PGA TOUR’s ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic Generates $15.8 Million in Economic Impact

Event Continues to Exceed Expectations as Year Three Plans Underway

This year’s ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, Myrtle Beach’s first and only PGA TOUR event, generated a substantial economic impact for the region known as “The Golf Capital of the World,” once again marking itself as the top generating event for the Grand Strand.

Based on Destinations International (DI) calculations, the worldwide standard for measuring the effect events have on communities, the tournament generated a total economic impact of $15.8 million, up from last year’s $15.4 million, to considerably bolster the area’s economy, increasing tax revenues for public services and supporting local jobs.

While weather impacted the event and attendance was approximately 5,000 less at 36,000 over the four days of play, an impressive six percent increase of out-of-town visitors allowed the event to present a larger boon to the local economy. Notably, local residents attending the tournament are not factored into the measurement of the economic impact calculation.

“Year two of the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic has exceeded our expectations in every possible way,” said Darren Nelson, tournament director. “Infusing $31.2 million into the Grand Strand economy over the past two years is incredibly rewarding. It not only supports local business, both big and small, but generates additional tax income that ultimately improves the destination and enhances the quality of life for residents.”

The second annual ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, held May 8 – 11, 2025, at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, also welcomed a field of 132 players and their caddies, 1,300 volunteers, as well as dozens of officials, staff and members of the media participated.

Tournament officials shared the following key performance indicators for the 2025 event:

• $15.8 million economic impact, surpassing the tournament’s inaugural year by $400,000 (Visit Myrtle Beach via Destination International economic impact calculator).
• 58 percent of Myrtle Beach Classic attendees visited the Grand Strand from areas located across the U.S. and 12 countries (Zartico, a U.S.-based data science company).
• 8-plus hours of live coverage and replays appeared on the GOLF Channel and licensed media partners across 73 countries and territories with viewers increasing over one million to 3.53 in 2025 (PGA TOUR).
• 23.7 billion potential readership and viewership (earned media) captured across major media platforms such as NBCUniversal, CBS and ESPN (PGA TOUR).
• Social media impressions from the tournament and the PGA TOUR social media channels generated more than 31 million impressions, an increase from 20 million in 2024 (PGA TOUR).
• 9 charities based in Horry and Georgetown counties rewarded as the recipients of $225,000 in total local donations (PGA TOUR).
• $400,000-plus in merchandise purchased during the event through support from local vendor Native Sons, and $700,000-plus in food and beverage purchased (Myrtle Beach Classic).
• 9,600-plus lodging room nights booked across the Grand Strand (Visit Myrtle Beach).
• 285,600-plus rounds of golf were played across the Grand Strand in the month of May 2025, which was an all-time record for the month of May (Golf Tourism Solutions).
• The Q at Myrtle Beach, a unique qualifying event released on Play Golf Myrtle Beach’s YouTube channel, generated 541,000-plus views and 273,000 hours of watch time (Golf Tourism Solutions).

“This remarkable PGA TOUR event continues to position The Beach as a premier travel destination for golf enthusiasts across the world. The entire Grand Strand experienced the positive effects of this major sporting event from increased tax revenues and job support to heightened golf participation and community pride, setting the stage for continued growth and success in the years to come,” said Stuart Butler, president, Visit Myrtle Beach, the tournament’s title sponsor.

“The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic continues to elevate the standard for what a world-class golf event should look like—on and off the course,” said Ferren Rajput, CEO, ONEflight International. “We are proud to be part of a tournament that not only draws global attention to the Grand Strand but also delivers meaningful economic and charitable impact to the community. The growth we’ve seen in just two years reflects the strength of our partnerships, the passion of golf fans, and the exceptional experience Myrtle Beach provides.”

Next year’s tournament will be held May 7 – 10, 2026, once again over Mother’s Day weekend at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club. Tickets for the event will go on sale this winter and volunteer registration will open early 2026.

For more information about the event, visit ONEflightMyrtleBeachClassic.com.