Furman Golf Course to Join Rotation for BMW Charity Pro-Am in 2017

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.”

As the most unique tournament on the Web.com Tour, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation has many different playing options and sponsorship opportunities to offer.

To review these opportunities or learn more about the tournament, visit bmwcharitygolf.com, and follow www.facebook.com/BMWCharityProAm and @BMWCharityProAm for tournament updates.

For sponsorship and playing opportunities, contact Linda Johnson at LJohnson@sccharities.org or 864.517.2383.

ABOUT THE COURSES

The Furman University Golf Club is among the nation’s top college golf courses. It has been voted the No. 1 Public Golf Course in the Upstate by the South Carolina Golf Ratings Panel and is currently ranked No. 17 in Golfweek’s “Best Campus Courses.” It is also where Furman alums Betsy King, Beth Daniel, Dottie Pepper and Brad Faxon played their college golf. The 7,004-yard, par-72 layout underwent a major renovation in 2008, where all 18 greens were reconstructed under USGA specifications and reseeded with Champion UltraDwarf Bermudagrass. A long-term master plan has led to enhanced practice facilities, new tees to accommodate golfers of all levels and refurbished cart paths. The course also qualifies as a PGA Family Course.

Located in the picturesque valleys and foothills on the Eastside of Greenville, Thornblade Club is a private, full-service, family-oriented golf and country club dedicated to providing members with superior service, recreational amenities, and a social community. Its master planned 18-hole golf course, designed by Tom Fazio, is the centerpiece for a magnificent residential community. The course was renovated and lengthened in the summer of 2010, with new greens, a new drainage system, laser-leveled tees, additional tees, renovated cart paths, and beautiful rock walls. The 2017 tournament will be Thornblade Club’s 10^th year as a host course.

The Preserve at Verdae is a par 72 championship golf course designed by Willard Byrd, carved into a lush Carolina forest with hills and mountain-like brooks, making the course both scenic and challenging to play. The Preserve’s mission is “striving for harmony between golf and nature” and because of these efforts, received the Environmental Leaders in Golf – Resort Division, from the Golf Course Superintendents Association and Golf Digest. The Preserve is part of the Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center which features 268 guest suites, extensive event venues along with tennis, swimming pools and resort amenities. The resort is situated on over 100 acres in Verdae development located in the heart of mid-town Greenville.

ABOUT THE BMW CHARITY PRO-AM PRESENTED BY SYNNEX CORPORATION

The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is the only tournament on the Web.com Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Web.com Tour professionals in a four-day better-ball competition over three courses. Amateurs, celebrities and pros rotate between three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the 10 lowest scoring pro-amateur teams, six lowest scoring pro-celebrity teams and the lowest 65 pros (and ties) advancing to play Sunday’s final round at Thornblade Club.

ABOUT THE WEB.COM TOUR

Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Web.Com Tour continues to identify those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. In 2013, the Web.com Tour became The Path to the PGA TOUR with all 50 available PGA TOUR cards coming through the Web.com Tour and the season culminating at the four-event Web.com Tour Finals. Web.com became the Tour’s umbrella sponsor on June 27, 2012. A 10-year agreement (through 2021) is in place. Three out of four PGA TOUR members are Web.com Tour alumni. To learn more about the PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit PGATOUR.COM, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT WEB.COM

Web.com Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: WWWW) provides a full range of Internet services to small businesses to help them compete and succeed online. Web.com is owner of several global domain registrars and further meets the needs of small businesses anywhere along their lifecycle with affordable, subscription-based solutions including website design and management, search engine optimization, online marketing campaigns, local sales leads, social media, mobile products, eCommerce solutions and call center services. To get more information, visit web.com; follow Web.com on Twitter @webdotcom or on Facebook at facebook.com/web.com. For additional online marketing resources and small business networking, please visit Web.com’s Small Business Summit.

News release information provided by BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation