The Jimmy Self Invitational, one of South Carolina’s more prestigious junior golf championships, will celebrate its 30th anniversary from Aug. 1–3 on the Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head, S.C.
Presented annually by Greenwood Communities & Resorts, the 54-hole stroke play tournament is a cornerstone of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA) schedule. Now marking three decades of honoring youth golf excellence, the 2025 edition promises to build on the legacy of a man whose life and love for the game continue to inspire.
Named for James C. “Jimmy” Self Jr. – a respected South Carolina business leader, Clemson golf captain and longtime supporter of junior golf – the Invitational began in 1996 as a living tribute following Self’s tragic death in 1995. It quickly established itself as a proving ground for future champions and a celebration of golf’s values: integrity, perseverance and sportsmanship.
“This tournament means a lot to our family,” said Furman Self, Jimmy’s son. “My father always believed golf built character. He’d be proud of what this event has become and the young people it continues to impact.”
What began as a rotating event among Greenwood Communities & Resorts properties in Hilton Head, Charleston and Greenwood is now permanently held at Palmetto Dunes – the flagship resort long guided by the Self family, whose leadership at Greenwood helped shape its growth beginning in 1979. Today, Greenwood’s legacy lives on through its stewardship of Palmetto Dunes and through the players who walk the Arthur Hills Course each summer in pursuit of the Jimmy Self title.
Last year’s champions reflect the competitive spirit the tournament continues to attract. Dawson Szabo of Greer captured the 2024 boys’ division with a nine-under-par total of 207, including a final-round 69. Emerson Devers of Pawleys Island earned redemption in the girls’ division, following up a runner-up finish in 2023 with a closing 73 to secure a one-stroke win at 225.
Each player is among a long line of standouts to compete in the Jimmy Self Invitational. Notable past champions include six-time PGA Tour winner and U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover – who won the inaugural event in 1996 – as well as future Tour pros D.J. Trahan (1998–99), Kevin Kisner, Ben Martin and Bryson Nimmer. Other alumni include major champion Dustin Johnson, Bill Haas, along with LPGA players Lauren Stephenson and Natalie Srinivasan, winner of the 2020 ANNIKA Award.
Stephen Behr, a Byron Nelson Award recipient at Clemson, also competed in the Jimmy Self. Though he didn’t pursue professional golf, he’s now one of the nation’s top-ranked mid-amateurs.
The Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes – known for its rolling fairways, strategic water hazards and breathtaking Lowcountry views – provides a fitting stage for this milestone celebration. The event draws many of the Southeast’s top junior players each year, many of whom will go on to collegiate and professional careers.
The tournament also plays a broader role in growing the game. By offering high-level tournament experience and exposure, the Jimmy Self Invitational supports the SCJGA’s mission to cultivate young talent while reinforcing golf’s core principles.
From a single idea sparked by a family conversation to a nationally respected junior golf major, the Jimmy Self Invitational remains a testament to one man’s legacy and the power of sport to shape lives.
Photo: The Arhtue Hill Course (Palmetto Dunes)