2015 Year-in-Review: Expanded Tournament Offerings Enhance Myrtle Beach’s Appeal

Before we turn our attention to the New Year, it’s time to take a look back on the biggest Myrtle Beach golf stories of 2015, another exciting 12 months for the world’s most popular golf destination. 

The fifth biggest story on our list – the area’s competitive tournaments – is a familiar one to many long-time Myrtle Beach golfers, but it featured new additions in 2015. The Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship, which attracted attracted 3,400 players from 30 countries, is always a big story, but it had company. 

Building on the popularity of the World Am, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday launched three new events – the Preseason Classic, the March Championship and the Calabash Cup – to complement its existing tournaments in 2015. 

The new additions, which featured different formats, were all well received, bringing hundreds of golfers from across America and in, some cases, internationally, to the beach. 

The Preseason Classic, a value-laden event, gave players the opportunity to start their golf season early in a relaxed two-man team format. The 54-hole tournament offered players a welcome refuge from a harsh winter and was greeted warmly by participants. 

Meanwhile, the March Championship was launched as a mini-World Am. The 54-hole tournament was an individual, net stroke play event and it was governed by the same handicap requirements that help make the World Am so successful. 

Both the Fall Classic and March Championships enjoyed sold out fields and are expected to do so again in 2016. 

Concentrated on the North Strand, the Calabash Cup was a two-man team event that featured a different format of play each day, and showcased several of the North Strand’s premier courses. 

As well as the new events were received, the World Am was again the highlight of Myrtle Beach’s competitive offerings. The 32nd annual event has carved out a special place in the golf landscape, allowing players the opportunity to compete under PGA Tour-like conditions during the 72-hole event and then enjoying the World’s Largest 19th Hole each night. 

Among the celebrity guests at this year’s event were television personalities Charlie Rymer and Win McMurry and two-time major champion John Daly, who signed autographs throughout his appearance and even performed on-stage at World Am Live. 

With the three tournaments returning, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will be hosting seven competitive events in 2016. Check your schedule and start making plans. 

2016 Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Tournament Schedule

Preseason Classic, January 31-February 3

March Championship, March 5-8

Palmetto High School Golf Championship, March 24-26

Veterans Golf Classic, June 5-8

Calabash Cup, Dates TBD

Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship, August 29-September 2

Fall Classic, Dates TBD