Out of over 3000 golfers set to tee it up in the 2017 Myrtle Beach World Amateur, 157 hail from the Peach State. Georgians always fare well in the World Am, as many are familiar with sprawling area that is loaded with great golf courses, restaurants and beaches.
The Myrtle Beach World Amateur is the largest amateur golf tournament on the globe. Going into the 34th year, the World Am annually hosts players from the 50 United States and over 30 countries. 3,100 players teed it up in the tournament in 2016, and is expected to grow yet again. The event boasts 72 holes of net, stroke play on over 50 championship golf courses. Players are placed in flights based on gender, age and handicap, and the games most innovative handicap monitoring system keeps the competition fair for everyone.
At the heart of the World Am’s competitive success is the game’s best and most aggressively enforced handicap monitoring system, which levels the playing field for all participants.
Myrtle Beach, the game’s most popular destination, is the only place capable of hosting a tournament as large as the World Am, and the depth and quality of the area’s courses, are a primary attraction. Of the over courses hosting the event, 11 have been ranked among the nation’s top 100 public courses in recent years.
After play, each night players gather at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to enjoy the “World’s Largest 19th Hole,” a 120,000-square-foot golf extravaganza. Players receive free food and drinks, enjoy live entertainment, including Golf Channel personalities, live bands and even a Karaoke Night. There is also an expo with various golf companies selling and showing their wares.
The World Am is a one-of-a-kind event, bringing golfers from different cultures, ability levels and backgrounds together to celebrate the game. This even is recognized world-wide as one of the best events in golf. Good luck to all the golfers.
World Am by the numbers:
4 Estimated Number of hole in ones made
9 Divisions
7 Players that have never missed a World Am
10 % of countries in the World represented since 2012
19 # of countries represented in 2016
34 Great years of golf and camaraderie
47 Countries represented since 2012
48 States represented
52 Number of golf courses used
60 Exhibitors
62 Flights
9 Divisions
85 Volunteers
88.6 Average score in 2016
132 Number of International Players
153 Players from the West
387 Players from the Midwest
592 Players from Northeast
1,707 Players from the South
5952 Golf cart rides
8,766 Unique players since 2012
10,302 Longest miles traveled by a participant
12,000 Rounds That Will Be Played In 2017
18,480 Beers consumed at 19th hole
30,695 Estimated number of golf balls used
31,580 Miles driven on golf carts
49,000 Estimated unique players over 33 years
80,600 Estimated greens in regulation
$80,000 Gift cards paid
8,400 Golf Balls awarded
1,011,500 Estimated strokes in 2017
While the registration dates has passed for 2017, there still may be spots available. Check the World Am website for more information.