Three thousand golfers, sixty-some courses, and one wildly ambitious week of amateur golf. That’s the World Amateur Championship in a nutshell, and it turns the entire Grand Strand into a golf carnival every late summer.
Here’s everything you need to know before September rolls around, whether you’re teeing it up yourself or just want to watch the chaos unfold.
When It Happens
Mark your calendar for Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 4, 2026. This marks the tournament’s 43rd year running, and it’s officially sold out, with the field capped at 3,000 participants.
Don’t panic if you missed registration, though. Organizers maintain an alternate list for golfers hoping to snag a last-minute spot.
What most visitors don’t know:
The championship round happens Friday, September 4, at Grande Dunes Resort Course, one of Myrtle Beach‘s most prestigious layouts. Spectators can walk the course for free that day and watch the final showdown up close.
How the Tournament Actually Works
This isn’t your typical stroke-play tournament. Players compete across 72 holes, teeing off at a different course every single day throughout the week.
Roughly 55 to 60 courses participate each year, including Barefoot Resort’s four signature courses, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Grande Dunes, the Legends courses, and TPC Myrtle Beach. Flights get divided by age, gender, and handicap, so a weekend golfer competes against similarly skilled players rather than getting steamrolled by scratch golfers.
Local’s take:
Four of this year’s participating courses carry Arnold Palmer’s signature design. Ask your course assignment desk which ones, since playing a Palmer design during World Am week feels like a bonus tournament all its own.
Sponsors and the Money Behind the Madness
Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Company, Broadway at the Beach’s newest entertainment venue, steps in as the official host of this year’s Welcome Party. That’s a new partnership for 2026, replacing whichever venue held the honor last year.
André Golf returns as host of “The World’s Largest 19th Hole,” the nightly party that anchors the entire week. Registration fees, which run around $729 per player, fund a gift bag worth roughly $300, access to nightly festivities, and a shot at a $25,000 daily prize pool.
What most visitors don’t know:
The 19th Hole party isn’t exclusive to registered players in every sense. Spectators and locals can often experience the golf expo and entertainment lineup even without a tee time of their own, so check current-year access policies before assuming you need to compete to attend.
Celebrities and Notable Faces
Don’t expect a red carpet, but don’t rule out a surprising face either. Recent years at the World’s Largest 19th Hole have featured golf broadcasting legends David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, and Charlie Rymer on stage, alongside golf influencer Paige Spiranac and short-game guru Dave Pelz.
On the playing side, the tournament has drawn some unexpected names into actual competition. MLB legend Roger Clemens has played in the World Am three separate times, testing his game against amateurs from around the globe rather than sitting in a celebrity pro-am sideline.
Local’s take:
Don’t confuse this event with the Myrtle Beach Classic, held every May at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. That’s the PGA Tour stop where actors like Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell tee off at the celebrity pro-am. The World Am is a different animal entirely, built around everyday golfers chasing a world title.
Where to Stay Nearby
Since play spreads across dozens of courses throughout the Grand Strand, location flexibility matters more than proximity to any single course. Staying centrally near Broadway at the Beach puts you within easy reach of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, home base for the nightly 19th Hole festivities.
Budget-conscious golfers should consider Myrtle Beach’s Market Common area, roughly a fifteen-minute drive from the Convention Center and close to the beach itself for family members not playing every round. For a full rundown of budget-friendly options in the area, check out our guide to affordable coastal lodging picks.
What most visitors don’t know:
North Myrtle Beach hotels put you closer to Barefoot Resort’s courses specifically, which host a meaningful chunk of tournament rounds. If your assignment sheet leans north, booking north can save real drive time each morning.
Other Beach Events Happening Nearby
World Am wraps right as Labor Day weekend traffic ramps up across the Grand Strand, so expect the whole coast to feel busy that week regardless of golf. If you’re extending your trip south, Charleston’s Lowcountry Jazz Festival runs September 4 through 6 at the Gaillard Center, timed almost perfectly for a post-tournament detour.
Myrtle Beach itself stays relatively quiet on the festival front during World Am week specifically, letting the golf tournament take center stage. That changes fast once Bike Week’s Fall Rally rolls in from September 25 through October 4, so plan your visit accordingly if motorcycles aren’t your scene.
The Bottom Line
Few events capture the Grand Strand’s identity as “The Golf Capital of the World” quite like this one. Whether you’re chasing a flight title or just want to watch amateurs and legends share the same fairways, World Am week turns Myrtle Beach into golf’s biggest playground.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Myrtle Beach World Amateur Championship? The tournament runs Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 4, 2026, with the championship round on Friday at Grande Dunes Resort Course.
Is the World Amateur Championship sold out? Yes, the field reached its 3,000-participant cap, though an alternate list remains open for golfers hoping to secure a late spot.
What courses host the tournament? Roughly 55 to 60 Grand Strand courses participate each year, including Barefoot Resort, Caledonia, Grande Dunes, the Legends courses, and TPC Myrtle Beach.
Do celebrities play in the World Amateur Championship? Notable names have appeared, including MLB legend Roger Clemens as a player and golf broadcasters like David Feherty as 19th Hole entertainment, though it’s not primarily a celebrity event.
Is the World Amateur Championship the same as the Myrtle Beach Classic? No. The Myrtle Beach Classic is a separate PGA Tour event held every May at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, featuring a celebrity pro-am with actors and athletes.
Where should I stay during World Amateur week? Central Myrtle Beach near Broadway at the Beach offers the easiest access to nightly events, while North Myrtle Beach suits golfers assigned to Barefoot Resort courses.
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