PGA Tour stop coming to Myrtle Beach?

Here is a copy of the article.  It was in an e-mail to a third party so I didn't have the link.

Myrtle Beach closing in on PGA deal

Would host first tourney in 2024 under 4-year-plan

BY MEGAN FERNANDES mfernandes@postandcourier.com

SPORTS

MYRTLE BEACH — The Grand Strand is expected to play host to its first PGA tournament in May 2024 under a four-year deal that’s still being negotiated.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamberof Commerce and Golf Tourism Solutions have been in discussions with PGA officials and are close to finalizing a contract in the coming months.

Chamber CEO Karen Riordan said that while details such as the timing and venue are still being ironed out, both sides have agreed to see it through.

This agreement is for a four-year run through 2027 that Myrtle Beach sports and tourism officials hope to extend indefinitely — similar to the annual RBC Heritage held each spring on Hilton Head Island.

For now, the four-day Grand Strand event is being named the Myrtle Beach Classic, but that may change slightly based on sponsorship deals in the future Riordan said.

“We have a strong community of golf enthusiasts here, and we believe this will be a really great thing for our community,” she said. “A whole new generation of golfers are coming into the game. We want to let golfers see Myrtle Beach and all we have to offer.”

While Myrtle Beach has previously been the site of LPGA and PGA Senior Tour events, this would be the Grand Strand’s first PGA tournament. The city will join the ranks of other South Carolina golf destination spots that have hosted a top-caliber professional golf tournament.

“Myrtle Beach is synonymous with golf,” Riordan said. “As a community, we decided that now is the time. We want to be a part of the successful golf story in South Carolina and put Myrtle Beach back on the map with all those other players.”

Earlier this month, Duane Parrish, director of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, urged state lawmakers to financially support a deal with the PGA if one arose. He said golf continues to be an important part of the state’s visitor industry, especially as more professional events take place across the state.

“We’re a state that’s known for beaches and golf, and we always have been,” Parrish said. “We saw that golf had a $3.3 billion economic impact statewide in 2021. These tournaments, and the exposure we received from it being a televised event, are an opportunity to attract more golfers to our state.”

Parrish said that the state continues to invest heavily in marketing South Carolina as a golfer’s retreat because the visitor impact extends beyond the fairway. Roughly 20 percent of total state advertising budget is spent on golf advertising alone, which he said is on par with the economic impact it has.

Since 2021, South Carolina has hosted several high-profile golf events, including one of the four annual “major” tournaments: the annual RBC Heritage on Hilton Head, the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Palmetto Championship at Congaree near Ridgeland and the BMW Charity Pro- Am in Greenville.

Two were hosted last year:the RBC Heritage and the CJ Cup at Congraee.

Riordan of the Myrtle Beach chamber said the state’s commitment to pursue golf events helped convince her the time was right for the Grand Strand to do the same.

Parrish said the golf business overall has continued to perform well, especially after a resurgence in the game during the pandemic. Gov. Henry McMaster has previously called the sport an “economic engine” for the state.

Riordan said since the state has a good track record with the PGA and continues to host successful tournaments. She noted that Myrtle Beach has “been called the golf capital of the world, and we want to maintain that title. In addition to our beaches and the other things we offer, golf has always been a bedrock part of our image and makes us who we are.”

She said she’ll be able to dis-close where the event will be played once the contract has been signed.

“We believe we found the right venue, but all I can say for now is that it is a prominent golf course in Myrtle Beach,” Riordan said. “It’s one that will showcase everything that Myrtle Beach’s golf scene represents and has to offer.”

Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Wachesaw Plantation East and Barefoot Resort & Golf have been the site of previous professional events on the Grand Strand, which is home to about 90 courses.

Riordan said that she will disclose the name of the course once a contract has been signed.

The Myrtle Beach event would be held weeks after the annual RBC Heritage, which typically held in mid- April about 200 miles down the coast at Harbour Town Golf Links.

PGA Tour spokesman Joel Schuchmann said that he cannot provide further details on a deal until a contract is signed, but stated that new market discussions are a “constant element of our business.”

Reach Megan Fernandes at mfernandes@postand http://courier.com&source=gmail&ust=1676850148837000&usg=AOvVaw3vhYOzgIQv97DnUVc9rtu S">courier.com.

According to WMBF, the PGA Tour event could be held in February-March 2024: https://www.wmbfnews.com/2023/02/16/myrtle-beach-trying-attract-pga-tour-event-sc-tourism-director-says/

So there is some confusion with the dates between WMBF News and the Post and Courrier. And it is not a done deal. It could be cold some days in Myrtle Beach during February and March.

I posted a link to another article in this topic.   

While MB would take what they can get, I would think the Tour would be careful with the weather. 
While there are popular PGA tournaments in the spring, we don't know if an event like Mexico in
late April will be canceled/moved or if any event will move.      May has solid tournaments.   
Fall is also an option.   Summer opposite US Open or The Open, something that could happen.    

I wonder what course they'd play. TPC Myrtle Beach seems like the obvious and most likely option, since I believe the PGA Tour already owns it.

The Dunes is the best course in Myrtle, but I don't know why they'd want a PGA event. It's not like they're hurting for members or money, and it would just mean a couple of weeks where the members can't play the course. I know people who are members at another club that hosts a PGA Tour event and they hate it; it hasn't really brought any benefits to the club and it's just a hassle for the members.

Although I doubt attendance would be high in general, there are a lot of Myrtle courses that don't really have room for fans/infrastructure and wouldn't be an option for that reason.

@uncgolf .. Right. I'm trying to think of courses that have room for thousands of cars.

They may have to rent out Diamondback (joking)

Which courses in the MB area are tough enough and long enough for these young whippersnappers that are driving the ball 350 ???

Eagles Nest ? (joking again)

My guess is Barefoot Landing.  Several courses.  Lots of range space.  They have lodging and parking.  My guess is Puerto Rico or the Mexico tournaments are going away. 

I don't know if Barefoot would be interested. That would be a lot of lost revenue for them -- they'd have to shut down all four courses for at least the week of the tournament and likely have the one hosting the event shut down for a week or two longer.

They might get something for hosting the event (that's not always a guarantee), but since it's likely to be one of the smallest events on tour, I don't know if it would be enough to make up for the lost revenue.

@jw11 

That's the reason why they put in the Perch Tees!  ???? 

I'm hoping for Hawaiian Rumble in NMB.  In addition to the golf, they have batting cages which would make for a great warm-up area.

Posted by: @polekat914

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@jw11 

That's the reason why they put in the Perch Tees!  ???? 

Bumping this because they announced they're having it at the Dunes Club.

If I was a member at the Dunes I'd be pretty unhappy. They'll have to give up their course for two or three weeks for an opposite field event with a small purse that won't have any top names. I don't see how it benefits the membership in the slightest.

Any tour event is tough on the course. Especially the layup holes like ten and eleven.  They layup to pretty much the same place and just rip up the  course in those spots.  As for the field:  The level of play is still astounding.  If the wind does not blow, they will shoot a surprisingly low number.  I am looking forward to attending.