What golf fans can expect attending the American Century Championship on Lake Tahoe

STATELINE, Nev. - For the first time in years, I'm feeling like a kid again.

I'm hunting autographs of my favorite athletes and celebrities at the 2024 American Century Championship at Edgewood Golf Course like I'm 10.

There's Charles Woodson, who won a Heisman, a national championship and a Super Bowl! I hit him up for a selfie with my 2023 Michigan national championship hat on as he walks off the ninth green.

There's Miles Teller! Man, does that Top Gun Maverick movie really hit me in the feels. I'm a child of the 1980s when the first one went big at the box office.

There's Bobby Flay! Not that I care about one of the world's top chefs, but my wife sure does. He autographs her hat.

There's Larry the Cable Guy ... or, as my wife calls him, Mater! (From the Cars movies). I don't much care for him, either, but when he starts throwing out "Git 'er Done' souvenir golf balls, I tackle a couple of rival fans like I'm Woodson to secure one.

Wait, holy cow, there's Travis and Jason Kelce! The famous football-playing brothers always attract the biggest crowds. Rumors that Taylor Swift (Kelce's girlfriend) might show up end up being a pipe dream, unfortunately.

I've been to the Waste Management Open in Scottsdale and Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am, but to me, the American Century Championship is golf's best spectator party. By limiting ticket sales, it's a much more intimate affair. Plus, the celebrity golfers are more willing to interact with the fans. Some of the good golfers are trying to win the Stableford competition, but many of the others are simply looking for a good time.

I attended last year as a fan, not a journalist, with my wife, daughter and her boyfriend in tow. We had the best time, even though none of them care much for golf. That's the coolest part. Mixed among the golf fans are people who just want a glimpse or lucky encounter with their favorite celebrity or athlete. Add in the beer, beach, boats, bikinis and music of the wild and wacky par-3 17th hole for a day you'll never forget.

This year's celebrity showdown takes place Wednesday, July 9, through Sunday, July 13. Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday practice rounds cost $40 each day. Tickets for Friday through Sunday tournament rounds are limited, but reasonably priced at $50 each. To purchase tickets, click here. If you can't attend, it's always entertaining to watch the weekend coverage on NBC and Peacock.

The 2025 American Century Championship will feature the superstar I regret missing last year: Steph Curry. The Golden State sharpshooter made a memorable ace in 2023 en route to winning his first ACC title but couldn't attend last year to defend. He's back this year, though, along with plenty of other stars from the NBA (Charles Barkley, Vince Carter), NFL (Josh Allen, the Kelce brothers), MLB (Roger Clemens, Albert Pujols), TV (Colin Jost, Brian Baumgarter from The Office) and many more. For a full list, click here.

I was lucky to attend Friday and Saturday's first and second rounds last year. That allowed me to follow both of my strategies for first-time fans. If you can only attend one day, you have to choose between a) grabbing a spot along the 17th hole and park it all day; or b) wandering around to experience the whole course.

There are pros and cons to each approach.

The pros for showing up early and grabbing a key spot along no. 17 are obvious: that's where all the action happens. The music is thumping and the people-watching is off-the-charts. There's always a backup due to slow pace of play, so the golfers kill time byinteracting with the crowd. Either they're tossing footballs with the fans on the beach or shooting hoops. The downside is there's a lot of downtime between shots and groups. The day can drag on a little bit.

I'd recommend walking around. There are spots throughout the routing where it's best to line up for autographs - especially behind the ninth and 18th greens where players finish their rounds. Not every celebrity will oblige but some do. Fans aren't allowed to bring balls, posters or trading cards to sign (click to see a full list of prohibited items). The best way to attract attention is to wear a team hat or jersey to signal-boost your sports fandom.

Watching the players try to navigate the tricky par-5 18th is always entertaining. It's a tight hole with a pond left of the narrow green and the lake on the right. Players going for it in two rarely hit the green, so be ready to duck.

The same caution goes for the ninth hole along the lake on the other side of the clubhouse. Many players bomb it through the dogleg, hitting their ball into the crowds lining the left side of the hole along the lakeshore.

If you want to explore other holes, it's easy to find space near a tee box or green away from the shoreline to get as close to the players as possible. Simply making eye contact with your hero could be worth the price of admission.

What do you love about watching or attending the American Celebrity Championship? Let us know in the comments.