BOSTON, Mass – One of my favorite golf tournaments of the year tees off this week at one of my favorite golf destinations, but unfortunately, I won’t be there because I just got back from a fabulous nine-day golf vacation to Scotland.
There are lots of happy, smiling faces – 2,978 to be exact – in Myrtle Beach teeing off in the 41st edition of the PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. Golfers from 49 states and 17 countries are registered to compete in the ‘Golf Capital of the World‘ in a 72-hole, net stroke play event, Aug. 26 – 30 on 54 courses along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand.
The World Amateur, which has been called the “Every Man’s Major,” allows regular golfers, who are flighted by age, gender and handicap, the rare opportunities to compete over 72 holes, with flight winners advancing to the World Championship Playoff at the Grande Dunes Resort Course on Friday August 30.
Highlighting the World Am’s broad appeal, there are almost 3,000 players ranging in age from 17 to 91 registered for the tournament, while Canada and Portugal lead the nations sending international participants.
The world’s largest single-site tournament, the World Am is open to all golfers 17 years of age and older with a verifiable USGA handicap.
Participants are flighted into 12 divisions – men 49 and under, senior men (50-59), mid-senior men (60-69), super senior men (70-79), seasoned seniors (80+), women (59 and under), senior women (60+), the gross division, senior (50+) gross division, mid-senior (60+) gross division and women’s gross division. There is also a “Just For Fun” flight, created for players who want to enjoy the experience without the pressure of competition.
While competition is initially what lures players to the tournament, it’s only part of what keeps them coming back. At the heart of the World Am’s appeal is the camaraderie among its participants and much of that kinship is fostered at the “World’s Largest 19th Hole.”
Each night of the event, the 19th Hole overtakes all 120,000 square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, providing participants with free food and drinks, live entertainment, celebrity guest appearances, a golf expo and more. Among the big names that have appeared at the 19th Hole in recent years are David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, Charlie Rymer and John Daly.
For the $699 entry fee players also receive a gift bag that includes a polo, pullover, golf towel, logo’d hat, PGA TOUR Superstore gift card and an assortment of other goodies valued cumulatively at $250.
The Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship is one of 13 events run by the Golf Tourism Solutions tournament division.
https://myrtlebeachworldamateur.com
https://worldamclassic.golfnet.com/resultsFlights.aspx?id=2024
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