Myrtle Beach Greets Thousands for Monday After the Masters

Myrtle Beach, S.C., hosted the world's largest festival of golf, April 7-10. The Grand Strand welcomed more than 40,000 golfers to the Golfapalooza and the Hootie & the Blowfish's Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament.

The third annual Golfapalooza, presented by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the Golf Digest Companies, Hyundai Motor America, Michelob Ultra, Nature Valley and Martin's PGA TOUR Superstore, was held at Legends Resort and featured equipment demonstrations from many of the game's top manufacturers, skill contests, Masters viewing on a giant screen, musical entertainment, food, drinks and prizes valued at more than $25,000.

"This is one of the busiest weeks of the year as our 111 courses played host to more golfers than any other destination in the world," said Bill Golden, vice president, director of marketing for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "More than 40,000 golfers were in Myrtle Beach this week and we added to their total golf experience by throwing the world's largest golf celebration. No matter the age or ability level, Myrtle Beach had something to offer every golfer this week."

The 12th annual Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament served as the finale to the celebration. The Grammy Award-winning group welcomed Arnold Palmer, John Daly, Tom Kite, Steve Spurrier, Dan Marino, Dwight Clark, Meat Loaf, and others to Myrtle Beach for their annual charity golf tournament. The 2006 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament kicked off Sunday night with a Live Auction, which raised $406,000 for the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation and The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation. When combined with Monday's tournament ticket sales, the 2006 donations total could break the 2005 record of $425,000.

Hootie & the Blowfish donated an important piece of band history to charity. Their first touring van, a 1993 Ford Econoline Conversion Explorer, was customized by West Coast Customs, the automotive restyling center that handled MTV's "Pimp My Ride." The van raised $160,000 at Sunday's auction.