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California Kicks Off 2026 With a Packed Amateur and Pro Qualifying Golf Calendar
January 2, 2026 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

see also: AmateurGolf.com 2027 Silicon Valley Amateur presented by Callaway Golf, Stanford University Golf Course

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Our January calendar is stacked with elite amateur events, collegiate tournaments, and PGA Tour qualifying.

January 2026 delivers one of the most opportunity-rich stretches of golf anywhere in the country, and California sits squarely at the center of it all. Across three straight weeks, the Golden State hosts collegiate season openers, elite amateur championships, Winter Series action, and a full slate of PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open pre-qualifiers.

Early January: Collegiate & Amateur Season Openers

Future Champions Collegiate Series Season Opener
Dates: Jan 2–4, 2026
Location: The Links at Lakehouse (formerly St. Mark Golf Club), San Marcos, CA
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Nipomo Amateur Championship
Dates: Jan 3–4, 2026
Location: Monarch Dunes, Nipomo, CA
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McClure Cup at Black Horse
Dates: Jan 5–7, 2026
Location: Bayonet Black Horse (Bayonet Course), Seaside, CA
Notes: 54-hole individual stroke-play championship on the Bayonet Course with no cut. Open to amateurs with a verified handicap index of 7.4 or lower and typically draws top collegiate and state amateurs. Entry includes three rounds, cart + range balls, and tee gifts. Free practice round Sunday.
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Mid-January: Winter Series & Regional Championships

AmateurGolf.com 2026 Silicon Valley Amateur presented by Callaway Golf
Dates: Jan 12–14, 2026
Location: Stanford University Golf Course, Palo Alto, CA
Notes: A premier West Coast championship contested over 54 holes at Stanford University Golf Course and elevated as a 54-point WAGR event. Stanford (par 70, 6,727 yards) rewards precision and strategy; past champions include Collin Morikawa (2016) and Max Homa (2011). Winner earns an exemption into the San Francisco City Championship.
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Sunday Swing Shootout
Dates: Jan 17–19, 2026
Location: Diablo Creek Golf Course, Concord, CA
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Copper Cup
Dates: Jan 19–20, 2026
Location: El Niguel Country Club, Laguna Niguel, CA
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Battle of LA
Dates: Jan 23, 2026
Location: Rancho La Quinta Country Club, La Quinta, CA
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PGA Tour Opportunity Week: Farmers Insurance Open Pre-Qualifiers

Mid-to-late January transforms Southern California into a proving ground for professionals and elite amateurs chasing a start at Torrey Pines. These pre-qualifiers are one-day pressure cookers—earn your spot, or go home.

Pre Qualifier #7 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 19, 2026
Location: Twin Oaks Golf Course, San Marcos, CA
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Pre Qualifier #1 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 20, 2026
Location: Industry Hills Golf Club (Eisenhower Course), City of Industry, CA
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Pre Qualifier #2 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 20, 2026
Location: Enagic Golf Club at Eastlake, Chula Vista, CA
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Pre Qualifier #3 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 21, 2026
Location: Enagic Golf Club at Eastlake, Chula Vista, CA
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Pre Qualifier #5 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 21, 2026
Location: Industry Hills Golf Club (Eisenhower Course), City of Industry, CA
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Pre Qualifier #4 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 22, 2026
Location: Enagic Golf Club at Eastlake, Chula Vista, CA
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Pre Qualifier #6 - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open
Date: Jan 22, 2026
Location: Industry Hills Golf Club (Eisenhower Course), City of Industry, CA
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Late January: Collegiate Spotlight & Monday Qualifying

Southwestern Invitational Collegiate
Dates: Jan 26–28, 2026
Location: Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, CA
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Monday Qualifier - PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Classic
Date: Jan 26, 2026
Location: Mission Viejo Country Club, Mission Viejo, CA
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Why This Stretch Matters

From college season openers and elite amateur championships to direct PGA Tour pathways, January in California offers more competitive opportunities than nearly any other region. For players willing to travel, compete, and embrace variety—from coastal wind to inland firmness—this is where seasons begin, résumés are built, and careers can change.

About the AGC Silicon Valley Amateur

2026 TOURNAMENT PORTALThe Silicon Valley Amateur is now a 54-hole, limited-field WAGR points event! The field will consist of 64 scratch players and 18 invited scratch seniors. After 36 holes are contested (one round on Monday, one on Tuesday), the f...

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