The PGA Tour is finally returning to the Lehigh Valley with a plan that sticks. A new five-year deal brings the inaugural PGA Tour Champions Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic to Lehigh Country Club starting in late September 2026. This isn’t a one-off charity event that vanishes after a single weekend. It marks the first regular PGA Tour presence in the area since the mid-1970s. The schedule locks in a three-day, 54-hole stroke play competition for a 78-player field of golfers aged 50 and older. The event runs from Monday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 4, blending competition with pro-am festivities.
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Many fans assume the senior tour is just about watching veterans relax. The new Allentown event proves that view wrong. It pairs top-tier competition with deep local ties. Nick Ragone, the chief marketing and communications officer for Jefferson, sees the long-term value in this partnership. “It’s really cool that now over the next five years, PGA Tour Champions, which is part of the PGA Tour, is going to be at Lehigh Country Club,” Ragone said. The setup also includes a special Eagles & Friends Celebrity Pro-Am on Monday, bringing Philadelphia sports history directly onto the fairways. Ragone believes the local crowd will respond well to the mix of legends and current stars.
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The Allentown stop is a clear win for the region. The event will benefit charities like the Eagles Autism Foundation and Valley Youth House, giving the tournament a real purpose beyond the trophy. With legends like two-time Ryder Cup winner Miguel Angel Jiménez expected to attend, the draw is already strong. The focus should stay on the golf and the community, not the confusion of the wider tour structure. “There’s too much to focus on here that takes all the attention away from what-could-be types of things,” said one voice on the tour regarding the current scheduling chaos. The five-year commitment in Allentown offers a stable foundation for the event and a showcase for a great golf course.
