoy some exciting golf. How about the nearly 15 hundred volunteers who gave up their time to help make a successful tournament. What about the thousands of dollars pumped into local charity’s? How about the little girl who plays golf with her mommy or daddy and has dreams of one day playing like Lorena Ochoa? That little dreamer just lost a chance to see her role models.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard one of the golfers tell me how much they like the tournament at Kingsmill. Take a vote amongst the players and almost all of them will say the Michelob Ultra Open is their favorite on tour. I’ve always wondered if that was thier canned line they use at each venue, but take a close look at what Kingsmill and everything that Williamsburg has to offer and it’s easy to understand that the ladies mean what they say. Yes the tournament staff throws a first class event. They should be very proud.

The Hampton Roads sporting scene has scene it’s share of professional teams come and go and yes now the latest to join the list may just be the Michelob Ultra Open. No decision has been made about the tournaments future, but the warning signs are not good. Bad economy. A new and frugal owner for sponsor Anheuser-Busch. Did I mention the bad economy? How much exposure does $2.2 million dollars buy for Michelob Ultra?

I guess we’ll know soon enough if the LPGA is coming back to Kingsmill or professional golf will follow so many other failed ventures here in Hampton Roads. Remember the Norfolk Nighthawks, the Roadsters or even the Mariners. (The Roadsters were professional fast pitch softball! Give yourself some extra credit if you remember the Roadsters!) Now I’m not comparing the LPGA to fast pitch softball, but when fans see their favorite sport come and go, it hurts.

I think most of the media covering the LPGA over the weekend feel the tournament will not return to Kingsmill. I’m not one of them. I think it will be back. If not, bring on the Senior Tour!