The Wanamaker Trophy on Quail Hollow Club’s 18th hole – the prestigious prize up for grabs as Charlotte hosts the PGA Championship. The 2025 PGA Championship is set to transform Charlotte into the center of the golf world this spring. From May 15–18, the world’s top golfers will converge at Quail Hollow Club in south Charlotte, turning the spotlight on the Queen City. It's only the second time ever that Charlotte has hosted the PGA Championship, so anticipation is high for an unforgettable week of competition and community festivities.
Event Details
What’s happening: The PGA Championship is one of golf’s four grand slam events, and it’s unique as an all-professional major that has been played annually since 1916. This year’s edition runs May 12–18, 2025 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, a course known for its challenging layout and history of dramatic tournaments. The tournament will bring the best golfers in the world to Charlotte – essentially a who’s who of the sport.
Full event schedule: The championship spans an entire week of activities and play. Here’s how the week breaks down:
Monday, May 12 – Wednesday, May 14: Practice rounds (gates open for spectators to watch pros prepare, seek autographs, and enjoy the atmosphere).
Thursday, May 15: First Round – The tournament officially tees off with all players in the field competing.
Friday, May 16: Second Round – The field is cut down after all players complete 36 holes, as per PGA Championship rules.
Saturday, May 17: Third Round – “Moving day” where contenders jockey for position on the leaderboard heading into the final day.
Sunday, May 18: Final Round – A champion is crowned after 72 holes, followed by the Wanamaker Trophy presentation on the 18th green.
The venue: Quail Hollow Club, located in south Charlotte’s upscale Quail Hollow neighborhood, is a picturesque yet formidable course that many players consider one of the finest in the United States. Its lush fairways and undulating greens will be familiar to PGA Tour fans – Quail Hollow annually hosted the Wells Fargo Championship and recently the 2022 Presidents Cup.
How to watch: For those unable to attend in person, live coverage will blanket the airwaves. The tournament will be broadcast nationally (and internationally) on TV – typically split between ESPN and CBS in the U.S. – and streamed online via the PGA’s official site and apps.
Charlotte by the Numbers: Golf’s Local Boom
Charlotte isn’t just hosting a golf tournament – it’s a city that loves and lives the game. In recent years, the Charlotte area has seen golf’s popularity surge to new heights. To put the local golf scene in perspective, let’s look at some compelling numbers:
Golf courses galore: There are more than 45 public and semi-private golf courses within an hour’s drive of Charlotte, plus numerous private country clubs. In fact, North Carolina as a whole ranks among the top states for golf facilities – the state is home to around 520 courses!
Economic engine: The golf industry is big business in NC. A recent study showed golf generates $2.3 billion in direct spending and a total economic impact of $4.2 billion statewide, supporting nearly 53,000 jobs in the state.
Participation spike: After years of decline in the 2000s, golf is experiencing a renaissance in Charlotte. Rounds played and memberships have soared in the past few years. Course operators report that the pandemic era led to record numbers of rounds played. Statewide, 2021 saw a 32% increase in rounds at some public courses compared to a few years prior.
Golf instructors & lessons: With so many new players, the demand for lessons and coaching is booming. Charlotte has a strong base of teaching professionals – PGA-certified instructors, independent coaches, and golf academies are spread across the city. On TeachMe.To, a lesson-booking platform alone, 16 golf coaches in Charlotte are available to book for private lessons with an average of nearly 27 years of teaching experience among them. The average cost for a lesson in Charlotte is about $67, making golf instruction accessible relative to other sports coaching.
Top local venues: Beyond Quail Hollow, Charlotte’s golf scene features some must-play spots. According to local rankings, courses like Rock Barn (Jackson Course) in nearby Conover and Verdict Ridge in Denver, NC consistently rate among the top public-access courses in the region.
Charlotte by the numbers paints a clear picture: the city has embraced golf wholeheartedly. This backdrop helps explain why hosting the PGA Championship here is such a big deal.
Economic & Community Impact
The 2025 PGA Championship isn’t just a sports spectacle; it’s a major economic driver and civic event for Charlotte. The numbers tell part of the story. Roughly 200,000 spectators are expected over the week-long event. On peak days, as many as 40,000 fans will roam the course, buying food and souvenirs, booking hotel rooms, dining in local restaurants, and otherwise infusing money into the local economy. The last PGA here in 2017 generated an estimated $100 million for the Charlotte region, and officials believe 2025 could meet or exceed that. “It’s a big driver of economic growth for the city,” notes Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs, referring to marquee sporting events like this.
Local businesses are gearing up for a surge. Hotels across Charlotte and surrounding areas are nearly fully booked for tournament week – with projected occupancy around 95% for area hotels, which is practically maxed out. Restaurants, bars, and shops anticipate boosted sales as well.
