The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX has selected the Country Club of Spartanburg as one of its two official host courses for the 2026 tournament, marking a significant shift for the Korn Ferry Tour event that has anchored Upstate South Carolina’s golf calendar for more than two decades.
South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI) and the Korn Ferry Tour announced the transition in November 2025, moving from the Carolina Country Club — which had served as the second host venue for four consecutive years and during a prior run from 2008 to 2011 — to the historic Spartanburg layout. The decision was described as a strategic effort to deepen the tournament’s presence in Spartanburg and enhance the competitive experience for players, celebrities, and spectators.
The Country Club of Spartanburg, founded in 1908, brings considerable pedigree to the partnership. Its 18-hole championship course was designed by Donald Ross, the Scottish-born architect responsible for some of America’s most celebrated layouts. The club recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation that included the complete redesign of three holes, upgraded playing surfaces, and refreshed amenities throughout the property.
Bob Stegner, President of the SCCI Board, said the organization remained grateful to the Carolina Country Club for its years of partnership while framing the move as an opportunity for the tournament to evolve. Ben Pasquith, General Manager and COO of the Country Club of Spartanburg, said the club’s recent capital improvements had positioned the venue to deliver a premier experience for all involved.
The format for the 2026 edition keeps the structure that has defined the event: amateurs, celebrities, and Korn Ferry Tour professionals rotate between the Country Club of Spartanburg and Thornblade Club in Greer on Thursday and Friday, June 4 and 5. The 12 lowest-scoring amateur teams and the four lowest-scoring celebrity teams advance to a Saturday final round at Thornblade Club. The lowest 65 professionals and ties also play Saturday and Sunday at Thornblade.
The tournament carries added weight for Spartanburg County because of the title sponsorship held by BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, which operates the largest BMW production facility in the world on a 1,150-acre campus in Greer, just outside Spartanburg. The plant assembles the X3, X5, X7, XM, X4, X6, and their M variants, and has built more than seven million vehicles for global markets since opening in 1994. The automaker’s name on the tournament signals a direct line between the county’s dominant manufacturing employer and one of its signature civic events.
The economic stakes are real. A 2024 study commissioned by Visit Greenville SC estimated the tournament generated more than $8.5 million in total regional economic impact. The event draws an estimated 45,000 spectators, with 35 percent of attendees coming from outside the immediate area and a quarter of those visitors booking overnight accommodations. Since 2001, SCCI has directed more than $17 million to Upstate South Carolina non-profit organizations through tournament proceeds, as part of the broader PGA TOUR network’s $3 billion in charitable giving.
Separately, in April 2026, tournament organizers announced a partnership with the Bobby Chapman Junior Invitational that creates a direct pathway from elite junior golf to the Korn Ferry Tour. The champion of the Bobby Chapman event — played at the Country Club of Spartanburg — will receive a sponsor exemption into the Pro-Am, with 2025 champion Jackson Ormond set to become the inaugural recipient in the 2026 field. Tournament Director Michael McGovern said the partnership reinforces the event’s commitment to community investment and player development at every level.
