These 8 tournaments named after holidays are worth celebrating

December 26, 2021 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

If you want competitive golf to give you the holiday spirit, these tournaments are the ones to play

Why not make your holidays even more special by getting in some competitive golf? We found 8 tournaments named after holidays that will help get you in the holiday spirit no matter what time of year it is.

So if you ever lose your calendar, you'll know exactly when you are by playing in any of these tournaments named after holidays.

THE NEW YEARS INVITATIONAL, St. Petersburg CC, St. Petersburg, Fla.

The New Year's Invitational is the first major men's amateur tournament of the year, and draws a national field of players looking to escape to warmer climes and compete in a championship that has been contested since 1927. It was a match play tournament until the 50s when the format changed to stroke play. Bob Goalby was the first stroke play winner, and the past champions list includes many more players who went on to enjoy success on the PGA Tour.

More information about the New Year's Invitational

ST. PATTY'S DAY INVITATIONAL, Inverness G&CC, Inverness, Fla.

What better way to celebrate the foremost patron saint of Ireland than by playing 36 holes in sunny Florida? This tournament has been played since 1961 and gives amateurs, seniors and super seniors the chance to play the emerald green fairways of Inverness G&CC. So wear your green, hope for good luck, and remember the bigger reason for golfers to enjoy St. Patrick's Day: it is also the birthday of the greatest amateur golfer ever, Bobby Jones.

More information about the St. Patty's Day Invitational

SACRAMENTO CITY JUNIOR EASTER CHAMPIONSHIP, Bing Maloney GC, Sacramento, Calif.

This tournament, which was first played in 1948, is actually held the Tuesday-Wednesday before Easter Sunday, so observers of the holiday can still attend service, or perhaps more likely given the age demographic, hunt for Easter eggs.

More information about the Sacramento City Junior Easter Championship

MEMORIAL AMATEUR, Ancil Hoffman GC, Carmichal, Calif.

Founded by Vietnam veteran John Rochelle, it's no wonder this tournament is held over Memorial Day weekend. A field of elite national-level amateurs is invited to the 54-hole stroke play championship that seeks to honor Memorial Day and its place as a cherished national holiday.

From the tournament website: "The sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces and by those in public service should never be understated or forgotten. To those that have paid the ultimate price in defense of this great nation, we honor and cherish their memories."

More information about the Memorial Amateur

EARL HUNT MEMORIAL FOURTH OF JULY TOURNAMENT, Whitefish Lake GC, Whitefish, Mont.

It's hard to imagine a better place to be in the middle of summer than in beautiful Montana, and many men, women and seniors travel to Whitefish to play in the Earl Hunt Memorial Fourth of July Tournament, which celebrated its 85th playing in 2021. The 220-player field plays 54 holes of stroke play and enjoys a barbecue and a mixed derby event, with a big following from the community.

More information about the Earl Hunt Memorial Fourth of July Tournament

LABOR DAY INVITATIONAL, Country Club of Mobile, Mobile, Ala.

This tournament has undergone a number of format changes over the years, and it used to be a Major of Amateur Golf before the club changed the focus of the tournament to serve a more local and regional group of golfers. There is an individual competition and a flighted two-man featuring nine-hole matches. What hasn't changed is that it is played on Labor Day weekend, and that it is played on a classic course laid out by Donald Ross with a well-done remodel by Ron Forse.

More information about the Labor Day Invitational

THE GOBBLER AMATEUR, Sewailo Golf Club, Tucson, Ariz.

The Gobbler Amateur was founded in 2016 and is part of the Saguaro Amateur tournament series that includes other cleverly-named tournaments like The Sizzler and the Agave. The Gobbler is played on the three days leading into Thanksgiving Day, and while the Arizona desert isn't exactly reminiscent of the original Puritan Thanksgiving traditions of the 1600s, one does find himself thankful to be playing desert golf in warm sunny weather.

More information about the Gobbler Amateur

THE AMATEURGOLF.COM CHRISTMAS CLASSIC, Del Monte GC, Seaside, Calif.

It's never too early to start celebrating Christmas, and indeed this tournament takes place a few weeks before Santa Claus takes off. Founded in 1985 by legendary Northern California amateur Casey Boyns, many of the tournament's regulars still refer to the event as "Casey's Christmas Classic". AmateurGolf.com has been running the tournament with a full field of 104 players since 2002. It originally was played closer to Christmas Day but has drifted forward into December. Still, it is fully within the advent calendar and a reminder that the Yuletide is near.

More information about the Christmas Classic

MORE TOURNAMENTS FOR YOU

These are just a few of the over 3000 golf tournaments that can be found through our Tournament Finder presented by Titleist. To find the right golf tournaments for you, click on the image above.

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