GREENVILLE, S.C. – When the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation announced on Thursday its tournament dates for 2017, it had another bit of interesting news to share. The Furman Golf Club will be among the three courses to serve as hosts for the popular Web.com Tour event that visits Greenville in May.
Furman will join the Thornblade Club and The Preserve at Verdae as host golf courses for the 2017 tournament where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Web.com Tour professionals in a four-day competition.
"The 2017 tournament will take place May 18 to 21, and will once again bring great golf, entertainment, and our focus on charitable giving to the Upstate," said Bob Nitto, president, BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation. "Both Thornblade Club and The Preserve at Verdae were wonderful hosts last year. We are excited to be working with them again, and know The Furman University Golf Club will be a great addition for our players and for the fans."
The tournament is in year two of a three-year agreement with the PGA TOUR, guaranteeing that the Web.com Tour will return to Greenville through 2018.
"We are excited that the Furman Golf Club will be a host course for the 2017 BMW Charity Pro-Am tournament," said Furman President Elizabeth Davis. "Furman is proud to be part of an important community event that raises money for charities and positively impacts the Upstate economy, and we look forward to hosting the golfers and the fans here in May."
An economic impact study by Clemson University's International Institute of Tourism Research and Development estimated that the tournament annually generates total direct spending of $4.712 million, supports 139 jobs, generates net local government revenues of $541,048 and net state government revenues of $868,479, and yields $6.744 million in total output/impact.
The tournament is managed by the non-profit organization South Carolina Charities, Inc. and has donated over $12 million to more than 200 charities since the tournament's inception in 2001.
Also announced today was the addition of Michael McGovern as the tournament's new operations director. Since 2001, McGovern has served as operations director at HNS Sports Group in Dublin, Ohio, where he received numerous awards from the PGA TOUR.
"Having someone with Mike's depth of knowledge is a tremendous asset to the tournament," said Marshall Bettendorf, tournament director. "He has experience setting up large scale events, and has demonstrated an incredible eye for detail – from transportation plans and event signage to golf course logistics and sponsor representation. He is a great addition to our team."