ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s a new year’s tradition that dates back nearly a century ago, and it’s one that has special meaning to PGA pro Gary Koch.

What You Need To Know

  • The New Year’s Invitational golf tournament at St. Petersburg Country Club is teeing off this week for its 99th year

  • This year golfers will play on a recently restored course under the direction of Gary Koch

  • Past winners include Masters champion Bob Goalby, FedEx champion Brandt Snedeker, PGA Tour winners Gary Koch and JB Holmes, European Tour winner Sam Horsfield and US Amateur champions Buddy Alexander and Peter Uihlein

  • The overall champion will qualify for the LECOM Suncoast classic Korn Ferry tour event in Lakewood Ranch. The event is Jan. 2-4 and is open to the public

“I won the event back in 1974, so quite a while ago,” Koch reflected.

Koch is now tournament advisor for the New Year’s Invitational, which tees off this week at the St. Petersburg Country Club for the 99th year.

“Fond memories, very different golf course back then than it is now, which I’m kind of happy to say since we had the opportunity to do a real nice renovation of the golf course over the course of the last six or seven months,” Koch said.

This year golfers will play on a newly renovated course.

Koch was a big part of the course renovation, serving as a design consultant.

“We’ve had him out here over the last year with us rebuilding the golf course, getting it to rebuild to all the USGA specifications and total re-grass so we’re excited about his changes,” said lead golf pro Anthony Swinford

The course underwent major restoration, taking it back to its original design.

“What we were able to do as is one, increase the size of the greens, get them back to some semblance of the shape and size that they were at one point in time, and by doing that we’ve now created the opportunity for a lot of new hole locations which should prove to be very interesting and very challenging for those playing in the invitational,” said Koch.

Koch is one of several past champions who found success on the PGA Tour. The trophy boasts an impressive roster of PGA pros.

“It draws some great players here I mean, when you take a look at some of the champions who have won and gone on to play on the PGA Tour and have success on the PGA Tour. It really is very impressive. JB Holmes, Brandt Snedeker, myself fortunately, Rocco Mediate, the list goes on and on, and you know, as is usually the case, another very strong field will be here for this year‘s invitational.”

The top collegiate and amateur players from across the United States are teeing off in St. Pete for a chance to face strong competition and become a part of a special tradition.

“It’s great for the area to have an event of the stature. I hope people will come out and watch because you really will see some of the best young players in the country, certainly guys with the talent level to compete on the PGA tour at some point in time and then it’d be kind of fun to be able to say, ‘Hey I watched them before,’” he said.

A New Year’s tradition unlike any other, which has stood the test of time.