North Myrtle Beach native, Kelly Tilghman has stepped away from a 22 year career at the Golf Channel. Her last appearance was the Sunday of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Orlando, Fla. Tilghman became the first full-time play-by-play announcer for PGA Tour tournaments in 2007 and worked alongside with Hall of Famers Nick Faldo and Peter Oosterhuis.
Tilghman began broadcasting with the Golf Channel in 1995. The Golf Channel was a start-up network which Arnold Palmer was one of the founders. She maintained a close relationship with Mr. Palmer until his death. She also hosted other shows on the channel including: Golf Central, Morning Drive, Live From, Academy Live and The Grey Goose 19th Hole.
Kelley Tilghman grew up in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on her family owned golf course Gator Hole. She was mentored by Gene Weldon, who was a long- time Myrtle Beach PGA golf professional and was the head professional at Gator Hole from it’s opening in 1980 until it’s closing in 1999. Kelly played on the North Myrtle Beach boy’s golf team and the Duke University’s women’s team. After a short-lived professional career Tilghman was approached by a former television executive about pursuing a career in television broadcasting. For the past 22 years she has been a driving force in the success of the Golf Channel.
Tilghman is keeping her options open for future challenges and is just taking a step back. Charity outings and corporate events are in her near future as well as spending time with her 5-year-old daughter, Ryan. Another time consuming project that Kelly has underway is the Gene’s Dream Foundation, which she is one of the founders. The foundation is named for her mentor Gene Weldon, who passed away a little more than a year ago. The first big event scheduled for the foundation is the Mentor Cup tournament that will feature junior golfers and their mentors. On Oct. 27, David Feherty will host a two-hour stand-up performance that will coincide with the tournament. The tournament will hosted by Tidewater Golf Club and Feherty’s performance will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Tickets for the performance go on sale the first week of April.
The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame honored Kelly in 2016 by inducting her at the Pine Lakes Golf Club, where her mother spoke on her behalf.
The entire Myrtle Beach golf community is very proud of Kelly and her many accomplishments and wish her well in her future endeavors.
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