Gov. Josh Shapiro tees off during the Governor’s Cup on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Foxburg Country Club. Submitted photo

FOXBURG — Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro was just passing through. Foxburg Country Club is happy he did.

Because he’ll be back.

“He was on a tour of Western Pennsylvania, and he stopped in here last year,” Foxburg CC vice president Dick Leavy said. “While in our museum, he saw an article of the Governor’s Cup when it was here, saw a bunch of pictures and decided to bring it back.”

The Governor’s Cup is a small nine-hole golf tournament. Participation is by governor’s invitation only. The last time the event was held at Foxburg was 1973, when Milton Shapp was governor.

This year’s event took place June 10 and included NBA star Kevin Love, Pittsburgh mayoral primary winner Corey O’Connor, Amazon representatives John Cope and Merle Madrid, eight club golf pros and Shapiro himself. There was a 24-golfer field in all.

Pittsburgh Steelers mascot Steely McBeam was on hand as well.

Cope was low amateur for the tourney. Doylestown Country Club pro Patrick Shine won the event overall and the award — a crystal golf ball on a base — that goes with it.

“Most of the golf pros were from the other side of the state,” Leavy said. “The governor loved it here, loved the course and the location. He said he’s bringing the event back next year.

“We’d love to see this become an annual thing.”

The Governor’s Cup is already paying dividends for Foxburg Country Club.

“A lot of people still don’t even know we’re here,” Foxburg CC general manager Jason Dewitt said. “But since we held the Governor’s Cup, there’s been a spike in tourism here.”

Leavy agreed.

“This is putting Foxburg on the map,” he said.

A longest drive took place as part of the Governor’s Cup. The balls were struck with hickory clubs and off sand tees.

Love won that contest with a drive of 161 yards.

“It was a great event and created more awareness that we exist out here,” Dewitt said. “We continue to improve the course and the overall facility.”

Foxburg Country Club will also benefit from plans to open a Six Sense spa resort in Foxburg in 2028.

Six Sense is a global company that has resorts and spa retreats all over the world. It plans to open the River Stone Estate in Foxburg, which will include a three-story stone mansion, specialty restaurant, spa, indoor and outdoor fitness center, and 50 miles of trails, including a 7-mile trail along the riverfront, among other things.

“I’ve been here for 67 years and never imagined something like this coming here,” Leavy said. “I mean, Saudi Arabia, Rome, Tahiti ... and Foxburg? It’s amazing, so exciting.”

As is the Governor’s Cup.

“He (Gov. Shapiro) told me it’ll be coming back, and I believe him,” Leavy said. “The governor had such a good time here. He loves this course, its history, its location.

“The future is looking up for us, no doubt about that.”