Moreover, the PGA of America reports that there are 45 million on- and off-course golfers, adding up to 11 percent of the U.S. population. This translates to $80.1 billion in total wage income from about two million U.S. golf jobs; $40 billion in total travel expenses produced by the golf industry; and $7.2 billion spent on golf supplies. These eight destinations are ready to help event owners and organizers drive to the green.
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DuPage County, Illinois
Boasting more than 50 golf courses, including the first 18-hole course in the U.S., DuPage County is one of the top golfing destinations in the country. Highly regarded venues include Chicago Golf Club, Butler National Golf Club and Medinah Country Club. DuPage has a storied history, having hosted the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, BMW Championship, PGA TOUR Western Open, LPGA Solheim Cup, U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open and Walker Cup.
This July, a competitive field of active and former NHL players, including Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup Champions, will trade hockey sticks for golf clubs in the inaugural PRO HKY tournament, part of THE PRO competitive golf series. The tournament will be played at Flossmoor Golf Club, known for its classic design. With the host hotel located in DuPage, the DuPage Sports Commission (DSC) will be welcoming fans to join in the revelry. In September 2026, DuPage will host the 2026 Presidents Cup, to be played at Medinah Country Club.
“We are proud to be a part of golf’s history and future,” says Igor Bakovic, DuPage Sports Commission’s director of sports. “We are excited to see the growth that has taken place over the last few years in golf. DSC looks forward to supporting more local tournaments, new events such as PRO HKY and of course, celebrating major championships.”
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie County offers a variety of golf facilities and The Kahkwa Club, Lawrence Park Golf Club, Lake View Country Club, Lake Shore Country Club, the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak Resort and Whispering Woods Golf Club are all considered premier playing options. These courses offer diverse layouts and varying levels of difficulty that highlight the region’s natural beauty, including waterfront views and rolling hills.
Erie has a rich history of hosting prestigious golf events including the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at The Kahkwa Club in 2016; The LECOM Health Classic (a stop on the Korn Ferry Tour) at the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak Resort from 2016-2019; and the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship Regional hosted by Mercyhurst University at Lake View Country Club in 2021.
This spring, NCAA golf returns when Gannon University welcomes the DII Men’s Golf/Atlantic East Regional to be played at Whispering Woods Golf Club. Additionally, the Western Pennsylvania Deaf Golfers Association will host the 2025 Southeastern Deaf Golfers Association Tournament at Whispering Woods. The latter two events are projected to total more than $300,000 in estimated economic impact.
“Our destination is actively working to attract additional tournaments that will generate sports tourism and have a positive impact on our community, whether it be youth, collegiate, adult or tournaments that cater specifically to disabled participants,” says Sydney Dietz, events & marketing manager, Erie Sports Commission.
Fresno County, California
Located north of Fresno in the state’s treasured San Joaquin Valley is the Copper River Country Club, a masterpiece created by William R. Tatham Sr. The course was completed in 1995, and the 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and related facilities opened in 1996. Among the key events held at the club are the American Jr. Gold Association-Visit Fresno County AJGA Championship.
“We are currently hosting one tournament a year but would love to add more,” says Andrew Smith, Visit Fresno County’s director of sales. “Copper River Country Club hosts several local and regional tournaments throughout the year.” He notes that in 2024, the AJGA tournament drew 80 youth golfers plus parents. VFC conservatively estimates that this tournament brings in about $350,000 in economic impact to the area.
“We would love to book a large-scale collegiate tournament and possibly some sort of LPGA event this year for 2026 and beyond. Any and all levels are welcome, but we love working with the youth golfers. It’s always exciting to see young, up-and-coming golfers play in Fresno and then move on to the pro ranks.”
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Myrtle Beach area boasts over 90 award-winning golf courses, making the destination a prime choice for tournaments that draw golfers from around the world. More than half of the member courses have earned four-star or higher ratings in Golf Digest’s prestigious “Best Places to Play” guide.
Now entering its second year, the Myrtle Beach Classic PGA TOUR tournament sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach debuted in 2024 along South Carolina’s Grand Strand. The inaugural event drew 41,000 total fans over its four-day span. The event is scheduled for May 8-11, 2025, at the prestigious Dunes Golf and Beach Club, and Jonathan Paris, executive director of sports tourism, Visit Myrtle Beach, reports that the event has signed a four-year agreement and will be held at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club through 2027.
Paris also notes that the NCAA Men’s Division I Golf Regional Championships will return to the TPC of Myrtle Beach in 2027. The event was previously held at the TPC in 2019. “We’ve hosted several collegiate championships, bringing some of tomorrow’s stars to the beach and we have a full range of youth championships and events including the Dustin Johnson World Junior Championships,” he says.
