Category Archives: National Golf
15 Champions Among 10,201 Entries for 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Defending champion J.J. Spaun and everyone in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking® are among the 10,201 entries that were accepted by the USGA for the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y. The U.S. Open will be contested at the historic venue for a sixth time from June 18-21.
This is the fifth time in championship history that the number of entries has exceeded 10,000. The 2026 total came within one entry of matching the previous record set in 2025, when 10,202 entries were accepted for the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. This year, entries were accepted from golfers in all 50 states, including 390 from host state New York, as well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the United States Armed Forces and 49 foreign countries.
“The USGA is proud to return to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, one of the cathedrals of the game and a founding member club of the USGA,” said USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer. “The U.S. Open’s two-stage qualifying process provides thousands of professional and amateur golfers worldwide an opportunity to earn their spot in the field. There continues to be tremendous interest in competing in our national championship as we nearly set another record with entries.”
Spaun, of Los Angeles, Calif., posted a two-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club last June, including an unforgettable 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to secure his first major victory. Spaun, now 10th in the OWGR®, leads a total of 51 players who are currently exempt from qualifying.
Nine other U.S. Open champions are fully exempt: Bryson DeChambeau (2020, 2024), Wyndham Clark (2023), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022), Jon Rahm (2021), Gary Woodland (2019), Brooks Koepka (2017, 2018), Dustin Johnson (2016), Justin Rose (2013) and Rory McIlroy (2011). Koepka won the U.S. Open the last time it was contested at Shinnecock Hills.
Scottie Scheffler, who is No. 1 in the OWGR® and a four-time major champion, will be going for the career Grand Slam. The 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur champion will compete in his ninth U.S. Open, with his highest finish coming in 2022 when he was co-runner-up with fellow U.S. Junior Amateur champion Will Zalatoris at The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass. McIlroy, No. 2 in the OWGR®, became the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam last April at The Masters Tournament and on Sunday he joined three others to successfully defend their Masters title. The 2011 U.S. Open champion will be making his 18th U.S. Open start, having finished inside the top 10 in six of his last seven starts.
Cameron Young, up to No. 3 in the OWGR®, will return to his native New York to make his seventh U.S. Open start. Young, of Scarborough, N.Y., won this year’s Players Championship, and enjoyed his best U.S. Open finish last year at Oakmont C.C. with his tie for fourth.
For those not fully exempt, local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 43 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled between April 20-May 18. Those advancing players will join a group of locally exempt competitors in final qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 13 sites. Final qualifying will be held in England (May 18), Japan (May 25) and Canada (June 8) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 18, and the remaining nine on June 8, known across the industry as “Golf’s Longest Day,” which will receive 10 hours of live coverage on Golf Channel.
Five U.S. Open champions – Jordan Spieth (2015), Webb Simpson (2012), Graeme McDowell (2010), Lucas Glover (2009) and Geoff Ogilvy (2006) – have registered for the championship and are among the 477 players exempt into final qualifying. McDowell is scheduled to play in the Dallas final qualifier on May 18. Spieth and Glover (Westerville, Ohio), Simpson (Ball Ground, Ga.), and Ogilvy (Sacramento, Calif.) will all attempt to qualify on June 8.
To be eligible, one must be an amateur with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4 or be a professional. Jonathan Kaplan, an amateur from Powell, Ohio, was the first entry on Feb. 18. Clark Van Gaalen, from Turlock, Calif., submitted his entry 61 seconds before the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT on April 8.
The championship’s youngest entry is Niko Ameredes, a 13-year-old from Chino, Calif., who is a two-time Drive, Chip & Putt national finalist. The oldest entrant is Mike Caporale, a 71-year-old who is the head PGA professional at North Hills Country Club, in Manhasset, N.Y., approximately 70 miles from Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
The number of fully exempt players will increase with the inclusion of the top 60 point leaders and ties from the OWGR®, as of May 18 and June 15. The winner of the PGA Championship (May 14-17) and any multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the FedExCup will also earn exemptions. Also, the top five players in the 2026 FedExCup Standings as of May 18 who are not otherwise exempt will secure a place in the field.
Additionally, U.S. Open exemptions will be awarded to the top player from the DP World Tour’s 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings, who is not otherwise exempt, as of May 18, and the top player, not otherwise exempt, in the top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf individual standings. Other exemptions determined May 18 from 2025 standings include the top two players from the final 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings, not otherwise exempt, and the top player from the top three of the final 2025 LIV Golf individual standings who is not otherwise exempt. The winner of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Golf Championship (must be an amateur) will also earn a spot in the field. That 72-hole event will conclude on June 3 in Carlsbad, Calif.
