ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic Draws PGA Stars and International Crowds
The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic tees off Thursday at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, bringing a star-studded field of 123 golfers — including five-time major champion Brooks Koepka — and an anticipated economic impact of $15.8 million for the Grand Strand. The tournament, which runs through Sunday, is the centerpiece of a busy week in Myrtle Beach that also includes a city council debate on food truck regulations and a high-profile legislative announcement.
Koepka, who has earned nearly $45 million in prize money over his 14-year PGA Tour career, leads a field that includes former world No. 1 Webb Simpson, 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett, and U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker. The Celebrity Pro-Am kicks off Wednesday, with gates opening at 6:30 a.m. from Wednesday through Friday and 7 a.m. on the weekend.
“We're attracting people from more than 12 different countries,” said Diane Charno, executive vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Myrtle Beach, in a press conference Tuesday. The tournament’s purse is $4 million, with the winner taking home $720,000 plus 300 FedEx Cup points and $250,000 in flight credits from ONEflight International. Defending champion Ryan Fox won last year in a sudden-death playoff against Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Higgs.
Economic Impact and Record Golf Rounds
Charno noted that the event’s economic impact has already reached $30.2 million over two years, driven by lodging, dining, and attraction spending. In May 2025 alone, more than 225,000 golf rounds were played in the area — a record for the month. Lodging data shows more than 9,600 room nights were booked during the 2025 tournament week. Organizers reported 45,000 attendees last year, up from 15,000 on Saturday alone in the inaugural 2024 event.
The tournament also helps sustain Myrtle Beach’s broader tourism economy, which generates over $12 billion in annual visitor spending, according to Visit Myrtle Beach. That spending, Charno said, helps reduce the tax burden on locals for services including schools and infrastructure.
Myrtle Beach City Council Considers Food Truck Ordinance Overhaul
A separate development this week involves a proposed revision to the city’s food truck ordinance, which has remained unchanged since 2019. The current rules cap permanent food truck units at 20 and use language from a pilot program, which some business owners say creates confusion. At a city council workshop meeting, a proposal was introduced to replace that pilot language, increase the cap, and add more permitted locations for food trucks.
Bradley Downs-Hartman, owner of PFC Creations food truck, which operates outside New South Brewing, told WMBF that the current ordinance is difficult for non-English-speaking operators to navigate. “I think it’s confusing for a lot, especially maybe somebody that’s trying to run a non-English speaking or less English speaking food truck to try to navigate exactly when, where, how they can do it,” he said.
But council members expressed concern about the impact on brick-and-mortar restaurants. “They’re paying taxes, they’re paying business license, insurance, and whatever else that’s involved there ... and we’re gonna allow something to come in here and not have to follow through the same process,” said Councilman Mike Lowder. The ordinance must pass two readings and a public hearing before any changes take effect.
Tourism and Regulation Intersect
The food truck debate arrives as Myrtle Beach sees mounting visitor numbers, raising questions about how the city balances tourism-driven demand with local business protections. The city’s planning committee did not recommend the proposed expansion of food truck zones, a factor council members are weighing carefully. A public hearing is expected in the coming weeks.
Logan’s Law Unveiled One Year After Tragedy
On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Russell Fry unveiled Logan’s Law at the Myrtle Beach Police Department, a bill named after 22-year-old Logan Federico, who was fatally shot in Columbia on May 3, 2025. The legislation would create a publicly available registry of violent criminals and require the U.S. Attorney General to report on deficiencies in data sharing between federal and state governments, including fingerprint, warrant, and criminal history data.
“What are we trying to do? Put every prosecutor and judge on notice in all 50 states,” Graham said. “Your work product will be reviewed by the public. We are going to look at your homework, and we are going to make judgments about who is making good decisions and who is not.”
Fry added that the case exposed a lack of accountability in the judicial system. “You have no accountability in the system for prosecutors or judges for actions they take that impact real people,” he said. “What happened to Logan Federico is an absolute travesty of justice.” The alleged shooter, Alexander Dickey, had a prior criminal record and was charged with murder after a multi-county crime spree. The bill is modeled on the existing sex offender registry, which Graham called “a system that really works.”
Broader Implications for Myrtle Beach and Beyond
Together, these three stories paint a picture of a city at a crossroads: Myrtle Beach is leveraging a premier sporting event to sustain a multibillion-dollar tourism economy while simultaneously grappling with regulatory modernization and public safety reform. The tournament’s success — drawing international visitors and record golf rounds — underscores the region’s reliance on hospitality. Yet the food truck debate signals local tensions over economic inclusivity, and Logan’s Law reflects growing bipartisan frustration with the criminal justice system’s handling of repeat offenders.
For visitors and residents alike, the week ahead offers a snapshot of Myrtle Beach as a dynamic, fast-evolving destination. As the ONEflight Classic draws global attention, city leaders will be watching to see whether the economic momentum can translate into broader policy progress — from mobile vending permits to federal judicial transparency.
For ongoing coverage of the PGA Tour and local policy, see related reporting on the tournament’s economic impact and the legal context of recent legislative pushes such as the Reform UK Migrant Detention Plan Targets Green Areas, Sparks Fury analysis. The debate over judicial accountability also echoes themes explored in the Kristin Smart Case: New Search Warrant Served at Home of Paul Flores’ Mother in Arroyo Grande.
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