Golf Travel News 18 March 2023

Golf Travel News 18 March 2023

In the news this week are items from Myrtle Beach, The John Shippen, Pebble Beach, Horseshoe Bay and Keswick Hall.

Inaugural Short Par 4 Girls Palmetto Tournament of Champions To Be Held In Myrtle Beach, S.C.

36-hole event will be played September 16-17 at True Blue Golf Club

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The inaugural Short Par 4 Girls Palmetto Tournament of Champions will tee off this fall, bringing the best high school golf teams in the Carolinas to Myrtle Beach. The 36-hole tournament will be held September 16-17 at True Blue Golf Club, one of the nation’s top 100 resort courses.

A total of 12 teams from North and South Carolina, including 10 state championship squads, will be invited to participate as will the top 12 individual players whose teams didn’t win state titles. Entry into the event is free.

Short Par will provide players with a gift bag, a perk that coincides with the launch of the company’s new Junior Membership Box.

The Golf Tourism Solutions tournament division runs 11 events, including the PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship and the boys Palmetto High School Golf Championship, a spring tournament.

Short Par 4 is golf’s premier monthly subscription box, providing subscribers the latest in fashion and unmatched value, guaranteeing players look and feel good when they arrive at the first tee.

For more information on golf’s most popular destination, visit www.PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com.

John Shippen National Invitational 2023 Schedule Released

DETROIT (March 16, 2023) – Intersport has announced the 2023 schedule for THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational – a series of competitions created to provide playing opportunities on the PGA TOUR and LPGA for the nation’s top Black men and women golfer

Now in its third year, THE JOHN SHIPPEN has hosted 76 Black golfers, awarded nine playing opportunities on the PGA TOUR and LPGA and donated $320,000 to local charities, scholarships and fellowships.

The events are named after John Shippen, Jr., who was both the first American-born golf professional and the country’s first Black golf professional. 

The women’s contest of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational will be held June 6–7 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the men’s competition of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Golf Invitational will take place June 24-25 at Detroit Golf Club. 

THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup is an 18-hole stroke play competition taking place May 8 at Upper Montclair Country Club, the host venue for the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup. The winner of the event will be awarded an exemption into the LPGA’s Cognizant Founders Cup (May 11-May 14).

The Women’s Invitational will return to its 2022 location June 6-7 at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the home of the Meijer LPGA Classic. The winner of the event will earn an exemption into the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (June 15–18), as well as an exemption into the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

The men’s portion of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational presented by Rocket Mortgage will take place at Detroit Golf Club June 24–25. Participants will compete in a 36-hole stroke play competition, and the winner will once again be awarded an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic (June 29 – July 2). 

Northern California Section PGA Foundation to Host “The Salute at Pebble Beach”

Charitable golf celebration honoring military Veterans

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. (March 6, 2023) – In the spirit of gratitude, honor and paying it forward, PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship charitable program of the Northern California

Section PGA Foundation, will host The Salute at Pebble Beach at the iconic Pebble Beach Resorts. The five-day celebration of independence, held June 30-July 3, 2023, will support United States military Veterans, while celebrating golf at its finest. This fundraising event will offer participants the chance to play Pebble Beach Golf Links the day before it closes for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open and includes tickets to the championship event.

The full itinerary, along with Patriot Sponsorship Packages starting at $100,000 can be viewed at

thesaluteatpebblebeach.com.

Horseshoe Bay Resort Announces Spring Break at the Lake Festivities and Room Packages

Horseshoe Bay, TX – Horseshoe Bay Resort, Central Texas’ premier AAA-Four Diamond- and Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Award-winning destination, is the place to be for Spring Break 2023.

In addition to water fun in the lively pools or on Lake LBJ, award-winning golf on the Apple Rock, Ram Rock and Slick Rock courses or relaxing at the Bayside Spa & Salon, guests have unique opportunities to enjoy unique shows and one-of-a-kind recreational activities.

