The “Everyman’s Major” – the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship – is ready to tee off.
More than 3,400 golfers from around the globe have registered for the 31st annual World Am, which will be played August 25-29.
Among the 60+ Myrtle Beach golf courses hosting the 72-hole tournament are Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, all four courses at Barefoot Resort, TPC Myrtle Beach, Rivers Edge and Pawleys Plantation.
Players have been placed into one of 76 flights, based on age, gender and handicap, with all flight winners and ties advancing to the World Championship Playoff on August 29 at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club, where a champion will be crowned.
A look at this year’s field by the numbers:
- This is the third consecutive year and the tournament has enjoyed growth and 3,400 players are the event’s most since 2008.
- Players from 32 countries will be competing.
- 291 women are slated to play in hopes of becoming the World Am’s fifth female world champion.
- Players are coming from 48 states to participate in the event, with Idaho and South Dakota being the only delinquents.
- States sending the most players to the World Am are, in order: North Carolina (316), Florida (289), South Carolina (276), Virginia (254), Texas (245) and Georgia (214).
While the competition attracts players to the tournament, the event’s camaraderie is a primary factor in the bringing them back. The World Am’s social hub is the World’s Largest 19th Hole, which is held every night at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Participants receive free food and open bar, live entertainment, a 60-exhibitor golf expo, demo alley and many other activities at the 120,000-square-foot 19th Hole. Television personality Win McMurry will be appearing on the main stage and the Katrek and Maginness On Tap radio show, which is broadcast nationally on Sirius/XM radio, will originate from the 19th Hole.