“We have on average 10 annual [golf] events. However, we have the ability and have added others such as the NCAA Men’s DI Golf Regional and other collegiate events,” says Paris. “Our collective golf tournaments attract nearly 7,000 people from more than 25 countries to the area, led by the World Amateur, which annually has more than 3,300 players.”
Southern Illinois
Williamson County has four courses, two of which (Kokopelli Golf Club and Crab Orchard Golf Club) are tournament courses. Both have hosted IHSA, JPGA and other local tournaments and each also hosts the John A. Logan College and Southern Illinois University teams for practice. Kokopelli is the most updated course in the county and has the ability to host the largest tournaments. Crab Orchard Golf Club is easily accessible and is ideal for a variety of skill levels. The venues also offer a wide variety of amenities.
“We would love to see growth in the current tournaments and are exploring ways to bring additional events to the region,” says Ashlee Spiller, executive director, Visit Southern Illinois. “We see local participation but when it comes to tournaments, we sway on the out-of-state side. Being right off of Interstates 57 and 24, only an hour drive to Paducah, Kentucky, or Cape Girardeau, Missouri, helps bring attendees from outside the area.”
Looking ahead, Spiller remarks, “The new Marion STAR bond district will bring with it a new sports entertainment complex with high-tech golf games, food and drink within the next year or two and we hope that will continue to attract additional leisure golfers as well as to strengthen the love of gold within the local region.”
Tucson, Arizona
Golf is a year-round activity here, with more than 40 courses, ranging from private country clubs to resort and municipal courses. “The majority of our courses are desert courses, including the two 18-hole Ventana Canyon Golf Courses, La Paloma Country Club, Arizona National, Fred Enke, Staff Pass and Sewailo Golf Club,” says Nick Pazzi, director of Visit Tucson Sports. Key events have included the PGA TOUR Champions Cologuard Classic, LPGA Epson Tour, PAC-12 and NCAA tournaments and the AJGA Tucson Championship.
“Visit Tucson is currently involved in [these events] and with the University of Arizona moving from PAC-12 to the BIG-12, we look forward to hosting future BIG-12 Championship Tournaments as well as NCAA events,” says Pazzi. “Our rich golf tradition is embodied by the Cologuard Classic which is played each March. The event returns in Spring 2025 and will take place on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Designed Course at La Paloma Country Club at Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.”
According to Pazzi, “Our largest tournament, The Cologuard Classic, brings 78 players and offers a purse of $2.2 million and $330,000 going to the winner. This event averages 20,000 spectators and has an economic impact of close to $4 million.” He also notes that several courses, including the Sewailo course located on tribal lands, are creating programs to provide golf opportunities to youth from underprivileged communities. “There is also hope that our relationship with the EPSON Tour, a tournament that prepares female golfers for the LPGA, will eventually result in a future LPGA Championship which we have not hosted since 2004.”
Vermillion, South Dakota
The pride of Vermillion’s sports facilities is the 18-hole championship The Bluffs Golf Course, located on the Missouri River Bluffs. It currently hosts about 40 events annually, running the gamut from professional tournaments to high school invitationals.
The biggest event of the year is the South Dakota Open Pro-Am, part of The Dakotas Tour, which sees hundreds of players nationally and even internationally join Vermillion locals to compete.
“Highlights include the Ladies Pro-Am held in conjunction with the official tournament, the shootout at hole 10, Calcutta and community feed. That’s June 6 to 8 this year,” says Miles Amende, communications and tourism manager, Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Co. High school, state and district tournaments, fundraisers, charity tournaments and golf classics for local businesses are also in the mix. The University of South Dakota golf teams often practice on the course and occasionally play tournaments against other schools.
“Most large-scale events bring in upwards of 200 players. Between 150 and 200 players (local and pro) will show up every year for the Pro-Am and community events that week always bring in lots of folks from the region, so attendance is well into the 300-plus range,” says Amende.
Walton County, Florida
Like other areas along the Panhandle, Walton County has many beautiful golf courses, but the Baytowne course at the Sandestin resort sets the locale apart because it’s the only course on the Emerald Coast to provide stunning views of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawatchee Bay. Walton County is also home to Windswept Dunes, the longest course on the Florida Golf Trail.
“At The Raven, a premier course located at our Sandestin resort, we have had the privilege of hosting prestigious events, including Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Champions Tour tournaments,” says Cade Supple, Tourism Sales Specialist, Walton County Tourism Department. “In addition, various courses in our county have served as venues for the Emerald Coast Mini Tour and the Lite Scratch Tour, both of which regularly hold events that support the development of aspiring professional golfers and amateurs. Furthermore, we have proudly hosted the Under Armour Junior Tour Winter Championships.”
Supple estimates that the county courses hold more than 15 events throughout the year and there are current discussions regarding the addition of others in the future. “The professional events would garner the most economic impact and for local events we can have between 100 to 300 golfers per tournament,” he says. “We are open to all demographics. We host junior tours for both genders as well as adult tournaments.” SDM
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