California golf tournaments you can participate in

Editor’s Pick: California Golf Tournaments You Can Play

The third hole at Spyglass Hill (photo Pebble Beach Resorts)

The Golden State offers seemingly endless varieties of golf courses. From the redwood-lined fairways off the Sierra Nevada to the pristine coastal scenery of Monterey County; from the arid but lush oasis of Palm Desert to the oak-studded foothills of Northern California. There really is something for everyone’s specific golf course preferences.

California has two renowned associations each representing half of the state. From the pair come flagship events like the NCGA Amateur (formerly known as NCGA Match Play) and the SCGA Amateur, both of which have been running for over 100 years. And of course, the crown jewel of the state: the California Amateur, which has crowned champions like Ken Venturi, Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara and Xander Schauffele.

But aside from the obvious, where are the best, most unique, and hidden opportunities to play competitively this summer and beyond in California?

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commemorative enthusiast; May 28-30, 2022; Ancil Hoffman Golf Course

Par-3 5th hole of Ancil Hoffman (photo Ancil Hoffman)

This 54-hole invitational tournament held at the ever-challenging Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Sacramento has only been around since 1998, but has quickly become one of the West Coast’s premier amateur events. Vietnam veteran John Rochelle founded the event which is a fitting way to honor Memorial Day as a cherished national holiday and a perfect kickoff to the summer tournament season.

The 84-man field is narrowed down to roughly the top 30 for a Monday final. Various exemption categories exist and resumes can be sent to the tournament committee for review.

Past champions include PGA Tour winners Derek Ernst (2009) and Cameron Champ (2014), as well as three-time European Tour winner John Catlin (2011, 2022).

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George C. Thomas, Jr. Invitational; June 23-25, 2022; Los Angeles country club

The par-3 11th hole of the North Course (photo USGA)

Stack your tournament resume full of impressive performances to win a trip to the prestigious North Course at the Los Angeles Country Club. This exclusive mid-amateur invitational venue, which successfully hosted the 2017 Walker Cup, will host the 2023 US Open – the club’s fourth USGA event and first PGA Tour event since the 1940 Los Angeles Open.

Named after the architect of the course, the Thomas attracts an elite group of players over the age of 25, usually including reigning winners and former US Mid-Amateur winners.

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San Diego City Enthusiast; July 15-17, 2022; Balboa Park and Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines South Course, hole 7 (photo USGA)

Competitive golf and guaranteed two rounds at an annual PGA Tour venue? That’s what you get with admission to the city of San Diego. After an opening round at the historic Balboa Park golf course, rounds two and three head to Torrey Pines with 18 holes on each of its challenging courses, including the finish at the South Course, two-time host of the US Open.

The 54-hole event has a women’s and senior flight, and is even more appealing to San Diego County residents, who enjoy a reduced entry fee.

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Four Marin County Balls; July 18, 2022; meadow club

Meadow Club par-4 9th hole (photo Conner Penfold)

A 36-hole two-man shootout on a serene Alister MacKenzie course, the Marin County Four-Ball at the Meadow Club has been a local favorite for years. Played entirely in one day, the event attracts a quality field usually made up of mid-amateur and senior talent.

Competitors will enjoy the club’s included barbecue lunch between rounds next to the historic clubhouse. Submit your entry as soon as the 48-team field, which includes all three divisions, rapidly reaches capacity.

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California State Fair; September 3-5, 2022; Haggin Oaks Golf Course

Just as the Memorial kicks off the summer, the California State Fair has been closing the summer since 1925 as the iconic 54-hole tournament in Haggin Oaks nears its 100th anniversary. Still one of the strongest non-association areas in the state, the State Fair drops to a low of 36 and ties after the heat on Saturday and Sunday for a Labor Day finale that saw winners such as Ken Venturi and Kevin Sutherland lift the trophy.

The consecutive par-5 finishing holes of the Alister MacKenzie course surely leave room for anyone within striking distance to claim the title in spectacular fashion. The State Fair Tournament Committee also organizes events for the Women’s, Junior, Mid-Amateur, Senior, and Super Senior divisions.

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Pasadena City Championship; March 2023; Brookside Golf Club

Brookside’s Koiner Course and the par-4 9th hole (photo Conner Penfold)

Just three years from an event canceled due to dwindling numbers of registrations, the 340-person field of the 2022 restitution filled to capacity in just 10 days – a record, said the director of the longtime tournament, Rob Moore. Played for 86 years at the iconic Brookside Golf Club in the shadow of the Rose Bowl, the 54-hole tournament hosts the standard championship flight as well as several competitive net flights, making the event a must for all skill levels. skill.

While there for the weekend, competitors also have the opportunity to hit three shots from inside the Rose Bowl – an experience that benefits Greater Pasadena’s first tee.

The tournament committee also organizes a women’s championship (July 23-25, 2022) and a senior championship (September 8-9).

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Four NCGA balls; May 2023; Spyglass Hill Golf Course

Spyglass Hill par-3 3rd hole (photo Pebble Beach Resorts)

Typically held during the first two weeks of May, the NCGA Four-Ball offers the opportunity for two-player play on one of the most spectacular public courses in the United States. Co-host of the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Spyglass Hill’s first five coastal holes give way to a challenging layout amid the Monterey Peninsula’s famed cypress forest.

The NCGA also offers mid-amateur and senior championships in Poppy Hills, which are held in October and March, respectively.

“The best four-ball in the country is the NCGA Four-Ball at Spyglass, and it’s not even close,” said Jerry Ledzinski, who tied for fourth with partner Jeff Britton in 2015. “Being able to play that course in tournament conditions, it’s just a really special event.

Mark your calendars and choose a partner for 2023 as qualifying for the event takes place in early April at five courses spread across the region.

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Most Notable Tournaments

City of Los Angeles Championship – June 16-19, 2022
Silverado Amateur – July 26-28, 2022
Monterey City Amateur – July 28-30, 2022
California Women’s Championship – August 8-10, 2022
Stocker Cup – 20-22 October 2022
San Francisco City Championship – March 2023
Alameda Commuters Tournament – April 2023

Click here for a full list of over 200 tournaments taking place in California this year.