Masters Week Boosts Business at Midlands Golf Courses

Local courses see thousands of new tee times as golf fans flock to the area during the prestigious tournament.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:39am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a golf tournament scene, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in shades of green, blue, and brown, capturing the energy and excitement of the prestigious event.The annual Masters golf tournament draws fans from around the world, providing a much-needed economic boost for courses and businesses in the surrounding Midlands region.Columbia Today

The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia is bringing a major business boost to golf courses in the Midlands region of South Carolina, about two hours away from the event. Courses like Cobblestone Golf Club in Blythewood are seeing thousands of new rounds booked, mostly from out-of-town visitors. Businesses like the Players Club golf simulator facility in Columbia are also seeing increased traffic and sales during the high-profile Masters Week.

Why it matters

The annual Masters tournament is one of the most prestigious events in professional golf, drawing fans from around the world. The influx of golf enthusiasts to the Midlands area during this time provides a significant economic opportunity for local golf courses, driving ranges, and other related businesses.

The details

Cobblestone Golf Club in Blythewood typically books a couple hundred rounds per week, but during Masters Week they are on track to book thousands of rounds, with the majority coming from out-of-town visitors. One such visitor is Nicky Baker, who traveled from Scotland with his son Archie to attend the tournament, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Meanwhile, the Players Club golf simulator facility in Columbia has also seen a boost in business, with the Masters hype driving increased traffic and sales, especially on days when the weather is nice and golf season is in full swing.

  • The Masters tournament runs from Monday to Sunday this week (April 7-13, 2026).
  • Championship play at Augusta National begins on Thursday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Nicky Baker

A Scottish golf enthusiast who is attending the Masters tournament for the first time, fulfilling a childhood dream sparked by watching the event on TV as a young boy.

Archie Baker

Nicky Baker's son, who is accompanying his father on the trip to the Masters tournament.

Trevor Woodlief

The director of development for the Players Club golf simulator facility in Columbia, South Carolina, which has seen increased business during Masters Week.

Cobblestone Golf Club

A golf course in Blythewood, South Carolina that is experiencing a significant increase in bookings during Masters Week, with the majority of new rounds coming from out-of-town visitors.

The Players Club

A golf simulator facility located in Columbia, South Carolina that has seen a boost in traffic and sales during Masters Week, especially on nice weather days when golf season is in full swing.

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What they’re saying

“When I was seven, my father got one of the first color TVs in the village. He stuck a program on one night and I asked him what it was, he told me it was The Masters Tournament from Augusta, Georgia. It triggered something in my head, and after that, I was golf nuts.”

— Nicky Baker

“When it's beautiful outside, and it gets into golf season, it would usually be our slow time. The Masters brings us a whole new vibrance; it brings in people from all over the world to the city of Columbia and allows us to invite them into the club.”

— Trevor Woodlief, Director of Development, The Players Club

What’s next

Championship play at the 2026 Masters Tournament will conclude on Sunday, April 13, with the awarding of the prestigious green jacket to the tournament champion.

The takeaway

The annual Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia provides a significant economic boost to golf courses and related businesses in the surrounding Midlands region of South Carolina, as thousands of golf fans flock to the area to experience the prestigious event firsthand.