The road to The Honors Course runs through 24 qualifying sites. Here is the complete 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur qualifying guide — how the one-round, all-or-nothing format works, every qualifying venue with dates and status, and what awaits the 156 players who reach Ooltewah in August.
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the most prestigious title in women's amateur golf, and for all but a handful of exempt players, the only way in is to qualify. Unlike the men's championship, the Women's Amateur uses a single-stage format: one 18-hole stroke-play qualifier, contested at 24 sites from June 10 through July 15. Post the number and you earn a place in the 156-player field at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, August 4–9, 2026 — the 126th playing of the championship.
This guide tracks the entire 2026 qualifying season — every site, every date — and links through to live coverage of each event. For everything on the championship itself, including history and past champions, visit our U.S. Women's Amateur championship page.
📝 How U.S. Women's Amateur Qualifying Works
There is no local-and-final funnel here — just one round, one chance. Each qualifier is an 18-hole stroke-play test, with the number of spots at each site (generally one to four, plus alternates) determined by field size. That format leaves zero margin for error: no easing into a tournament week, no second round to recover. One hot round sends a player to one of the biggest championships in amateur golf; one loose nine ends the summer dream. The fields are stacked with elite juniors, college stars, international standouts and accomplished mid-amateurs, all requiring a Handicap Index of 2.4 or lower just to enter.
| Detail | 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur |
|---|---|
| Qualifying format | Single stage — one 18-hole stroke-play qualifier |
| Qualifying window | 24 sites · June 10 – July 15, 2026 |
| Max Handicap Index | 2.4 |
| Entries opened | March 18, 2026 |
| Championship | The Honors Course, Ooltewah, TN · Aug 4–9, 2026 |
| Field | 156 players — 36 holes stroke play, low 64 to match play |
| Defending champion | Megha Ganne (def. Brooke Biermann 4&3 at Bandon Dunes in 2025) |
📊 Following the results
Qualifying is underway now — 13 of 24 sites are complete, with Mesa Country Club playing today, July 2, and ten sites still to come through July 15. Click any site below for fields, pairings, live scoring and our coverage as results post. The season closes fittingly at Black Creek Club in Chattanooga — minutes from The Honors Course itself.
🏌️ 2026 Qualifying Sites — June 10 to July 15
| Qualifying Site | Location | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmette Golf Club | Wilmette, IL | Jun 10, 2026 | Complete |
| Trophy Club Country Club (Whitworth Course) | Trophy Club, TX | Jun 15, 2026 | Complete |
| Redlands Country Club | Redlands, CA | Jun 15, 2026 | Complete |
| Eagle's Landing Country Club | Stockbridge, GA | Jun 15, 2026 | Complete |
| Hearthstone Country Club (Wolf Corner/Horsepen) | Houston, TX | Jun 15, 2026 | Complete |
| Gorge Vale Golf Club | Victoria, BC, Canada | Jun 16, 2026 | Complete |
| Kenwood Golf & Country Club | Bethesda, MD | Jun 17, 2026 | Complete |
| Lake Spanaway Golf Course | Tacoma, WA | Jun 22, 2026 | Complete |
| Copper Hill Country Club | Ringoes, NJ | Jun 24, 2026 | Complete |
| Victory Links at the National Youth Sports Center | Blaine, MN | Jun 30, 2026 | Complete |
| Old Town Club | Winston-Salem, NC | Jun 30, 2026 | Complete |
| Indian Ridge Country Club | Andover, MA | Jun 30, 2026 | Complete |
| Firekeeper Golf Course | Mayetta, KS | Jul 1, 2026 | Complete |
| Mesa Country Club | Mesa, AZ | Jul 2, 2026 | Today |
| Kent Country Club | Grand Rapids, MI | Jul 6, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Lago Mar Country Club | Plantation, FL | Jul 6, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Walnut Grove Country Club | Dayton, OH | Jul 9, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Wailea Golf Club (Gold Course) | Wailea, HI | Jul 9, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Chagrin Valley Country Club | Chagrin Falls, OH | Jul 9, 2026 | Upcoming |
| The Broadlands Golf Course | Broomfield, CO | Jul 9, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Rolling Hills Country Club | Rolling Hills Estates, CA | Jul 13, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Hammock Dunes Club (Links Course) | Palm Coast, FL | Jul 13, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Los Altos Golf & Country Club | Los Altos, CA | Jul 14, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Black Creek Club | Chattanooga, TN | Jul 15, 2026 | Upcoming |
24 qualifying sites. Locations per the USGA; click a venue for fields, pairings and live scoring.
⛳ The Prize: The Honors Course
Few venues fit this championship better. The Honors Course, a Pete Dye design that opened in 1983 outside Chattanooga, was founded by Jack Lupton for a single purpose: to honor amateur golf. Its championship pedigree reflects that mission — the club hosted the 1991 U.S. Amateur, the 1994 Curtis Cup and the 1996 NCAA Championship, where a Stanford sophomore named Tiger Woods claimed the individual title — and in August it adds the U.S. Women's Amateur to that ledger. The 156-player field opens with 36 holes of stroke play before the low 64 advance to single-elimination match play, culminating in a 36-hole final on Sunday, August 9.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do you qualify for the 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur?
For all but exempt players, qualifying is a single-stage process: one 18-hole stroke-play qualifier at one of 24 sites held between June 10 and July 15, 2026. The low scorers at each site earn places in the 156-player field at The Honors Course, August 4–9.
What handicap do you need to enter the U.S. Women's Amateur?
A Handicap Index that does not exceed 2.4, making the field effectively the deepest in women's amateur golf.
How is Women's Amateur qualifying different from the men's U.S. Amateur?
The men's championship uses a two-stage format — Local and Final Qualifying. The Women's Amateur is one stage: a single 18-hole round decides everything, with no second chance.
How many players advance from each qualifying site?
It varies with field size, but most sites advance roughly one to four players plus alternates. The lowest scorers move on; ties for the final spot are settled by a playoff.
Where is the 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur being played?
The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, August 4–9, 2026 — the 126th playing of the championship. Megha Ganne is the defending champion after her 4&3 victory over Brooke Biermann at Bandon Dunes in 2025.
🔗 Keep Reading: U.S. Women's Amateur Coverage
- U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Page — field, schedule and results for The Honors Course.
- USGA Qualifiers Hub — every qualifying path, all season long.
- USGA Championships — complete coverage of every national championship.
Live scoring and qualifying results from every 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur site are tracked all season at AmateurGolf.com.