Steph is imagining a full amateur golf calendar after retirement. We built him one—with our Winter Series, California city championships, Tahoe and national titles to chase. Until then, basketball gets first call.
Dear Steph,
U.S. Amateur champion? Curry, 1 up?
We admit it: our Instagram carousel gets a little ahead of itself. The trophy scenes are AI-generated what-ifs. The inspiration, however, came from you.
In a recent interview, you discussed what a full amateur golf calendar could look like after you retire from basketball. You also described the American Century Championship at Tahoe as your Super Bowl.
That leaves one important piece of business: building the regular season.
So we appointed ourselves your entirely unofficial golf scheduling committee. Here is the conversation that got us thinking.
His idea. Our event picks.
This is a possible next chapter, not a schedule you have announced. Retirement could open up winter and spring. While you are still playing, games, practice, travel and recovery come first. An empty night on the NBA schedule is not automatically an invitation to play 36 holes.
We use the published 2026–27 golf calendar to make the exercise concrete. Those dates are examples, not a prediction of when you will retire. Think of this as a menu: choose a few good starts, leave breathing room and earn the bigger opportunities.
An imagined U.S. Amateur victory. This AI-generated image is part of our what-if, not a real championship result.
Start with the Winter Series
We have a few events of our own in mind. The AmateurGolf.com Winter Series offers five championships across California, plus an open qualifier. A future amateur calendar could begin with a couple of these starts long before the summer trip to Tahoe.
| 2026–27 date | Our event | Course |
|---|---|---|
| December 5–6, 2026 | Winter Invitational | San Juan Oaks |
| December 12–13, 2026 | Christmas Classic | Del Monte |
| December 16–17, 2026 | San Diego Amateur | South Course, La Jolla |
| January 4, 2027 | Silicon Valley Amateur open qualifier | Boulder Ridge |
| January 11–13, 2027 | Silicon Valley Amateur | Stanford |
| February 20–21, 2027 | Pacific Grove Championship | Pacific Grove Golf Links |
These are real events readers can explore now. None is an announced Curry appearance. See the full series and each event’s entry details.
A different kind of shot at the Christmas Classic
Our carousel imagines you winning at Del Monte in a Santa hat, then shooting the trophy like a basketball. We are reasonably confident about the follow-through. We have not consulted the trophy.
The picture is a joke. The competition is real: two rounds at Del Monte on December 12–13, with Christmas Classic entries closing November 30. The Santa hat is optional. Keeping score is not.
There is a practical catch for this edition: the Warriors have a December 12 game in Cleveland. December 16 also brings a game at Indiana, during the San Diego Amateur. Silicon Valley overlaps January 12–13 games. We cannot turn those into clean golf openings. For you, these are future possibilities; for eligible readers with room on their calendars, they are events to investigate now. Warriors schedule.
Keep the California competition coming
Once retirement opens the spring, San Francisco City belongs in the conversation. Imagine drawing Steph Curry in municipal match play. A full bracket takes multiple rounds, which is precisely why we would not squeeze it into an NBA off-day.
Alameda at Corica Park and Santa Cruz at DeLaveaga offer more city competition. Their 2026 dates were April 24–26 and May 23–24; future dates must be checked. Pick a start. Post a number. Nobody gives you the four-footer because you can make it from the logo. Alameda Commuters; DeLaveaga.
June: make it a championship test
The NCGA Mid-Amateur is our regional pick. The 2026 edition was a 36-hole championship at Poppy Ridge on June 1–2, for players 25 and older. It makes sense as one competitive step toward the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Its future dates, venue, eligibility and qualifying requirements still need checking. NCGA championship preview.
L.A. City and the California Amateur are two more serious options. Their 2026 dates were June 11–14 and June 22–27. Choose the best fit, rather than booking every June event. Reserve any U.S. Amateur local qualifier first—and while basketball continues, a deep playoff run could remove this entire block. City championship calendar; California Amateur.
Build toward his Super Bowl
Monterey City at Del Monte could be the final rehearsal. Its 2026 championship ran July 3–5. If a future edition leaves enough room before Tahoe, put it on the shortlist. If not, rest. The purpose is to arrive sharp, not exhausted. Monterey City details.
Then comes the centerpiece: the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe. The published 2027 event week is July 7–11. You already love this week. We are imagining what it would feel like to arrive with a season of meaningful scorecards behind you. Tahoe event dates.
Afterward, San Diego City at Torrey Pines is an optional encore. Its 2026 dates were July 13–15; that does not establish its next date. It must fit recovery and U.S. Amateur final qualifying. This summer city championship is a separate event from our December San Diego Amateur. San Diego City details.
A regional title. A national shot.
The NCGA Amateur deserves a circle on the calendar. The 2026 championship ran August 9–13 at Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill. Check the next edition against the U.S. Amateur: if they conflict, pick one. This is an August option, not another obligation to stack onto an already busy month. NCGA calendar.
The U.S. Amateur is the dream behind the cover. Oak Hill hosts August 9–15, 2027, but the first task is earning a place through qualifying or a valid exemption. Entry requirements and both qualifying stages must fit. Celebrity status does not complete the application. U.S. Amateur future sites.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur belongs firmly in this next chapter. Jupiter Hills hosts September 18–23, 2027. The published 2026 entry benchmarks were amateur status, age 25 or older and a Handicap Index of 2.4 or lower; check the applicable year’s terms. While you remain active in basketball, even a national championship has to fit team reporting, preparation and any national-team commitments. USGA Mid-Amateur information.
Until then, the Warriors set the starting line
An earlier NBA finish could create room for a spring start and a June test after recovery. A deep run means fewer golf starts: at most one before Tahoe, and possibly none. If the U.S. Amateur qualifying route cannot fit, turn attention to a later opportunity instead of forcing the calendar.
Entry deadlines still matter. An early playoff exit does not reopen a closed golf field. Retirement would give you more choices, but it would not guarantee entry or make every event compulsory.
That is our pitch, Steph. Start locally. Play a few proper tournaments. Enjoy Tahoe. Earn the next tee time. We will keep an eye on the calendar. You handle the four-footers.
Sincerely,
Your Entirely Unappointed Golf Scheduling Committee
Steph’s season is imaginary. Yours does not have to be.
Choose your own Winter Series event, review the entry requirements and put a date on the calendar. Our current lineup runs from December 2026 through February 2027. You do not need an NBA retirement announcement to start planning your next competitive round.
Explore the Winter Series and registration details →
Editorial note: Updated September 18, 2026. This is our imagined calendar inspired by Curry’s discussion of amateur golf after retirement, not an announcement of his participation or endorsement. The interview context is paraphrased; the embedded video provides the conversation. The 2026–27 dates illustrate the proposal, not a retirement forecast. Earlier event dates do not establish future dates or venues. Trophy images in the article and accompanying carousel are AI-generated fantasies, not real results; generated settings and trophies are illustrative. Entry requirements, dates and availability must be confirmed.