​Here’s a single bucket-list item that athletes routinely cross off during the American Century Championship that isn’t golf, originally featured by The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Stateline, NV – It goes without saying that the American Century Championship has evolved into far more than just a celebrity golf event for the Lake Tahoe region. Celebrities and fans alike draw friends and family to South Lake Tahoe, California, Stateline, Nevada, and the surrounding areas to enjoy concerts at Edgewood Tahoe Resort and a variety of festivities beyond the Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel. The event began today and will run through Sunday, July 12, with coverage on NBC, NBC Sports Network, and Peacock. You can keep up with all the action on the ACC App, available in the App Store and on Google Play.
For the 2026 American Century Championship, I had the chance to experience one of the main bucket-list items that celebrity athletes often cross off during their Lake Tahoe sojourn each mid-July weekend. I got to ride the MasterCraft XT24, a 24-foot crossover boat designed for wakesurfing, wakeboarding, and unforgettable adventures, on Friday. Notable personalities who’ve enjoyed MasterCraft’s fleet on Lake Tahoe include Aaron Rodgers, Miles Teller, Colin Jost, and the 2025 ACC winner Joe Pavelski.
Krista Schipner, MasterCraft Boat Holdings Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications, explained the strong synergy between MasterCraft and the ACC before the event. “The American Century Championship is one of those rare events where competition, connection, and an incredible setting all come together in a really unique way,” Schipner said. “You’ve got world-class athletes, fans, and families all in Lake Tahoe, and the entire week feels bigger than just golf. For MasterCraft, that’s what makes it such a natural fit. We’re all about creating unforgettable moments on the water, and the ACC provides the perfect opportunity to do just that. Between tournament rounds, players can step away from the intensity and chaos of the competition, head out on the water in a MasterCraft to wake surf, or simply relax with family and friends before returning to the course. Those moments away from the game are a big part of what makes ACC so unique and such a bucket-list event for so many athletes and celebrities.”
Among the many experiences athletes and fans enjoy at the American Century Championship each summer, taking in Lake Tahoe itself—renowned for its astonishing clarity, a purity level of 99.994%, placing it among the clearest and most pristine large alpine lakes in the world—ranks high on the awe-inspiring scale. This natural marvel adds a powerful dimension to the week, underscoring why the ACC stands out as much more than a golf tournament. The setting, the people, and the opportunities to create lasting memories all fuse to elevate the event into a quintessential bucket-list experience for athletes and celebrities alike, making its Lake Tahoe chapter memorable for years to come. This combination of sport, scenery, and social events continues to attract a broad audience seeking a multi-faceted celebration of competition and camaraderie in one of America’s most beautiful outdoor arenas.