62nd Southern 500 Golf Invitational

One of South Carolina's longest-running amateur golf traditions tees off again this summer, as Darlington Country Club prepares to host the 62nd annual Southern 500 Golf Invitational, set for Aug. 28-30.

The tournament, a fixture on the state's amateur golf calendar for more than six decades, arrives one week ahead of its motorsports namesake, the historic Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway — a pairing that has long given late August in Darlington a distinct, celebratory rhythm, with one of the state's premier golf events leading into one of NASCAR's crown jewels.

This year's invitational carries extra significance: it will serve as the signature event of Darlington Country Club's Centennial Celebration in 2026, marking 100 years of the club's history with a tournament nearly as old as the club itself.

For the first time in its 62-year history, the Southern 500 Golf Invitational has been designated a South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA) Player of the Year eligible tournament. Under the new designation, the top five finishers will earn POY points — adding a fresh layer of statewide stakes to a tournament already steeped in tradition.

Beyond the competition itself, the tournament continues to serve a charitable mission, benefiting Friends of Southern 500 Junior Golf, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. The group's mission is to support, develop, and inspire young golfers in the Darlington community and surrounding area by providing access to educational programs, competitive opportunities, and resources that foster personal growth, sportsmanship, and a lifelong love of the game.

For more information about the Southern 500 Golf Invitational, please contact Kerry Tharp, Co-General Manager, Marketing & Community Relations at 704-634-1814.