The U.S. Open was previously contested at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in 1896 (James Foulis), 1986 (Raymond Floyd),1995 (Corey Pavin), 2004 (Retief Goosen) and 2018 (Koepka).
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, one of the USGA’s five founding member clubs, is the only venue to host the national championship in three different centuries.
More information on local and final qualifying is available by clicking here.
The list of the 51 players who are fully exempt into the 2026 U.S. Open (as of April 14) can be found by clicking here.
Champions Golf Club Awarded Three USGA Championships
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Champions Golf Club, in Houston, Texas, will host the 2029 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 2034 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2040 U.S. Senior Open. The trio of championships will mark the sixth, seventh and eighth USGA championships contested at the historic Texas club, the most of any course in the state.
“We are proud to return to Champions Golf Club,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director, Championships. “The club’s rich history and commitment to excellence give us great confidence in extending our decades-long relationship into the 2040s. We look forward to Champions once again delivering an exceptional experience for our players, loyal fans and the Houston community.”
Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by three-time Masters champion Jimmy Demaret and Jack Burke Jr., who was fresh off winning both the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship in 1956. The pair recruited Ralph Plummer to design the Cypress Creek Course, which opened for play in 1959. A major restoration of the Cypress Creek Course, led by Chet Williams, was completed in 2018 ahead of the COVID-19-delayed 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.
Following Demaret’s passing in 1983, Burke remained the club’s majority owner and President until 2021, when ownership and management of the club were transitioned to Jack’s son, Mike Burke, and his grandson, Dean Burke.
Jack Burke Jr., who passed away in 2024 just days shy of his 101st birthday, recorded 16 PGA Tour victories, competed on five U.S. Ryder Cup teams and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. He also received the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in 2004.
“Champions Golf Club is honored to host these future USGA championships,” said Mike Burke. “Our club takes pride in offering a true championship test while honoring the game’s traditions. We are grateful for the USGA’s continued trust in the Burke family and look forward to celebrating Jack’s legacy by providing the championship experience and hospitality that define Champions.”
Champions Golf Club last hosted a USGA championship in 2020, when A Lim Kim, of the Republic of Korea, captured the U.S. Women’s Open. After COVID-19 forced the championship to be moved from June to December of that year, Kim overcame a five-stroke final-round deficit, birdieing her final three holes to hoist the Harton S. Semple Trophy.
In the 1969 U.S. Open held at Champions Golf Club, Orville Moody recorded a one-stroke victory over Deane Beman, Al Geiberger and Bob Rosburg, to win the lone major of his career.
In 1993, then-41-year-old John Harris defeated Danny Ellis, 5 and 3, to win the U.S. Amateur at Champions. Harris remains the last mid-amateur to claim the Havemeyer Trophy. The Minnesota native and four-time USA Walker Cup Team member passed away last September after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
The club has also hosted two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs (1998, 2017). In 2017, Kelsey Chugg rebounded from an opening-round 85 to earn the No. 50 seed in match play before defeating Mary Jane Hiestand, 3 and 1, in the 18-hole championship match. In 1998, Virginia Derby Grimes defeated Robin Weiss, 4 and 3, to earn her lone career USGA title.
The Cypress Creek Course has also hosted the 1967 Ryder Cup, five PGA Tour Championships (1990, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) and five Houston Opens from 1966-71.
The state of Texas has hosted 35 overall USGA championships. The 2029 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and 2040 U.S. Senior Open will mark the first time each championship will be played in the Lone Star State. The 2034 U.S. Mid-Amateur will be the fourth contested in the state and the first since 2011 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club, in Richmond, a Houston suburb.
The U.S. Senior Women’s Open is open to professional golfers, and amateurs with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 7.4, who are at least 50 years of age by the start of championship play. The field of 120 players competes in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is reduced to the low 50 scorers and ties for the final 36 holes. The 2026 championship is scheduled for Barton Hills Country Club, in Ann Arbor, Mich., Aug. 20-23.
The U.S. Senior Open Championship is for golfers 50 and older and open to any professional or amateur with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. The field of 156 players competes in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is reduced to the low 60 scorers and ties for the final 36 holes. The 2026 U.S. Senior Open is set to be contested at Scioto Country Club, in Columbus, Ohio, July 2-5.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur is open to any amateur who is 25 years old by the start of the championship with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. The field of 264 players will compete in two rounds of stroke play, after which the field will be reduced to the low 64 scorers for six rounds of match play. The 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur will be held at Sand Valley Resort (Lido), in Nekoosa, Wis., Sept. 26-Oct.1.
