Every summer, thousands of amateurs chase a few hundred spots in the national championships. The ones who get there don't just play well on qualifying day. They know when applications open, which deadline applies to them and whether their Handicap Index makes the cut before they ever hit a shot.
This is the ultimate guide to getting into a USGA championship in 2027: every event, its venue, when to apply, when entries close, what it costs and who is eligible. Bookmark it. The first applications for 2027 open in February.
2027 USGA Qualifying at a Glance
| Championship | Dates & Venue | Apply Opens | Entries Close | Max HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Four-Balls: qualifying underway | ||||
| U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball | May 15–19Farmington CC | Closed | Aug. 12, 2026Qualifying thru Dec. 17 | 14.4 |
| U.S. Amateur Four-Ball | May 22–26Erin Hills | Closed | Aug. 12, 2026Qualifying thru Dec. 9 | 2.4 |
| 2027 championships: applications open in 2027 | ||||
| U.S. Women's Open | June 3–6Inverness Club | Feb. 17 | March 31 | 2.4 |
| U.S. Open | June 17–20Pebble Beach | Feb. 24 | April 7 | 0.4 |
| U.S. Senior Open | July 1–4Oak Tree National | Feb. 23 | March 24 | 2.4 |
| U.S. Adaptive Open | July 5–7Sunriver Resort | Feb. 16 | April 7 | 36.4 |
| U.S. Girls' Junior | July 12–17Canterbury GC | March 3 | May 5 | 5.4 |
| U.S. Junior Amateur | July 19–24Chambers Bay | March 3 | May 5 | 2.4 |
| U.S. Women's Amateur | Aug. 3–8Pinehurst No. 2 | March 17 | June 2 | 2.4 |
| U.S. Amateur | Aug. 9–15Oak Hill CC | March 17 | May 19 | 0.4 |
| U.S. Senior Women's Open | Aug. 19–22Tacoma C&GC | Feb. 17 | May 26 | 7.4 |
| U.S. Senior Amateur | Aug. 28–Sept. 2Seattle GC | April 14 | June 16 | 5.4 |
| U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur | Sept. 11–16CC of Buffalo | April 21 | June 23 | 9.4 |
| U.S. Mid-Amateur | Sept. 18–23Jupiter Hills Club | April 21 | June 23 | 2.4 |
| U.S. Senior Women's Amateur | Sept. 25–30Columbia CC | April 14 | June 30 | 14.4 |
| 2028 Four-Balls: entries open in 2027 | ||||
| U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball | May 13–17, 2028Blessings GC | April 28 | Aug. 11 | 14.4 |
| U.S. Amateur Four-Ball | May 20–24, 2028Chambers Bay | April 28 | Aug. 11 | 2.4 |
Applications open at 9 a.m. Eastern and entries close at 5 p.m. Eastern. All dates are 2027 unless noted. The informational PDF for each championship goes live the moment applications open. On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
How USGA Qualifying Works
Every USGA championship is open to anyone who meets three tests: the Handicap Index limit, the age requirement and, for the amateur championships, amateur status. From there, players get into the field one of two ways.
Exempt players go straight into the championship. Exemptions come from past USGA results, other major amateur and professional events, and the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Exempt players pay the championship entry fee.
Everyone else qualifies. You file an entry, pay the qualifying fee, pick a qualifying site and play your way in. Most championships use a single 18- or 36-hole qualifying stage. The U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Amateur use two: local qualifying first, then final qualifying.
Who Can Play: 2027 Handicap Index Limits
Your Handicap Index is the first filter. Here is every 2027 USGA championship grouped by limit.
No Handicap Index yet? You need one to enter. The USGA's Get a Handicap page walks you through it. Check each championship's informational PDF for exactly when your Index is verified.
2027 Registration Calendar: When to Apply and Entry Deadlines
Every Apply to Play date and entry deadline in order, so you can set reminders now.
Championship-by-Championship Guide
12th U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball
Qualifying underwayFarmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Va. · May 15–19, 2027
Entries for the 2027 edition are closed and qualifying runs through mid-December. Missed it? The 2028 championship at Blessings Golf Club opens for applications April 28, 2027.
12th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Qualifying underwayErin Hills, Erin, Wis. · May 22–26, 2027
Erin Hills, the 2017 U.S. Open venue, hosts the men's Four-Ball. Qualifying wraps in early December. The 2028 edition heads to Chambers Bay, with applications opening April 28, 2027.
