How My Chase Sapphire Reserve Won Me Girl of the Year – The Points Guy

I’ve had my Chase Sapphire Reserve® for almost a year now, and it’s easily my favorite credit card. I love its automatic annual travel credit and how it allows me to get a facial at the Sapphire Lounge during a layover at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Of course, I also like that it earns bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points on a wide range of dining and travel purchases.

But when I saw that I could get my parents exclusive VIP tickets to this year’s PGA Championship with my Chase Sapphire Reserve, my love for the card reached a new level.

My parents love golf. They gave me my first set of clubs when I was in primary school and I grew up thinking that major tournament weekends were national holidays. Much to my parents’ disappointment, I never felt their love for the sport. However, when I learned that I could get VIP tickets with my credit card and allow them to experience the tournament in person rather than watching it at home, I hoped I could redeem myself a little.

Spoiler: it worked. Here’s how my credit card allowed me to have an experience that made me girl of the year.

Hunting experiences

Many credit cards offer access to entertainment. This may include early access to tickets to concerts and sporting events and exclusive access to these events.

A few months ago, I was browsing the experiences available through the Ultimate Rewards portal and noticed that tickets to the PGA Championship were available.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Cardmembers could purchase tickets to the base courts for cash or points. But as a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, I also had the option to purchase tickets for the VIP experience at a slightly higher price.

It should be noted that I found some terms in the ticket descriptions to be confusing. However, I called Chase for clarification and the agents answered my questions quickly and clearly. Even with this extra step, the process was remarkably painless.

PGA Championship Hunting Show

All Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders, as well as one guest, could enter the lounge by simply showing their card, even without VIP tickets.

The lounge was an impressive two-story structure located on the 11th hole. Inside, guests could help themselves to free snacks, sodas and coffee; they could also buy beer, wine, seltzer and cocktails at the bar.

Snacks included a table of cookies and popcorn to go, and the staff brought out heavier bites throughout the day.

The large structure offered ample indoor and outdoor seating, and each level had a covered outdoor patio with stunning views of the 11th green.

Those seeking a respite from the heat could settle into one of the air-conditioned interior’s many seating areas and watch the televised broadcast of the tournament.

The show also featured an exclusive Polaroid photo shoot with a backdrop designed by a local artist.

Additionally, Chase brought unique surprises throughout the tournament, including a bourbon tasting and a viewing of the Wanamaker Trophy.

Despite this, I heard several people comment that the best part of the show was having access to real toilets instead of portable toilets located all over the grounds.

VIP Hunting Experience at the PGA Championship

As VIP ticket holders, we could skip the long line to enter the lounge and go straight to our VIP expedited check-in.

We also had access to premium seating in front of the first level patio. This section had a dedicated wait staff and VIPs received free beer, wine and seltzer. Better yet, these places were reserved. So if the lounge had reached capacity and there was a waiting list, we would have still been allowed in and had seats in that area.

Other Chase benefits

The lounge was only available to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders, but there were a few perks available to Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders.

Field tickets via the Ultimate Rewards portal

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders could purchase tickets to the tournament through the Ultimate Rewards portal, even after tickets on the main event website were sold out. Additionally, when purchasing through the Ultimate Rewards portal, cardholders could pay for their tickets with Ultimate Rewards points instead of cash.

Benefits of the PGA Shop

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cardholders enjoyed a dedicated checkout line in the PGA Shop throughout the tournament and $20 off a purchase of $150 or more on Sunday.

Free radio

Additionally, Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cardholders could visit a booth near the 10th hole to get a free Chase-branded radio, which broadcast live ESPN coverage of the tournament.

Conclusion

It’s easy to get caught up in the earning potential and travel perks of a credit card and forget about your access to entertainment. However, if concerts and sporting events are important to you, be sure to check out our full list of the best credit cards for VIP access.

If you’ve been thinking about adding the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred to your portfolio, now is a great time to do so. For a limited time, you’ll earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

For more details, check out our full review of Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred