The day started on a soggy note, but the rain cleared out and every flight completed play. The World's Largest 19th Hole was again a rousing good time. People were dancing at World Am Live, enjoying the trick shot artistry of Ben Witter, and testing some of the game's newest equipment. Enjoy a sampling of the action from Day One.

Overcast skies had prevented the sun from breaking through, leaving a hint of darkness on the range at True Blue Golf Plantation. The scheduled start of the 26th annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – 8:30 a.m. – was still 90 minutes away when the passion that motivates people to travel from across the globe to play brought the first player to the range. 

Wayne Rhodes lugged a bag of balls and his clubs to the range and began his preparation alone. With dreams of a flight championship alive, Rhodes, who has played the World Am the last 10 years, arrived early with a purpose. 

Lines were non-existent, the goody bag appeared to be a hit and the PGA TOUR Superstores proved to an ideal venue to host player registration for the World Amateur Handicap Championship (particularly in the light of the $20 store gift card everyone was provided!).

Watch what tournament players had to say about the new registration setup.

The start of the World Am is only hours away, and there is a surplus of activity. Enjoy a couple photos of the day's events, including shots from registration and the under construction 19th Hole!

The start of the tournament is nearly upon us and things are getting crazy! We are setting up for registration at both PGA TOUR Superstores today, getting ready for everyone to begin arriving on Saturday.  We are counting shirts to stuff in good bags and setting up computers for registration, among many other things.

We are also working feverishly to move the tournament office to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center!!

While it’s still early, the weather forecast for next week looks great. Tropical Storm Danny is staying well to our east (let’s hope he misses the coast), and we are hopeful that a week of sunshine and great golf awaits each of you.

Continue to check the blog for updates. Once the tournament starts there will be multiple entries every day.

Back to work!

Travel safely.

Whether you are attending this year’s event or not, here’s a great way to experience the thrill of competition right from your Internet browser.  Announcing the first annual Virtual World Amateur Challenge.  Play for a chance to win a trip for you and a friend to compete in next year’s 2010 World Amateur Championship, including airfare, hotel for 5 nights, rental car and entry fees. Click here to register and play free now! We have teamed up with World Golf Tour to bring this online competition to your computer. No downloads or software installation is required. Play on any Internet browser for free.

The virtual tournament is a closest-to-the-hole challenge on Bethpage Black, home of the 2009 U.S. Open. Experience this legendary golf course in stunning high definition photography. See how you stack up on the leaderboard. Play as many times as you like and your best score will post automatically. The tournament starts today and lasts until September 30. We will be featuring the tournament during cocktail hour each night at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, so get started now so you can dazzle everyone with your virtual golf skills at the event on a large screen television. If you can’t attend this year’s event, play in the virtual tournament and you might win the trip to next year’s event!

Click here to register and play now, or click here to learn more about the virtual tournament and official rules.

The entertainment lineup at the World’s Largest 19th Hole has a couple new additions that will bring stories of survival, skill and strength.

Renowned trick shot artist Ben Witter and long-drive champion Tom Garber will be featured performers at the 19th Hole and both first-timers will bring unique shows to the tournament. Witter, a former collegiate star who aspired to play on the PGA Tour, will amaze tournament participants with his array of trick shots (watch this video!) but his story, for reasons beyond being able to clobber a golf ball while standing on a medicine ball, will inspire.

With the days before the start of this year's tournament dwindling, enjoy a look at photo galleries from a host of courses that you might be playing.

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club