By Stan Olenik Editor-Publisher, The Golf Club

If you enjoy the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD Synnex today, you would have really loved it 25 years ago when it all began.

A milestone anniversary like the 25th is the perfect time to turn back the clock and remember how the Upstate’s premier spring event got started.

While the tournament still serves as a fundraising vehicle for Upstate charities, it has evolved significantly from its beginnings at The Cliffs Valley in 2001.

For those who weren’t around—or didn’t see much fanfare surrounding this year’s milestone—here’s how this springtime tradition was born.

The origins of the BMW Charity Pro-Am, presented by TD Synnex, aren’t rooted in corporate strategy or marketing. It started with one man, a neighborhood, and a life-changing moment.

Doug McGrath had just emerged from a grueling battle with cancer. During his months of treatment in Atlanta, his neighbors and friends rallied around his family, offering support that left a deep and lasting impression.

Filled with gratitude and a desire to give back, McGrath was determined to create something meaningful for the community that had lifted him up.

He found a partner in his neighbor Bobby Hitt, a prominent figure at BMW. McGrath had long encouraged Hitt to make BMW’s charitable work more visible.

“You’re doing so much good,” McGrath told him. “But no one knows. Let’s create something visible—something big—that helps the community and puts BMW’s good work in the spotlight.”

McGrath proposed a bold idea: a celebrity-filled golf tournament inspired by the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His vision included professional and amateur players, celebrities, televised coverage, and—most importantly—a charitable impact.

After months of persistence, Hitt secured approval from BMW’s headquarters in Germany. The company pledged a substantial donation, giving the event instant credibility.

With momentum building, McGrath reached out to Mike Stevens, a PGA Tour executive overseeing the Buy.com Tour. At the time, the Tour was considering canceling the underperforming Bilo Charity event at Verdae Greens.

Stevens was skeptical. But McGrath wasn’t deterred.

He garnered support from The Cliffs, a luxurious new golf community in Upstate South Carolina. The Cliffs saw the tournament as a chance to promote its lifestyle and boost property sales.

“I’ve got a world-class manufacturer and a world-class facility,” McGrath told Stevens. “Now we just need the Tour behind it.”

Eventually, Stevens and his deputy, Bill Oakley, traveled to Greenville. In a quick but impactful meeting at McGrath’s office, the parties reached an agreement in less than five minutes. It was October. They had until April to launch the inaugural event.

The tournament quickly surpassed expectations—thanks in part to one major star: Kevin Costner.

The Hollywood icon and star of the 1996 golf film Tin Cup was drawn in through a mutual connection and his friendship with Cliffs founder Jim Anthony. Costner’s visits, which included helicopter arrivals and legendary turkey hunts, soon became a cherished part of the tournament’s culture.

Sports stars like John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, and Bobby Hull, and actors such as Catherine Bell, Kurt Russell, and Cheech Marin became regulars at The Cliffs.

Big-name golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player also made appearances, thanks to the connections of Greenville PR pros Mike and Dan Collins, who worked with The Cliffs and Nicklaus Design.

The first tournament, held at The Cliffs Valley and Keowee Vineyards, shattered Buy.com Tour attendance records and raised $360,000 for charity. Jim Anthony personally topped it off to an even $500,000.

Initially, BMW kept its distance. “Don’t embarrass us,” they told McGrath. “Just take the money.” But after the resounding success of that first event, BMW’s leadership took note.

Within a few years, BMW Germany fully embraced the tournament, recognizing its power to elevate the brand and uplift the region.

Over the past 25 years, the event has evolved. It may no longer have the same celebrity sparkle as its early days at The Cliffs, but it remains a vital fundraiser for local charities and a hallmark spring event in the Upstate.

Looking back, the BMW Charity Pro-Am is a story of collaboration: McGrath’s vision, Hitt’s influence, Anthony’s hospitality, the Collins’ connections, Costner’s charisma, and a community committed to giving back.

It wasn’t born in a boardroom. It was born from gratitude, persistence, and a shared purpose. And today—25 years later—the tournament continues on the foundation built by people who came together for a cause bigger than themselves.

But let’s be honest—while the tournament remains a vital fundraiser and springtime tradition, it’s not quite the same as those electric early years. Back then, it wasn’t just a golf tournament—it was a spectacle that turned heads nationwide. 

The spirit of giving remains, $17 million raised in 25 years is admirable, but the buzz, and box office isn’t the same. That was something truly special and worth celebrating, today, 25 years later.