The championship also directly creates jobs. In addition to the PGA of America’s staff, the event hires a small army of temporary workers for setup, operations, concessions, security, and more. By one count, the PGA Championship has created about 1,000 temporary jobs in Charlotte ahead of and during the event.
The Cultural Impact
Culturally, the PGA Championship week will blend local flavor with global sport. Charlotte will infuse its Southern charm into the event – from the food to the friendly smiles of volunteers greeting guests. The tournament will also contribute to local charities; large golf events often have a charitable component, and while specifics for 2025 haven’t been announced yet, historically these championships donate to community causes, youth golf initiatives, or educational programs in the host city. This means a portion of the tournament’s proceeds will stay in Charlotte, supporting those in need and further strengthening community ties.
In short, the PGA Championship’s impact on Charlotte will be felt not just in the roar of the crowds as a birdie sinks, but in hotel ledgers, tax receipts, new friendships formed, and civic pride that will linger long after the final putt drops.
Personal Stories: Golf in the Charlotte Community
Big numbers and economic stats are impressive, but the true heart of golf in Charlotte is found in the personal stories of the people touched by the game.
Take Del Ratcliffe, for example. A Charlotte native and owner of several local public courses, Ratcliffe has spent decades watching the ebbs and flows of the sport’s popularity. In the wake of COVID-19, he witnessed something special. “The pandemic resulted in record rounds last year, and a surge in growth of the game,” he notes, marveling at how interest in golf skyrocketed when people sought safe outdoor recreation. Charlotte’s courses became a refuge – one of the few places people could socialize (at a distance) and get exercise during lockdowns.
Golf has also been a vehicle for community building and inclusion in Charlotte. A shining example is the growth of groups aimed at diversifying the sport. “Ladies Who Golf” is one such initiative – a community-driven club that has taken root in Charlotte to empower and connect women through golf. Similarly, programs for minority golfers and kids in underserved neighborhoods are thriving, inspired in part by Charlotte’s own golfing trailblazer, the late Charlie Sifford. Dr. Charlie Sifford, for whom Charlotte’s public golf course at Revolution Park is named, was the first Black golfer to break the PGA Tour’s color barrier. His legacy of resilience and inclusion lives on.
All these personal narratives highlight a common theme: golf in Charlotte is more than a game – it’s a community. It bridges generations , fosters diversity and contributes to healthier, happier lives. As the PGA Championship spotlights the elite side of golf, it’s also shining a light on these human stories.
Opportunities for Participation
One of the beautiful outcomes of hosting a major golf event is that it inspires people to get involved. Whether you’re a long-time golfer or someone newly intrigued by the game, the 2025 PGA Championship offers plenty of opportunities to participate.
Attend the Championship: If you can snag a ticket, experience the PGA Championship in person. There’s nothing quite like walking the course amidst tens of thousands of fellow fans, feeling the buzz as a great shot is made.
Book a golf lesson: Feeling motivated to improve your own game (or to start from scratch)? This is the perfect time to take a golf lesson. Charlotte has a wealth of instructors ready to help newbies and seasoned players alike. For a convenient option, you can book lessons via TeachMe.To, an online platform that connects you with vetted local golf coaches. TeachMe.To currently lists 16 golf instructors in the Charlotte area available for lessons.
Hit the driving range or a local course: You don’t need to commit to a full round of golf to get a taste of the sport. Charlotte’s practice facilities are excellent – try out the Leatherman Golf Learning Center or the Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course.
Explore youth programs: Parents, if your child shows even a flicker of interest while watching the PGA, seize that opportunity. Youth golf programs in Charlotte are robust.
By taking one (or more) of these actions, you’ll do more than just spectate – you’ll participate in the energy that the PGA Championship is creating.
Conclusion
The 2025 PGA Championship is more than a four-day tournament – it’s a showcase of Charlotte’s spirit, a catalyst for community engagement, and a celebration of the growth of golf in our region. Over the course of this week, we’ll witness dramatic sports moments: clutch putts sunk amidst thunderous applause, perhaps a new major champion being made, and the Wanamaker Trophy hoisted high with the historic Quail Hollow clubhouse as the backdrop. But we’ll also witness something deeper: a city coming together. We’ll see local volunteers greeting international visitors with a smile, businesses thriving with the influx of guests, and residents swelling with pride at the global spotlight on our hometown.
In the end, the PGA Championship’s visit to Charlotte is a chapter in an ongoing story. It highlights how a world-class sporting event can galvanize a city, leaving behind more than just footmarks in the rough. It leaves behind newfound golf fans, improved facilities, charitable contributions to local causes, and a reinforced sense of community identity.
