In a swift move to steady the Grand Strand’s only PGA Tour event, SPORTFIVE announced Thursday that Steve Mays will serve as tournament director of the Myrtle Beach Classic effective immediately. Mays, a Coastal Carolina University graduate who most recently led Founders Group International, brings three decades of experience overseeing Horry County golf courses and destination‑marketing initiatives.
ONEflight’s abrupt exit
Just days earlier, the PGA Tour cut ties with ONEflight International, the Colorado‑based private‑jet company that had been a co‑title sponsor since February 2025. ONEflight halted flight operations on Sept. 16, 2026, and has since faced a cascade of federal lawsuits alleging that it used new customers’ prepaid deposits to satisfy older obligations – a pattern the complaints describe as characteristic of a Ponzi scheme. While the lawsuits remain unresolved and ONEflight’s attorneys have not responded to inquiries, the PGA Tour’s decision to drop the sponsor is final.
Funding questions for local taxpayers
The loss of ONEflight’s roughly $2 million contribution to the tournament’s $4 million purse leaves a sizable gap. Visit Myrtle Beach, the tourism‑marketing arm of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, is now the sole title sponsor. Visit Myrtle Beach is funded largely by the city’s Tourism Development Fee – a 1 % sales tax that generated about $45 million last year, with 80 % of that revenue currently flowing to the chamber and 20 % to the city.
City leaders are already discussing a change to that split, proposing a 60 %/40 % division that would give the city a larger share of the fee while the chamber assumes a greater share of event costs. Residents deserve transparency on how the $2 million shortfall will be covered, whether through additional public funds, private donations, or a new corporate sponsor.
Local economic impact
Despite the sponsorship turmoil, the Classic has delivered tangible benefits. The inaugural 2023 edition attracted more than 40,000 spectators and generated $225,000 for nine local charities, including the Boys & Girls Club of Myrtle Beach. Tourism officials estimate that the event draws a majority of its crowd from out‑of‑state, aligning with the purpose of the Tourism Development Fee to bring visitors to the region.
Economic impact estimates, however, vary widely. Early projections in 2023 suggested a $60 million annual boost, while a 2025 post‑event report cited an impact of just under $16 million. A separate 2026 analysis placed the figure above $45 million. The disparity reflects differing measurement methods, underscoring the need for clear, consistent reporting before additional public dollars are committed.
What Mays plans to do
In interviews with local media, Mays emphasized a “community‑based” approach, promising to keep the purse unchanged and to involve more local businesses in the tournament experience. He noted that his deep ties to Horry County courses, hoteliers, and golf‑package operators position him to secure new sponsorships quickly.
While Mays’ résumé includes extensive golf‑operations expertise, critics point out that vetting corporate partners for financial stability is now the tournament’s most urgent need. The community will be watching closely to see how the next title sponsor is selected and whether due‑diligence processes are strengthened.
Bottom line for residents
The Myrtle Beach Classic remains on the calendar for 2027, and the purse is slated to stay at $4 million. Yet the shift from a private‑jet sponsor to a publicly funded tourism organization raises legitimate questions about the use of taxpayer dollars. As the city considers adjusting the Tourism Development Fee split, Horry County residents should demand clear accounting of how the tournament’s financing will be sustained without burdening the public purse.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
