For the second consecutive year, the best golfers in the world will meet in North Carolina. Last year, it was the famed Pinehurst No. 2 golf course playing host to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2014. In May, it will be the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, where that tournament was last held in 2017.
North Carolina’s diverse geography and moderate temperatures, from the coast to the mountains, make it well suited for major golf tournaments and everyday players. The Tar Heel state ranks eighth in the nation in the number of golf courses with 549. The game generates $2.3 billion in direct spending and a total economic impact of $4.2 billion in the state, including about 53,000 jobs, according to the state.
Last year’s U.S. Open generated $242.5 million in economic impact for the state, according to a study by the United States Golf Association. The PGA Championship — one of golf’s four majors, contested this year from May 15-18 at Quail Hollow Club — is expected to provide more than a $100 million boost to Charlotte’s economy, with as many as 50,000 golf fans expected to attend the tournament each day.
The influx of visitors will benefit hotels, restaurants and retail establishments, while the global media exposure will further enhance Charlotte’s reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events.
“When people all over the world tune into a major golf championship and they do, it’s not Charlotte, North Carolina, it’s just Charlotte now,” says Johnny Harris, also chair and former CEO of commercial real estate firm Lincoln Harris.
“This is a place that brings people together with sports, and what greater way to do that than (the PGA Championship),” Harris says.
Established in 1959 in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood, Quail Hollow Club boasts a championship pedigree that few courses in the Southeast can rival. The club became known for hosting the annual Wells Fargo Championship, recently rebranded as the Truist Championship following a seven-year title sponsorship agreement announced in August 2024.
Quail Hollow first hosted the PGA Championship in 2017, marking North Carolina’s inaugural experience with one of the PGA Tour’s four major tournaments. Justin Thomas captured his first major title and the event was a resounding success, drawing more than 200,000 fans and generating an estimated $128 million in economic impact (adjusted for inflation).
Quail Hollow also played host to the Presidents Cup in 2022, which delivered a record-setting $131.5 million economic impact for Charlotte as Team USA triumphed in front of energetic crowds in the biennial international competition.
To accommodate the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, this year’s Truist Championship will temporarily relocate to the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.
The last time such a move occurred was in 2017 when the Wells Fargo Championship relocated to Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, while Quail Hollow prepared for
the PGA.
The move that year provided a financial boost to North Carolina’s largest coastal city, while also presenting a number of logistical challenges.
In search of a larger and more lucrative market, the 2025 event heads north to Pennsylvania. The one-year hiatus tees up a dual narrative: While the PGA Championship’s economic infusion is significant, the loss of the Truist Championship for a year presents more than just a minor inconvenience, as an important local economic driver is temporarily relocated out of state.
The tournament, a staple on the PGA Tour calendar, typically generates $40-50 million in direct and indirect spending each year, providing temporary employment and generating business for vendors supplying food, merchandise and event infrastructure. In 2025, these jobs and contracts will be shifted to Philadelphia businesses.
In addition, historically, the event has raised millions for North Carolina-based charities. This year, these contributions will primarily benefit organizations near Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Still, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club promises to deliver global visibility and substantial financial benefits, while showing the North Carolina golf industry’s resiliency. ■
