The U.S. Open will be held at Winged Foot GC (Golfweek photo)
It is officially time to get excited about a new season of national championships in the U.S.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced qualifying sites for its 2020 championships, and whether you are a veteran of USGA championships or trying to qualify for the first time, there is plenty to look forward to.
Some of the highlights of 2020 USGA Qualifying include (some sites/dates subject to change, other sites to be added):
U.S. Open, Winged Foot GC, Mamaroneck, N.Y., June 18-21
The only USGA championship with two stages of qualifying starts with 18 holes of Local Qualifying from April 29 - May 11. The choice of qualifying sites runs the gamut, from university courses at Duke, the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State; to municipal course standouts like
CommonGround in Colorado,
Gold Mountain in Washington and
Kearney Hill Golf Links in Kentucky; to hidden gems like
Gamble Sands in rural Washington and
The Preserve GC in Carmel, Calif. annual host of the
Stocker Cup.
Successful local qualifiers will advance to "Golf's Longest Day", the one-day 36-hole Sectional Qualifying held at a dozen or so sites across the U.S., as well as a site each in England and Japan. Tour pros, club pros and amateurs will all battle for the final spots in to the Championship at
Winged Foot. The Texas sectional (May 18) and the Japan sectional (May 25) are the only two that will not be held on June 8
Any professional or amateurs whose Handicap Index does not exceed 1.4 are eligible to enter U.S. Open Qualifying. Entries open March 4.
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2020 U.S. Open Qualifying Sites
U.S. Women's Open, Champions GC, Houston, Texas, June 4-7
Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open runs from April 22 - May 14 and consists of 36 holes played in a single day. In addition to qualifying sites across the U.S., there is one site each in Korea, Japan and England. This is the championship that has provided amateurs the best chance of competing with the pros; last year, 22 amateurs advanced through qualifying and into the championship.
Female professionals or amateurs whose Handicap Index does not exceed 2.4 are eligible to enter U.S. Women's Open Qualifying. Entries open March 4.
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2020 U.S. Women's Open Qualifying Sites
U.S. Senior Open, Newport CC, Newport, R.I., June 25-28
Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open runs from May 13 - June 5 and consists of 18 holes, meaning that players are one good round away from competing at the site of the USGA's first-ever championship in 1895. These qualifying sites include a larger share of old-style private courses, and give players a chance to play courses like
Black Diamond Ranch (Lecanto, Fla.) or
The Homestead Cascades (Hot Springs, Va.) in tournament conditions. Amateurs are becoming increasingly successful at qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open; last year, 21 amateurs advanced through qualifying and into the championship.
The championship is open to any professional or amateur with a Handicap Index that does not exceed 3.4, and who has turned 50 by June 25. Entries open March 4.
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2020 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying Sites
U.S. Senior Women's Open, Brooklawn CC, Fairfield, Ct. July 9-12
The newest USGA championship, the U.S. Senior Women's Open will be played for the third time in 2020. Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Senior Women's Open consists of 18 holes and runs from May 27 - June 17. There are fewer qualifying sites for this championship than others, meaning dedicated players are more likely to have to travel to get their chance to qualify.
The championship is open to any professional or amateur with a Handicap Index that does not exceed 7.4, and who has turned 50 by July 9. Entries open March 4.
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2020 U.S. Senior Women's Open Qualifying Sites
U.S. Amateur, Bandon Dunes GR (Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails), Bandon, Ore., August 10-16
The U.S. Amateur has the biggest field of any USGA championship, with 312 players, and so it makes sense that there are more qualifying sites than any other championship. Qualifying runs from July 1 - 22 and consists of 36 holes, with some sites playing the two rounds in one day, and others with bigger fields or in hotter climates playing over two days.
College players typically make up a majority of the field, and when taking a look at the qualifying sites, the sheer number of college courses stands out. If you go to Ohio State, Michigan State, Washington State, New Mexico, Colgate, Illinois State, Wyoming, or Texas Tech, you will have a chance to play on your home course. There is also a chance to qualify at
Bandon Dunes (though not on the courses played during the championship).
Entries are open to any amateur with a Handicap Index that does not exceed 2.4. Entries open the week of March 30.
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2020 U.S. Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Women's Amateur, Woodmont CC, Rockville, Md., August 3-9
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the third-oldest USGA championship, having been played since 1895. It also has, aside from the junior championships, the youngest average age of any USGA championship. Qualifying for the U.S. Women's Amateur is 18 holes and runs from June 24 - July 10.
Entries are open to any amateur with a Handicap Index that does not exceed 5.4. Entries open the week of March 30.
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2020 U.S. Women's Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Mid-Amateur, Kinloch GC, Manakin Sabot, Va., September 12-17
The U.S. Mid-Amateur has the second-largest field among USGA championships at 264. Qualifying sites are plentiful, and are mostly held at private country clubs. Qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur is 18 holes and runs from August 5 - 24.
Any amateur who has turned 25 as of Sept. 12 and whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 3.4 is eligible to enter. Entries open the week of May 4.
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2020 U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, Berkeley Hall Club, Bluffton, S.C., August 29 - September 3
The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur is among the less entered USGA championships, as the demographic of competitive mid-amateur women is somewhat under-represented in golf. There are some intriguing qualifying sites, including the
CC of North Carolina,
The Meadow Club in California, and
Oak Tree in Oklahoma. Qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur is 18 holes and runs from July 15 - 30.
Any female amateur who has turned 25 as of Aug. 29 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 9.4 is eligible to enter. Entries open the week of May 4.
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2020 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Senior Amateur, Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., August 29 - September 3
The U.S. Senior Amateur is a popular championship with a large number of qualifiers and sites. Most qualifying sites are either private country clubs, but there are many more high-end resorts than in other qualifiers, like
Suncadia Resort in Washington,
Paa-Ko Ridge in New Mexico, and the
Resort at Red Hawk in Nevada. Qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur is 18 holes and runs from July 22 - August 10.
Any amateur who has turned 55 as of Aug. 29, and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 7.4 is eligible to enter. Entries open the week of May 4.
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2020 U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, Lakewood Golf Club, Point Clear, Ala., September 12-17
The U.S. Senior Women's Amateur has a lower minimum age than the men's senior, allowing players ages 50 and over. Qualifying for the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur is 18 holes and runs from August 10 - 24.
Any female amateur who has turned 50 as of Sept. 12 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 14.4 is eligible to enter. Entries open the week of May 4.
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2020 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Junior Amateur, Hazeltine National GC, Chaska, Minn., July 20-25
The U.S. Junior Amateur is expanding its field for 2020 to tie the U.S. Mid-Amateur for the second largest at 264. There is a wide mix of qualifying sites, with several colleges smartly hosting (making for easy recruiting), like Stanford, New Mexico, Purdue, Georgia, and Oklahoma. Qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur is 18 holes and runs from June 15 - July 10.
The championship is open to any male amateur who has not reached his 19th birthday by July 25, and whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 4.4. Entries open the week of March 30.
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2020 U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying Sites
U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur, Eisenhower GC, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., July 13-18
The qualifying window for the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur is May 27 - June 24. Qualifying for the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur is 18 holes.
The competition is open to any female golfer who has not reached her 19th birthday as of July 18, 2020, and whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 9.4. Entries open the week of March 30.
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2020 U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur Qualifying Sites