Held Aug. 25 - 29, more than 3,000 participants from around the world have already entered the celebrated amateur event. The $575 entry fee includes 72 holes of golf on a different course daily as well as an opportunity to compete in the fifth round championship playoff on Friday, Aug. 29 (flight winners and ties). Registration is available at worldamgolf.com.

The golf course lineup includes the Norman, Fazio and Love courses at Barefoot Resort, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Golf Plantation and Rivers Edge, among others. The World Championship Playoff will be held at Barefoot Resort's Dye Club.

The entry fee also includes a gift bag ($300 value) and nightly access to "The World's Largest 19th Hole" at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The tournament's heartbeat, the 19th Hole features equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, concerts, prize drawings and food from superb area restaurants.

"The participant count is trending up again this year, and we are looking forward to another outstanding edition of the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship," tournament director Jeff Monday said. "There is no other event like it, and we look forward to welcoming 3,500 golfers from around the world to Myrtle Beach to enjoy the experience."

World Am participants are flighted based on gender, age and handicap index. The tournament is comprised of approximately 70 flights and all flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff where a champion is crowned. The event's inclusiveness is apparent in its past champions as winners with handicaps as low as three and as high as 34 have won. Four women have hoisted the championship trophy.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association comprised of 79 championship golf courses and 99 golf package providers in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization continues to be the driving force behind the region's golf market. The originator of the "Stay and Play Package," Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.