The Peoples Championship
March 6-9, 2024
During the Covid pandemic in 2020, the fall golf season was canceled for most teams. With no scheduled tournaments until the spring of 2021, teams were looking for extra events to make their season as full as possible. That’s when Western Carolina Coach Tim Eckberg saw an opportunity. One of his former player’s father was a part of a group that had taken over management of Sea Palms Resort. A couple years prior, Eckberg had visited and played at the coastal course, which is set within the island’s lagoons and salt marshes. From tee boxes to greens, he fell in love with every bit of it. Through that continued relationship came the idea to host a spring tournament. He quickly put together an event, hoping to get 6-8 teams. Remarkably, 17 teams wanted in on the action! Everyone involved absolutely loved the experience, the golf course, the resort, and of course, St. Simon’s Island. Virtually overnight, an extremely successful tournament had been born. Coach Eckberg is proud to continue to host this prestigious event for competitive teams from all reaches of the country.
In 2024, Peoples Golf stepped in as title sponsor, providing a new partner for the tournament to grow with into the future. Owner Will Peoples is a Catamount himself (Class of 2008) and had already built a relationship working with the WCU Golf team. This pairing allowed Peoples Golf to help cultivate the game with some of the nation’s top collegiate golfers. At Peoples Golf, everything is built in house, ensuring the best quality possible with a personal touch. Between The Peoples Clubs and Tour Stock Putters, Peoples Golf is a leader in the industry.
