Frequently Asked Questions
What is the American Century Championship and when is it held?
The American Century Championship is the premier celebrity-amateur (celam) golf tournament in the United States, held annually since 1990 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline NV (South Lake Tahoe shore). The tournament runs four days in mid-July (Thursday practice round + Friday/Saturday/Sunday tournament rounds), with a $750,000+ purse. The 2026 edition is scheduled July 9-12, 2026. The playing field is 80+ celebrities competing in a modified Stableford scoring format. Past and current participants include NFL quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Tony Romo, Andrew Whitworth, Josh Allen), NBA stars (Stephen Curry, Charles Barkley, Ray Allen), NHL players (Joe Pavelski, Mike Modano), broadcasters (Charles Barkley, Tony Romo), and entertainers (Larry the Cable Guy, Alfonso Ribeiro). The event is broadcast on NBC + Peacock.
Where is Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and what airports serve the tournament?
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is at 100 Lake Parkway in Stateline NV, on the south shore of Lake Tahoe directly adjacent to the Stateline casino corridor (Harrah's, Harvey's, Hard Rock, MontBleu) and 5 minutes from the California-Nevada state line. The golf course was designed by George Fazio (1968) and is one of the few championship courses where the playing surface descends to the lakeshore. Airport options: RNO Reno-Tahoe International (35-45 min, the closest commercial airport and primary tournament jet arrival), TVL Lake Tahoe Airport (5 min, the small lakeshore airport for fractional jets and helicopters), SFO (3:45-4 hr via I-80 + US-50), OAK (3:15-3:45 via I-580 + I-80 + US-50).
What's the chauffeur pattern for celebrity tournament participants?
NDA-discreet driver protocol throughout. The standard pattern: Wednesday RNO/TVL arrival via fractional jet (G-IV, Citation X, Falcon 2000), chauffeur from airport to host hotel (typically Edgewood Tahoe Lodge for property-host VIPs or Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe North Shore for celebrity rotation), Thursday morning chauffeur to Edgewood Tahoe practice round, Thursday evening chauffeur to celebrity dinner, Friday/Saturday/Sunday tournament rounds with chauffeur retainer 7am-7pm (early-morning warm-up + 18-hole round + post-round media + commemorative photos), Sunday evening celebrity gala, Monday early-morning chauffeur back to RNO/TVL. NDA-discreet driver, no photographs, no name-dropping, no engagement with paparazzi or autograph-seekers.
Should we stay at Edgewood Tahoe Lodge for the tournament?
For premium tournament experience and access: yes — Edgewood Tahoe Lodge (the AAA Five Diamond hotel directly on the golf course property, opened 2017) is the most-convenient and most-prestigious tournament-week base. 81 rooms + suites overlooking the lake and golf course, Bistro Edgewood + Brooks' Bar + Spa Edgewood, walking distance to the tournament practice tee + 18 holes. Tournament-week rates spike 3-5x base rates and the property is fully booked 12+ months ahead for the celebrity participants + sponsors + corporate-host groups. Booking horizons: 6-12 months for non-celebrity sponsor / corporate-host parties. For more-flexible tournament-week options: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Stateline (5-min walk to Edgewood), Harveys / Harrah's Lake Tahoe Stateline (5-min walk), Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe (35-min north shore drive, the AAA Five Diamond alternative).
Can we book the Tahoe Outdoor Arena concert during tournament weekend?
Yes — the American Century Championship traditionally coincides with the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena (formerly Harveys Outdoor Arena) summer concert series, with marquee acts on Friday + Saturday tournament nights. Concert + tournament double-booking pattern: tournament round 12pm-6pm with chauffeur retainer, brief 1-hour hotel return for change-of-attire, concert 8pm-11pm at Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena (5-min walk from Stateline casino corridor), late-night dinner + Stateline gaming after concert, chauffeur curbside late-evening hotel return. We coordinate concert ticket pickup + outdoor arena entry timing + post-concert traffic egress.
What's the chauffeur arrangement for celebrity participants' families?
Celebrity participants frequently bring spouses + children + extended family to the tournament weekend, who require independent chauffeur coordination separate from the celebrity's tournament-day schedule. Common pattern: celebrity participant on tournament-day chauffeur retainer (7am-7pm with practice tee + 18-hole round + post-round media), spouse + kids on family chauffeur retainer (10am-6pm with Edgewood Lodge spa morning + Heavenly Mountain gondola ride + Emerald Bay scenic boat tour + lakeside dining + post-round meeting up with celebrity participant for evening gala). Multi-vehicle Black SUV teams accommodate this with lead-chauffeur radio coordination + NDA-discreet driver protocol for celebrity family members + safe-driving record + child-safety-seat availability.
How far in advance should we book the chauffeur for the American Century Championship?
For celebrity participants + sponsor groups + corporate hosts: 6-9 months ahead (the tournament hotel inventory at Edgewood Tahoe Lodge + Stateline casinos fills 12+ months ahead, and the celebrity tournament-day chauffeur side requires advance scheduling for NDA-discreet driver allocation + multi-vehicle Black SUV teams + airport coordination across SFO/OAK/RNO/TVL). For spectator/fan groups using Stateline casinos or Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe (35-min north shore drive): 3-4 months ahead. For local-resident corporate-host groups within driving distance (SF Bay Area + Sacramento + Reno) doing day-trip spectator pattern without overnight: 4-6 weeks. Tournament-week chauffeur demand spikes 5-7x baseline.