Every serious amateur keeps a mental list: the courses you'd play in a heartbeat if you could just get on, and the events worth building a season around. Good news — there's still real competition open over the next several weeks, and you can enter.
We pulled from the largest curated database of amateur events to find the tournaments that check every box: real competition, still open to players, and venues you'll want to tell stories about. Think state championships, mid-amateurs, and a four-ball with a buddy — the events built for the everyday competitive golfer — plus one private club you normally can't touch. Here's where to tee it up.
1Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship
Aug 17–18, 2026 · Edgewood Valley Country Club, La Grange, IL · Stroke Play
The state's championship for the everyday competitive golfer, contested at a classic Chicago-area private club. If you're 25-plus and still love to grind, this is exactly the kind of event to put on the calendar — a real title within reach.
2Arkansas Mid-Amateur Championship
Aug 21–23, 2026 · Chenal Country Club, Little Rock, AR · Stroke Play
Three days of stroke play at one of Little Rock's premier private clubs, against the state's best career amateurs. Competitive, well-run, and very much within reach for a serious player looking to test their game.
3California State Fair Mid-Amateur Championship
Aug 22–23, 2026 · Bing Maloney Golf Course, Sacramento, CA · Stroke Play
A California staple on an accessible Sacramento muni — proof you don't need a private-club invite to play meaningful competition. Great value, real stakes, and open to mid-amateurs from across the state.
4Connecticut Mid-Amateur Championship
Aug 24–25, 2026 · Mill River Country Club, Stratford, CT · Stroke Play
New England mid-am golf at its best, on a well-regarded private course in Stratford. A tight, competitive field and a championship feel — the kind of event that anchors a serious amateur's late summer.
5Mississippi State Four-Ball Championship
Aug 28–30, 2026 · Sunkist Country Club, Biloxi, MS · Four-Ball
Grab a partner. Four-ball is the most fun format in competitive golf, and this Gulf Coast state championship is the perfect excuse to team up and tee it up. Register as a side, lean on each other, and go low.
6Oregon Senior Amateur Championship
Sep 2–5, 2026 · Oswego Lake Country Club, Lake Oswego, OR · Stroke Play
For the 55-and-over set, a marquee state championship at a stunning Portland-area private club. If you've aged into senior golf and want a real title on a course you'll remember, this is the fall event to circle.
★ The private club you can play
7. Malbon Buckets Cup — Maridoe Golf Club
Oct 6, 2026 · Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, TX · Stroke Play · $750 Entry
Here's the one to circle. Maridoe is one of the most exclusive private clubs in America — an ultra-private, invitation-only Dallas-area course routinely ranked among the best modern designs in the country. For most golfers, getting on is simply not an option.
The Malbon Buckets Cup opens the gate. This tour stop drops you into real stroke-play competition — Pro, Gross, and Net divisions — on a course you'd otherwise only see on a ranking list. It's the rare chance to compete somewhere legendary, not just play a casual round.
How to get in the field
All of these events are listed on AmateurGolf.com with the details and registration links you need. Fields fill and deadlines pass quickly this time of year, so if one's calling your name, don't sit on it.
The bottom line: there's still real, enterable competition on the board. State and mid-amateur titles, a four-ball with a buddy, and a private club you can finally tee it up at. Pick your spot — and go play.
AmateurGolf.com is the operating system of competitive golf — rankings, schedules, and results. Dates and fields are current at publication; confirm details on each event page before entering.