What a great ambassador for our sport, and what a fun time this looks like.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports/story/568048.html
Posted on Mon, Aug. 25, 2008
Many changes await World Amateur participants
By Alan Blondin
ablondin@thesunnews.com
Golfers teeing off today in the opening round of the 25th World Amateur Handicap Championship will see a revamped and reorganized 19th Hole expo and cocktail party over the next four nights at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
There will be few changes in the competition, however, as approximately 3,650 players will compete in 34 flights on 51 golf courses over the next four days. The winners of each flight will compete in Friday's championship shootout round at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
Participation is about 150 to 200 fewer players than 2007, but marks the 16th consecutive year the event has surpassed 3,500 entrants.
"Overall, with the economy and everything, we're very pleased with that," said tournament director Dave MacPherson of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, which operates the tournament.
At the convention center, the traditional drapes hung on piping has been eliminated and replaced by hard walls, more seating and tables, and couches. The 19th Hole, for participants and guests, now has gaming areas with the popular Golden Tee golf and Silver Strike bowling video games.
There will be trivia questions for prizes, a roaming magician and Hard Rock Park entertainers. Myrtle Beach Caddie Girls will be the models in the fashion show on Tuesday night, and both women's world billiards champion Ewa Mataya Laurance and former PGA Tour golfer Charlie Rymer will be playing nine-ball billiards against competitors - sometimes for prizes.
"We wanted to create entertainment to give people something to do and watch," MacPherson said.
Liquor offerings have been upgraded and will include Jack Daniels, Bombay gin, Smirnoff vodka and Dewers scotch. Sixteen Grand Strand restaurants will provide food and full meals will be provided by one restaurant per night. They are La Grande, a new restaurant at Barefoot Resort, on Monday, Rios Brazilian Steakhouse on Tuesday, Anderson Inn barbecue on Wednesday in honor of the first meal at the inaugural World Am - a dinner of barbecue and baked beans prepared by a tournament organizer's in-law known as Uncle Jimmy - and the Filling Station on Thursday.
"We're trying to give people more reason to come in, not just at 7 p.m. to see your score, but to come in every night to spend a few hours," MacPherson said.
The tournament's 25th anniversary will be celebrated Wednesday night as tournament founders, former tournament directors, longtime tournament workers and the 15 players who have competed in all 25 World Ams will speak about the event's history and a video will be shown.
The 19th Hole will also be the site of the "Tour Van Experience" presented by the PGA Tour Superstore, featuring a 10,000-square-foot demo and club fitting area, fashion makeovers by Cutter & Buck, game improvement areas, skill contests and games, and clinics and seminars by instructors and players including Dave Pelz, Jessie Ortiz and Kevin Bullard.
Contact ALAN BLONDIN at 843-626-0284.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports/story/568048.html
Posted on Mon, Aug. 25, 2008
Many changes await World Amateur participants
By Alan Blondin
ablondin@thesunnews.com
Golfers teeing off today in the opening round of the 25th World Amateur Handicap Championship will see a revamped and reorganized 19th Hole expo and cocktail party over the next four nights at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
There will be few changes in the competition, however, as approximately 3,650 players will compete in 34 flights on 51 golf courses over the next four days. The winners of each flight will compete in Friday's championship shootout round at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
Participation is about 150 to 200 fewer players than 2007, but marks the 16th consecutive year the event has surpassed 3,500 entrants.
"Overall, with the economy and everything, we're very pleased with that," said tournament director Dave MacPherson of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, which operates the tournament.
At the convention center, the traditional drapes hung on piping has been eliminated and replaced by hard walls, more seating and tables, and couches. The 19th Hole, for participants and guests, now has gaming areas with the popular Golden Tee golf and Silver Strike bowling video games.
There will be trivia questions for prizes, a roaming magician and Hard Rock Park entertainers. Myrtle Beach Caddie Girls will be the models in the fashion show on Tuesday night, and both women's world billiards champion Ewa Mataya Laurance and former PGA Tour golfer Charlie Rymer will be playing nine-ball billiards against competitors - sometimes for prizes.
"We wanted to create entertainment to give people something to do and watch," MacPherson said.
Liquor offerings have been upgraded and will include Jack Daniels, Bombay gin, Smirnoff vodka and Dewers scotch. Sixteen Grand Strand restaurants will provide food and full meals will be provided by one restaurant per night. They are La Grande, a new restaurant at Barefoot Resort, on Monday, Rios Brazilian Steakhouse on Tuesday, Anderson Inn barbecue on Wednesday in honor of the first meal at the inaugural World Am - a dinner of barbecue and baked beans prepared by a tournament organizer's in-law known as Uncle Jimmy - and the Filling Station on Thursday.
"We're trying to give people more reason to come in, not just at 7 p.m. to see your score, but to come in every night to spend a few hours," MacPherson said.
The tournament's 25th anniversary will be celebrated Wednesday night as tournament founders, former tournament directors, longtime tournament workers and the 15 players who have competed in all 25 World Ams will speak about the event's history and a video will be shown.
The 19th Hole will also be the site of the "Tour Van Experience" presented by the PGA Tour Superstore, featuring a 10,000-square-foot demo and club fitting area, fashion makeovers by Cutter & Buck, game improvement areas, skill contests and games, and clinics and seminars by instructors and players including Dave Pelz, Jessie Ortiz and Kevin Bullard.
Contact ALAN BLONDIN at 843-626-0284.
