Economic impact of the 2003 EMC World Cup at Kiawah Resort is estimated at $20 million

Kiawah’s World Cup Could Score Hole In One For Area’s Economy

Kiawah Island Resorts is on an economic roll. In June the company announced The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, a 255-guestroom ultra-luxury hotel headed for five-star, five-diamond eminence and scheduled to open in February 2004. The Sanctuary’s economic impact on the Charleston area is expected to be $50 million during its first year alone.

And now comes the 2003 EMC World Cup golf tournament. Kiawah Island Resorts announced in late July that the contest, one of four events comprising the World Golf Championships, will be held at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, site of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 World Cup and the 2001 UBS Warburg Cup. The EMC World Cup, to be played Nov. 11–16, 2003, will generate an economic impact of $10 million, excluding tax revenue. But with tax revenue and jobs created, that figure could be closer to $20 million, according to resort officials.

Championship Club tickets for the event are $200, which includes a ticket book (one ticket for each day), free parking and unlimited weeklong access to the Championship Club. Season tickets go for $110, including a ticket book and free parking.

Kiawah Island Resorts is performing a $2 million renovation to the Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course. In addition, construction work has begun on a new, multi-million-dollar clubhouse that might be ready to house corporate groups by the time the World Cup starts.

“We’re very excited to have the greatest players in the world return to Kiawah Island and The Ocean Course,” says Prem Devadas, managing partner of Kiawah Island Resorts. “The EMC World Cup coming to South Carolina represents the most prestigious international sporting event held in the state in more than a decade.”

Devadas believes the World Cup and The Sanctuary form a one-two economic punch for Charleston in particular and South Carolina in general.

“Our goal is to be able to host several major Professional Golf Association events at Kiawah Island in the future, and the hotel will be our attraction for this,” says Devadas.

“We are very pleased that The Ocean Course will serve as host to next year’s EMC World Cup,” says PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, speaking on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours. “World Golf Championships have been contested at some of the world’s greatest courses, and we are proud to add this distinguished location to the list.”

The World Cup consists of two-man teams representing 24 countries. Eighteen teams are comprised of top players from the Official World Golf Rankings, while another six teams become eligible through a world qualifying competition held every October. Participants in the 2003 World Cup will compete for a $3 million purse, with the winning team splitting $1 million.

Past World Cup winners include the United States team of Tiger Woods and David Duval at the 2000 tournament held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the South African team of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen at Shizuka, Japan, in 2001. This year’s event will be held Dec. 10–15 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.