Tournament Summary

Three thousand six hundred golfers, 72 holes of intense stroke play competition, an 18-hole championship playoff, nightly parties and entertainment. It may sound like the U.S. Open from qualifying to conclusion, but the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is an event unlike any other.

Golfers from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries flock to Myrtle Beach, S.C., every year to participate in a tournament that provides the ultimate golf experience. Now in its 28th year, the World Amateur allows everyone from scratch golfers to 30+ handicappers to test their nerves and competitive resolve. 

The tournament, which uses an intricate handicap formula to level the field, is open to all golfers – men, women, young and old – with a certified USGA handicap. 

The World Amateur features six competitive divisions, ranging from men and women 49 and under to the super seniors (70+). Within the divisions, golfers are flighted by closely grouped handicaps. The event features between 60 and 70 flights and the winner of each advances to the Flight Winner’s Playoff, an 18-hole shootout that determines the World Champion. 

The tournament is played on approximately 60 different Myrtle Beach area courses, including several Top 100 public layouts, and each flight plays a different course each day. 

The GOLF.com World Amateur is played under USGA rules, the only significant exception being the use of a cart. There are no mulligans, gimmes or foot wedges at the World Amateur, which heightens the competitive experience. 

The event’s pulse is its nightly party, affectionately known as the “World’s Largest 19th Hole.” The 19th Hole, which covers the entire Myrtle Beach Convention Center, is catered nightly by Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants, provides free top-shelf drinks and live entertainment. The “19th Hole” is a 100,000-square-foot golfer’s paradise. 

The World Amateur’s inclusiveness is apparent in its past champions. Players with handicaps as low as three and as high as 34 have won the World Championship and three women have earned the distinction. 

As if the possibility of winning a world title isn’t enough, entry into the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is the best value in competitive golf.