Full Breakdown
PGA Championship 2026: Free Food, High Parking Costs, and Local Residents’ Side Hustles
5/14/2026, 11:12:35 PM
Event Overview
The 108th PGA Championship opened Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the course’s first major since 1962. Organizers project roughly 200,000 spectators over four days. Championship+ tickets include unlimited free food and non-alcoholic drinks, but alcoholic beverages must be bought separately.
Free Concessions Program
The sixth-year all-inclusive concessions provide biscuits, donuts, hot dogs, burgers, salads, chips, cookies, bottled water, sodas, teas and coffee. Fans may take one item at a time. Alcohol runs $15–$18.50.
Parking Shortage and Private Solutions
Official off-site lots ($40 + each) sold out before round one, prompting fans to seek alternatives. Residents turned lawns and driveways into pop-up lots, charging $150-$200 (Nick Scamuffa’s salon) or $100-$150 (Lexi Dahlin). Resale sites list spots for $400-$938. Scamuffa can host 100 cars, potentially earning $20,000 a day.
Official Guidance
The PGA guide “highly encouraged” fans to take SEPTA to Paoli and a shuttle to the course. The Championship+ package includes free food and non-alcoholic drinks but excludes alcohol, and limits guests to one item at a time to ease lines.
Criticism & Opposition
Spectators label $15-$18.50 alcohol prices “ridiculous” and decry the lack of official parking and high private rates, calling the situation “crazy” and choosing public transit.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents monetize parking: Justin Dahlin offers driveway spaces, Al Nassin rents his backyard by the 5th hole, and Nick Scamuffa sells spots after closing his salon. Project manager Sami Spieller chose SEPTA, citing private-lot uncertainty.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list private-lot fees from $150-$200 to $400-$938 on resale sites. Official passes are said sold out, but some fans still secured $40 + spots via the PGA site. Attendance remains an estimate.
Impact & Why It Matters
Parking creates supplemental income for homeowners—potentially tens of thousands—and reshapes traffic. The free-food program offsets high alcohol costs, boosting fan satisfaction.
What’s Next
The prize purse will be announced Saturday; play continues through Sunday’s final round. Organizers will review parking logistics for future Aronimink majors.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're just giving people options,” — Justin Dahlin, Newtown Square resident
- “I park them in the backyard, because in the backyard it backs up to the 5th hole of Aronimink Golf Course,” — Al Nassin, homeowner
- “We can’t just be closed,” — Nick Scamuffa, salon owner
- “and its probably going to end up taking an hour.” — Sami Spieller, project manager
- “This reminds me why I appreciate the Masters so much more than any other sporting event anywhere,” — Anonymous fan, social media
