They come from Atlanta, Macon and Augusta.
214 golfers from the state of Georgia have made the trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. this week for the 31st annual Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship, taking place August 25-29.
Halfway through the event, the weather has been perfect and the golf has been stellar.
3405 golfers in total are in the field and they represent 48 states and 34 different countries. The players are placed in flights according to their handicaps and after four rounds a “cut” is made and only the flight winners advance to the finals on Friday.
60+ golf courses around Myrtle Beach are hosting the 72-hole tournament and among them- Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, all four courses at Barefoot Resort, TPC Myrtle Beach, Rivers Edge and Pawleys Plantation.
Some important facts:
- This is the third consecutive year the tournament has enjoyed growth and 3,400 players are the event’s most since 2008.
- 291 women are slated to play in hopes of becoming the World Am’s fifth female world champion.
- Players are coming from 48 states with Idaho and South Dakota being the only delinquents.
- The field is comprised of players from 34 countries. The nations represented are: United States, Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States-Outlying Islands, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands.
- 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 main factor in the bringing them back. The World Am’s social hub is the nightly World’s Largest 19th Hole, which is held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Participants enjoy 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.
Golfers from Georgia have fared well in the past. Will someone from the Peach State bring home the trophy this year?
To enjoy daily coverage of the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship, go to www.WorldAmGolf.com.
