All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
As the penultimate event of the FedExCup Playoffs, the BMW Championship is one of the PGA Tour season’s defining tournaments, bringing together one of the year’s strongest fields before the Tour Championship.
The championship offers more than world-class golf. Rotating between some of the United States’ most respected golf clubs, it introduces spectators to a different championship setting with each edition. Premium hospitality, luxury accommodation and destinations worth exploring make it equally rewarding away from the fairways.
The Road to the BMW Championship
Qualification comes through the FedExCup standings, meaning every player arrives after an exceptional season. As the penultimate Playoff event, every round carries added significance. For those near the top of the standings, the focus is often on strengthening their position ahead of the Tour Championship, while others are competing to secure one of the remaining places before their season ends.
The leaderboard is routinely filled with major champions, Ryder Cup players and the PGA Tour’s standout performers.
The reduced field also makes it easier to follow featured groups, spend time around the practice facilities or settle at key viewing locations without navigating the crowds often associated with larger tournaments.
Host Courses with Championship Pedigree
The BMW Championship has no permanent venue, instead rotating between courses that have helped shape American championship golf.
Recent host venues reflect that variety. Medinah Country Club has welcomed multiple major championships and the Ryder Cup, while Aronimink Golf Club showcases Donald Ross’s enduring architectural influence. Olympia Fields Country Club combines more than a century of championship heritage with a layout that rewards precision, and Caves Valley Golf Club has introduced a more contemporary test in recent years.
Castle Pines Golf Club offered a contrasting setting when it returned to the PGA Tour calendar, its dramatic elevation changes and Rocky Mountain backdrop creating one of the championship’s most memorable editions.
One year may centre on a classic parkland course outside Chicago, the next on a modern layout near Baltimore or a mountain course in Colorado, giving every Championship Week its own identity while maintaining the tournament’s distinctive character.
Experiencing the Championship in Style
Arriving early leaves time to explore the course, watch players prepare on the practice range, and appreciate the host club before the largest crowds gather around the opening tee.
Around the Course
Practice rounds offer some of the most rewarding moments of the week. Players are often more relaxed, conversations with caddies become easier to follow, and spectators can watch everything from short-game routines to equipment adjustments from surprisingly close quarters.
Once tournament play begins, following a marquee group before settling beside one of the course’s defining holes offers the best of both experiences. Whether overlooking a demanding par three, a reachable par five or the closing stretch, staying put for a while often reveals more of the tournament’s rhythm than constantly moving around the course.
Expansive merchandise pavilions stock limited-edition apparel and official tournament collections, while varied food and drink offerings encourage visitors to spend the day on site.
Hospitality Experiences
Hospitality is one of the BMW Championship’s defining strengths, with each host venue adapting its offerings to suit the course while maintaining the same emphasis on comfort and service.
Shared hospitality lounges and private suites overlook pivotal sections of the course, allowing guests to alternate between championship golf and relaxed indoor lounges throughout the day. Climate-controlled interiors, shaded outdoor terraces and reserved seating create a noticeably different experience from general admission, particularly during the closing rounds.
Depending on the venue, hospitality guests can expect chef-led buffets, live cooking stations or carefully curated seasonal menus accompanied by premium wines, champagne, craft cocktails and top-shelf spirits.
Castle Pines paired elevated hospitality with expansive mountain views, while established clubs such as Medinah and Olympia Fields delivered a more traditional championship atmosphere centred on historic clubhouses and mature parkland surroundings.
A Luxury Base for Championship Week
Because the championship rotates annually, accommodation changes with the venue, though certain patterns remain.
Many visitors favour five-star city hotels within comfortable reach of the course, while others opt for luxury golf resorts where championship golf, spa facilities and fine dining are available in one place.
Previous host destinations illustrate both approaches. Visitors attending tournaments near Philadelphia often based themselves at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, while Chicago hosts such as Medinah encouraged stays at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago. When Castle Pines welcomed the championship, many visitors combined the tournament with a stay at The Broadmoor in nearby Colorado Springs, extending the trip to enjoy one of America’s best-known luxury resorts.
Private residences have become equally popular for families and corporate groups travelling for several days, with concierge teams often arranging restaurant reservations, chauffeur services and additional golf before or after the tournament.
Hotels closest to the course and private transfer services are typically in greatest demand during Championship Week, making early reservations worthwhile.
For those extending their visit, previous host destinations have offered easy access to acclaimed courses, luxury spas, renowned shopping districts and cultural attractions, making the championship the centrepiece of a broader luxury escape.
Evenings Beyond the Fairways
Each host destination brings its own dining scene, allowing visitors to experience some of the country’s most accomplished restaurants alongside the tournament.
Past host cities have ranged from Chicago, where institutions such as Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse and RPM Steak are longstanding favourites, to Philadelphia’s refined contemporary dining scene and Colorado’s destination restaurants framed by mountain scenery. Reservations at sought-after restaurants are often secured well before Championship Week begins, particularly for tasting menus, chef’s tables and private dining rooms.
Luxury hotel bars, extensive bourbon and whisky collections, sommelier-led wine programmes and late-evening lounges provide an easy transition from the course, whether returning to a city hotel or a destination resort.
Dressing the Part
Smart casual attire suits every part of Championship Week, from general admission to premium hospitality. Comfortable footwear remains the priority, while lightweight layers, discreet sun protection and a waterproof jacket prepare visitors for the varied conditions often encountered across championship courses.
One of Golf’s Defining Weeks
The pressure of the FedExCup Playoffs, the calibre of the field and the prestige of its rotating host courses combine to create one of professional golf’s most compelling tournaments.
From historic parkland clubs to contemporary layouts and dramatic mountain settings, every edition offers a different backdrop while preserving the championship’s identity.
Championship golf sits alongside exceptional hospitality, distinguished hotels, acclaimed dining and destinations worth exploring in their own right. That combination makes the BMW Championship one of the PGA Tour’s most rewarding weeks, whether visiting for the golf alone or building a longer luxury escape around it.
