The basement walls in Marlyn Puppe’s Oriole Lane home are lined with golf memorabilia. There are commemorative towels, photos and hundreds of golf balls from courses around the world – including the one in his own backyard.

Puppe, 74, lives right off the sixth hole on Hazeltine National Golf Club.  There are few rooms in his home that don’t enjoy the sight of the green expanse beyond his deck.

“It’s the most beautiful view of the course,” he said.

But Puppe isn’t the only one that thinks so. Prior to the last PGA tournament at Hazeltine in 2002, The Hospitality Group, a Chicago-based company, recognized Puppe’s prime location and contacted him about renting his home for the event. Puppe went ahead and rented his home to the group only to later be fined in Carver County Court for violating local liquor laws.

“It was a fiasco that didn’t need to be,” said Puppe.

Now, as the PGA gears up for the 2009 tournament in Chaska next August, officials are advising people to pay attention to who is sponsoring their hospitality packages. According to a press release from the PGA of America, it is not unusual for independent entertainment companies to market unofficial hospitality packages to the local corporate community.

“Some of these packages imply an affiliation with the PGA of America and the 2009 PGA Championship,” the release stated.

“We’re concerned that companies are being misled about what they’re buying and where it’s located,” stated Kerry Haigh, managing director of tournaments for the PGA of America, in a press release. “But the PGA of America has no legal authority to stop the sales of unofficial hospitality packages.”

“Every year, we get many complaints from people who buy these packages and then become upset when they realize that they’re not on site, or even close to the golf course, and there are no official benefits included,” said Michael Belot, 2009 PGA Championship tournament director.

Puppe’s problem wasn’t in renting out his home to an independent hospitality group. His home afforded great views of the tournament for guests. Instead, Puppe ran into trouble over providing access to liquor on the property.

“The problem in essence is a private place selling access to, and giving away, alcohol,” explained Chaska City Administrator David Pokorney. “They need a liquor license to do that and you can only get a liquor license in an area zoned commercial.”

Had The Hospitality Group rented out Oak Ridge Conference Center for the event, there would have been no problem, Pokorney added. The problem lay in the hospitality company providing alcohol at a private home.

For the violation, Puppe said he was penalized $7,500. But that hasn’t soured him from having the group back for next year’s event.

“They’ve already said they want to come back,” said Puppe. “Everyone absolutely had a wonderful time.”

Still, Puppe is making sure to cross all of his i’s and dot all of his t’s this time around. Thus far, he’s spoke to Pokorney, the PGA and Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight. Pokorney said his staff has also been in contact with The Hospitality Group advising them on the rules in advance of the 2009 tournament.

“They’re fully aware of the city ordinances,” said Pokorney. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer

TELL US: Are you looking forward to the 2009 PGA tournament at Hazeltine National Golf Club?