82nd U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally
Opens Feb. 17Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio · June 3–6, 2027
Open to professionals and amateurs. Elite amateur women get a shot at the national open on one of America's classic championship courses.
127th U.S. Open
Opens Feb. 24Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif. · June 17–20, 2027
The most open championship in golf, and the toughest door to walk through. Amateurs need a 0.4 or better, and most will need to survive both local and final qualifying to reach Pebble Beach.
47th U.S. Senior Open
Opens Feb. 23Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla. · July 1–4, 2027
Note the timing: the Senior Open has the earliest entry deadline on the 2027 calendar, just a month after applications open.
6th U.S. Adaptive Open
Opens Feb. 16Sunriver Resort (Meadows Course), Sunriver, Ore. · July 5–7, 2027
The first 2027 championship to open for applications.
78th U.S. Girls' Junior
Opens March 3Canterbury Golf Club, Cleveland, Ohio · July 12–17, 2027
79th U.S. Junior Amateur
Opens March 3Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash. · July 19–24, 2027
Junior qualifying falls right after the school year ends, which makes it a natural target for players building a college résumé.
127th U.S. Women's Amateur
Opens March 17Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2), Village of Pinehurst, N.C. · Aug. 3–8, 2027
127th U.S. Amateur
Opens March 17Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, N.Y. · Aug. 9–15, 2027
The biggest prize in amateur golf comes with the toughest entry standard: a 0.4 Handicap Index and, for most of the field, two stages of qualifying before the trip to Oak Hill.
9th U.S. Senior Women's Open
Opens Feb. 17Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Lakewood, Wash. · Aug. 19–22, 2027
72nd U.S. Senior Amateur
Opens April 14Seattle Golf Club, Seattle, Wash. · Aug. 28 – Sept. 2, 2027
40th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur
Opens April 21Country Club of Buffalo, Williamsville, N.Y. · Sept. 11–16, 2027
46th U.S. Mid-Amateur
Opens April 21Jupiter Hills Club, Tequesta, Fla. · Sept. 18–23, 2027
The championship for the career amateur. If you are 25 or older with a 2.4 or better, this is your national championship.
65th U.S. Senior Women's Amateur
Opens April 14Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, Md. · Sept. 25–30, 2027
Looking Ahead: 2028 Four-Ball Championships
Entries for the 2028 Four-Balls open in spring 2027, with qualifying in the fall.
13th U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball
Opens April 28Blessings Golf Club, Johnson, Ark. · May 13–17, 2028
13th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Opens April 28Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash. · May 20–24, 2028
How to Give Yourself the Best Shot
Frequently Asked Questions
When does USGA qualifying registration open for 2027?
The first 2027 applications open Feb. 16, 2027 (U.S. Adaptive Open), followed by the U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Women's Open on Feb. 17. U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women's Amateur applications open March 17, 2027. Applications open at 9 a.m. Eastern.
When is the deadline to enter the 2027 U.S. Amateur?
Entries for the 127th U.S. Amateur at Oak Hill close at 5 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2027. Local qualifying runs May 31 – June 30 and final qualifying July 12–23.
What handicap do you need to play in the U.S. Open?
Amateurs need a Handicap Index of 0.4 or lower to enter the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. The same 0.4 limit applies to the U.S. Amateur.
How much does it cost to enter a USGA championship?
Qualifying entry fees for 2027 range from $150 (U.S. Adaptive Open) to $215 (U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women's Open). Exempt players pay championship entry fees of $275 to $340.
Which USGA championships can a mid-handicapper enter?
Women with a Handicap Index up to 14.4 can enter the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur (age 50+) and the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball. The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur allows up to 9.4, and the U.S. Adaptive Open allows up to 36.4.
Can I still enter the 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball?
No. Entries for the 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball closed Aug. 12, 2026, and qualifying is underway. Applications for the 2028 Four-Balls open April 28, 2027.
Do I need amateur status to play in USGA qualifying?
For the amateur championships, yes. The Opens (U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Senior Women's Open and U.S. Adaptive Open) are open to both professionals and amateurs who meet the Handicap Index and age requirements.
Official USGA Resources
AmateurGolf.com will cover USGA qualifying all season, from local qualifying results to who punches their ticket. Bookmark this page. We'll update it as 2027 qualifying sites are announced.