This Spring, Horseshoe Bay Resort guests can witness world-class acrobatic shows, sing and dance at fun musical events, get in tune with their creative side at daily arts and crafts stations. And, of course, they can enjoy world-class amenities, such as golf, spa, tennis and pickleball courts, a lakeside marina offering kayak and Sea-Doo rentals, and much more.

Special Spring Break 2023 programming at Horseshoe Bay resort includes a command performance by Cirque-Tacular Productions, one of America’s premier acrobatic production companies; Dueling Piano shows, a Giant Waterslide on Tower Live Oak Lawn; the ever-popular Silent Disco dance party and a host of Family Lawn Games, including Cornhole, Giant Jenga, Bocce’ Ball, Spike Ball and Giant Checkers on the lawn.

Daily Activities include a half-priced Putting Happy Hour at the award-winning Whitewater Putting Course; complimentary S’mores on the Whitewater Patio and Tower Live Oak Lawn; a Selfie Scavenger Hunt; adult Bike by the Bay; Arts & Crafts encompassing Hand-print Art, Painting Sun Catchers, Picture Frame Art and Seashell Critter Art; Family Bingo & Board Games for all ages and abilities; interactive Poolside Games; complimentary Family Movie Night; complimentary Sport Balls & Horseshoe Toss; Sno-Cones & Snack Shack; First Up Game Room replete with video games, movies and refreshments for purchase; and complimentary Stay & Play Drop-Off at the Jungle Kids Club.

With Myrtle Beach helping lead the way, South Carolina named top 5 golf destination in the world

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) named South Carolina one of the world’s top 5 golf destinations, and at the heart of the Palmetto State’s broad-based appeal is Myrtle Beach, the game’s most popular destination. 

The Palmetto State is home to 350 courses and the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage, but Myrtle Beach is the destination that’s attracting the most golfers from across the globe. 

There were more than 2.4 million rounds played on Golf Tourism Solutions’ 65 courses alone in 2022, as Myrtle Beach remains the driving force behind the $3.3 billion annual economic impact golf delivers in South Carolina. To further highlight golf’s impact and its importance to the state, the game was responsible in 2021 for $370 million in federal, state and local taxes and generated 44 percent of South Carolina’s total admissions tax collections. 

South Carolina was the only American destination on a list that also included Cypress, Dubai, Los Cabos and Thailand.  

Indian Wells Golf Resort Honored as ‘AGM Platinum Award Winner’

Prestigious Accolade Celebrates Industry’s ‘Best of the Best’ Golf Shops Worldwide

(INDIAN WELLS, Ca.) – Indian Wells Golf Resort – the world-class public golf, vacation, culinary and events destination located in the picturesque Coachella Valley – earned the coveted 2023 “Platinum Award” by the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) recognizing premier golf shops worldwide.

Recipients of this prestigious award consistently demonstrate efficacious business practices in their retail operations. To be considered for a Platinum Award, courses were invited to submit golf shop nominations with entries judged by an impartial panel in a number of categories including customer satisfaction initiatives, creative use of space, inventory control practices, revenue-generating initiatives, promotions and visual displays.

Keswick Hall’s Full Cry to Host 2023 U.S. Open Qualifier 

Event Held on Pete Dye’s Classic Design Set in Virginia’s Scenic Wine Country

(CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.) – Keswick Hall – the acclaimed 600-acre luxury resort set in Virginia’s scenic Wine Country – announces its celebrated Pete Dye-designed Full Cry golf course will serve as a 2023 U.S. Open qualifying venue on May 16.

Local qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Open Championship is conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 U.S. states and Canada. The championship will be contested at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 15 – 18. In 2022, Full Cry hosted the Virginia State Golf Association’s prestigious Mid-Amateur Championship.

Since opening in 2014 to rave reviews including Golf Digest’s “Best New Courses” list, Full Cry has received accolade after accolade including being currently ranked No. 3 in Golfweek’s “Best You Can Play in Virginia” as well as sitting at No. 50 in Golfweek’s “Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S.” Keswick Hall has also been honored with the prestigious Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award for “Best Golf Resorts in the Americas” for seven consecutive years.

For more information on Keswick Hall visit www.keswick.com or call 434.979.3440.