GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Wyndham Championship is in Robert Bain’s blood – literally. For the first time in tournament history, the lead volunteer is a third-generation general chairman, the tournament announced today. The 85th annual Wyndham Championship is set for Aug, 7-11, 2024 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
Bain is also the third-generation owner of Bain Oil, Heating and Air Conditioning. His grandfather, Carson Bain, started the company in 1946 and passed it on to Bain’s father, Bobby, who is still active as president of the fuel division. Robert Bain took over the heating and air division in 2007 is its president. Bobby Bain was general chairman in 1982, and Carson Bain held the position in 1950. The Wyndham Championship is clearly in the family DNA.
“I have many memories of this tournament,” the youngest Bain said. “As a child, I was able to meet many golfers through my father and grandfather. Craig Stadler (1980 champion) and his family stayed with us whenever he played here. As a young child, I got to hit golf balls or putt with my grandfather and Sam Snead (eight-time champion) at Starmount (Starmount Forest Country Club). I did not think anything of it at the time, but I wish I understood the magnitude of my time with these golf legends I grew up around at the time.”
Robert Bain started his Wyndham Championship volunteer service in 2012 working in operations where he did everything from hanging TVs in hospitality areas to setting up the golf course. He moved to food and beverage and later joined the sponsor-services team overseeing planning and implementation of the tournament’s hospitality areas; he worked in sponsor services for the last seven tournaments. Next month, he takes his turn at the helm of the tournament’s volunteer team.
“I am honored to serve as General Chairman,” Robert Bain said. “I take great pride in being the first third-generation person to have this role. I could not be here without a great committee behind me. These leaders I work with, year-in-and-year-out, have become a second family to me, and I am honored to consider the staff and committee of this tournament to be lifetime friends.
“My funniest tournament memory involved my grandfather and Sam Snead. They were at the tournament in the mid-to-late 90s and wanted to get food at the Clubhouse. They “borrowed” a golf cart from a rules official just when he stepped out for a ruling. They drove across multiple fairways to get to their destination. The PGA TOUR rules official radioed to stop play. He said, ‘if you tried to stop them, they wouldn’t listen and to just halt play for a few minutes.’ Anyone else would have been arrested, but with their history, it just became a funny story. When the PGA TOUR tells all golf cart operators to take their cart key with them, there’s a reason.”
Bain attended NC State University but transferred to Elon University earning a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in economics. The Grimsley High School alumnus and his wife, Sarah, live in Greensboro with their two sons.
Bain’s tournament committee of area leaders, including five former general chairs listed with the year they served, is listed below:
- Food & Beverage: Zac Engle, Kyle Teschke, Mitchell Whitley
- Operations: Kari Sells, Michael McDonald
- Parking: Councial Glenn
- Player Services: Bruce Atkinson, Charles McClintock
- Pro-Ams: Judy Harrelson, Keith Ayscue
- Security: Mike Ebel (2019), Phil Cathcart (2022)
- Sponsor Services: Melissa Bruce, Will McPherson (2020, ‘21), Carolyn Walters (2015)
- Transportation: Helen Houser, Jim Turner, Brett Weathersbee
- Tournament Liaison: Ryan Wilson
- Member at Large: Derek Mobley
- Member at Large: Michael Brubaker (2023)
- Member at Large: Jay Horton
About The Wyndham Championship:
Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed golf course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the seventh-oldest event on the PGA TOUR, excluding the Majors. As the last tournament of the regular season, it sets the 70-player field for the FedExCup Playoffs. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Rewards and presenting sponsor Truist for their continued support. Additional tournament information is available at WyndhamChampionship.com and the tournament’s social media channels (@WyndhamChamp) on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
About Wyndham Rewards:
Proud title sponsor of the Wyndham Championship, Wyndham Rewards® is the blue thread tying together some of the world’s largest and most well-known travel companies and brands: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company and Club Wyndham®, the flagship vacation ownership brand of Travel + Leisure Co. Recognized as the #1 hotel rewards program by both U.S. News and World Report and USA Today, members—over 106 million enrolled around the world—earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and can redeem for free nights starting at just 7,500 points. With more than 60,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally, no other hotel rewards program is more generous or offers more places to stay. Join for free at WyndhamRewards.com.
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2024 Tournament Committee Picture Caption:
Front Row (Left-to-Right): Councial Glenn, Ryan Wilson, Mike Ebel, Melissa Bruce, Helen Houser, Brett Weathersbee, Judy Harrelson, Carolyn Walters, General Chairman Robert Bain, Derek Mobley, Charles McClintock.
Second Row (Left-to-Right): Michael Brubaker, Mitchell Whitley, Kyle Teschke, Michael McDonald, Jim Turner, Will McPherson, Zac Engle, Bruce Atkinson, Keith Ayscue, Jay Horton.
Not Pictured: Phil Cathcart, Kari Sells.
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