NORTH MYRTLE BEACH | It was like old times and a reunion for many of the attendees of the 28th Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club.
The charity golf tournament was held for the 20th time at the Dye Club on Monday, but it was the first MAM to feature general admission spectators since 2019.
Scheduled tournaments in 2020 and ’21 were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the past two events were without spectators because of a change in policy by organizers.
Tournament director Paul Graham said organizers experimented for a couple years without spectators to see how the event would be for participants and sponsors, and opted to allow them again this year.
Tickets were $35 and sold out shortly after they went on sale on March 4.
“There is an energy here, and given the hosts, us, are musicians in a rock band it makes sense that it would be leaning toward a more energized event than more quiet, reverent sort of golf,” said Hootie drummer Jim ‘Soni’ Sonefeld. “We’ve never claimed to be reverent and I don’t think we’re going to start now.”
Darius Rucker gets a ride during the 2024 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am at Barefoot Resort's Dye Club. (Joe Wedra photo)
Shuttles began operating at 9 a.m. and the tournament teed off shortly after 10 a.m.
Myrtle Beach resident Pam Mitchum has been to every Hootie MAM that allowed spectators since the event moved to Myrtle Beach in 2003, and was back Monday.
“I felt like that was a bad move [to not allow spectators], actually, because we all have so much fun when we come here,” said Mitchum, who was a regular around first tee festivities including now NBC Today Show host Craig Melvin emceeing in past years. “It’s a great day, it’s a great cause. Everybody loves Hootie and all of the celebrities are so sweet and nice. Everybody takes pictures with you. You’ve got plenty of room to mingle. It’s just perfect.”
Prior to COVID, the Hootie MAM regularly sold out with 6,000-plus spectators. There were fewer tickets sold this year, Graham said, but there were still people lined along holes, particularly closer to the clubhouse. The fourth hole featured a DJ and emcee.
“We took a slight survey of the sponsors and the community we heard from, they wanted to come back to the course. We knew that,” Sonefeld said. “Then you sort of juggle expenses and what’s feasible and economically best, and we decided there is a lot more energy to be added when there are fans out here and it does involve the community more, which we want.
“Obviously we draw a lot of volunteers from here, and it’s just nice to have the community involved that can come in and enjoy something that’s here.”
The sacrifice for the participants is a longer round of golf compared to the past couple years, when the pro-am was broken into two days with only sponsors and their invited guests in VIP areas including the clubhouse.
“We’ll take the fans this year and more autographs to sign and people to say hello to, that’s all good,” Sonefeld said.
The event enjoyed a near-perfect day for spectators with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s.
“I’ll tell you what solves just about everything is 77 degrees and sunny,” Sonefeld said. “There can be almost no problems when you’re in that weather. It’s great to see so many people out here.”
Woody Austin, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, said he has been a participant every year since 1996, and he missed the fans over the past couple years.
“This to me is the funnest pro-am that I get to play in all year,” Austin said. “It’s hyped up. It’s fun. There’s food. There’s music. Everybody’s having a good time. So I enjoy that. The whole nine yards.”
In all of his years of participation, Austin said he has yet to take the stage during the post-tournament concert at the House of Blues.
“I think I’d be fine as a backup dancer and a backup singer, but I’ve tried to let them do their thing,” Austin joked.
Among the first-time attendees was Eli Ellis, one of the top high school basketball players in the country in the class of 2025 who has committed to South Carolina and coach Lamont Paris, who was a late addition as a celebrity participant.
“It’s really cool to be out here and see all the people,” Ellis said. “I saw coach Lamont was playing, so I was like, ‘we’ve got to go out there.’ I’m going to heckle him for sure. Maybe mid-swing. I’m thinking about it. We’ll see what happens.”
First-time celebrity participants included former college and NFL football coach Urban Meyer and ESPN SportsCenter host Jay Harris, and late commitments who participated included NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, three-time PGA Tour winner Boo Weekley, and singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson.
Having spectators does present the hazard of inadvertent targets for players, however. “It terrifies me,” said Harris, an 18-handicap who said he has wanted to play for years but has always had another commitment. “It will be fantastic [for the spectators]. Just make sure everyone has signed their release. I tell them when I’m on the tee box, everybody get down because you just don’t know.”
Other participants included Major League Baseball player and coach Jim Leyritz; former NFL players Jimbo Covert, Joe Jacoby, Sterling Sharp, Jonathan Ogden and Jim McMahon; actresses/actors Debbe Dunning, Paula Trickey and Kevin Sorbo; and actors/comedians Gary Valentine and Jackie Flynn.
Musicians playing golf included Branford Marsalis, Javier Colon, Edwin McCain, and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts.
Pro golfers included former LPGA member Kristy McPherson of Conway; former PGA Tour member, former Golf Channel talent and Murrells Inlet resident Charlie Rymer; and former PGA Tour players Austin, Jonathan Byrd, Brendon DeJonge, Chris DiMarco, Ken Duke, Tommy Gainey, Billy Kratzert, and Scott Brown, as well as 2023 LPGA Tour member Samantha Wagner.
The Hootie MAM is really a three-day event that includes sponsor and VIP outings at the House of Blues such as a welcome party on Saturday, silent auction and pairing party gala Sunday, and concert Monday.
The MAM raises money for junior golf and education charities and initiatives in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation.
The event has raised more than $7 million in its first 27 years and has established a $3 million endowment, according to organizers. Graham said allowing spectators isn’t necessarily profitable because of insurance and logistical costs, but the enthusiastic crowds add to the festive atmosphere of the three-day event.
“I’m a people person. I like seeing the people,” Austin said. “They’re having as much fun as we are, and I think they should have as much fun as we do. [Without spectators], then it’s almost basically the same as every pro-am I play in on tour. I’m just playing with the four guys. But once in a while it’s good to see the fans having as much fun as the amateurs are having. This is supposed to be a fun day. It doesn’t have to be business-like.”