Old Barnwell to Host 2031 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Old Barnwell, in Aiken, S.C., will host the 2031 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
“We’re thrilled to bring this championship back to South Carolina and to initiate this partnership with Old Barnwell,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. “Old Barnwell’s commitment to thoughtful course design, player development and growing the game aligns perfectly with the values of this championship, and we’re confident it will provide an outstanding test for the competitors.”
A par-73 layout, Old Barnwell opened in 2023 and was designed by Brian Schneider and Blake Conant. Set across 575 acres of sandy soil and rolling hills, Schneider and Conant emphasized a blend of strategic, modern golf course design with elements of classical golf course architecture. The club also features a 15-hole kids’ course and plans to open a third course, The Gilroy, in 2027.
“Hosting a USGA championship is a tremendous honor for Old Barnwell, and one that aligns closely with our mission,” said Nick Schreiber, founder of Old Barnwell. “We are proud to welcome this group of players to Aiken and to partner with the USGA in delivering a championship that reflects our values, our community and our commitment to the future of the game.”
Old Barnwell is dedicated to creating programs that empower, invite and celebrate people and communities historically underrepresented in the game of golf. To do this, the club is partnered with organizations such as the ANNIKA Foundation, the Evans Scholars Foundation and local historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Since opening, the club has hosted numerous NCAA events, including the Derby Matchplay hosted by the University of South Carolina, which features eight of the top women’s college teams in the country, and the More Than Golf Invitational, a collaboration with the ANNIKA Foundation that brings together mid-major conference champions each year. In advance of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Old Barnwell is set to host NCAA Regionals in 2027 and the Western Women’s Junior Amateur in 2028.
There have been 21 USGA championships contested in the state of South Carolina through the 2025 season. Most recently, Bryan Kim of Brookeville, Md., defeated New Zealander Joshua Bai in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, 2 up, at Daniel Island Club in Charleston. Daniel Island Club will also host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball from May 2-6.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball was last conducted in the Palmetto State in 2017, when Alice Chen and Taylor Totland defeated Sammi Lee and Mary Ellen Shuman, 4 and 3, at Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach. The championship was first conducted in 2015 and is open to female amateur golfers whose handicaps do not exceed 14.4.
A starting field of 64 sides (128 players) play two rounds of stroke play, with the low 32 sides (64 players) advancing to match play. Five 18-hole rounds of match play will determine the champions. The winning side receives an exemption into that year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur, which in 2031 will be held at Baltimore (Md.) Country Club. The champions are also exempt into any other USGA amateur competition for which they are eligible that year.
Future U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Sites:
2026 – Daniel Island Club, Charleston, S.C.
2027 – Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Va.
2028 – Blessings Golf Club, Johnson, Ark.
2029 – Desert Mountain Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
2030 – Erin Hills, Erin, Wis.
2031 – Old Barnwell, Aiken, S.C.
2035 – Country Club of York, York, Pa.
2037 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore.
Limited Corporate Hospitality Remains for 2027 PGA Championship
FRISCO, Texas. ー Following extraordinary interest since hospitality offerings launched last summer, the PGA of America announced today a limited selection of corporate hospitality packages remain available for the 2027 PGA Championship, scheduled for May 17-23 at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, with some locations already sold out. The current availability follows the release of additional hospitality inventory in response to the unprecedented initial demand.
Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, remaining hospitality experiences include private on-course chalets, premium suites, as well as reserved tables. All on-course venues provide a comfortable, climate-controlled setting with all-inclusive food and beverage service and parking access.
The 2027 PGA Championship marks the 100-year anniversary of Walter Hagen’s historic victory in the 1927 PGA Championship at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas. It also represents the first men’s Major Championship contested in Dallas-Fort Worth in 64 years (1963 PGA Championship won by Jack Nicklaus at Dallas Athletic Club) and the first in the state of Texas in 58 years (1969 U.S. Open at Champions Club in Houston).
Designed by renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse, Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco will host the strongest field in golf for the first time in 2027— its third Major Championship following the 2023 Senior PGA Championship and 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
“We are humbled by the tremendous local and regional support since going on-sale, and this response is a great reminder of the magnitude of the historic return of a men’s major to North Texas,” said Jason Mengel, Championship Director. “We encourage those interested in hospitality to act quickly as we are down to single-digit availability across multiple locations, and larger packages traditionally sell out 10-12 months ahead of the event.”
Hospitality Packages Available for Purchase:
- 100-person Private Chalets (on-course, private bar and private buffet)
- 17 Green – Limited number remaining
- 50-person Premium Suites (on-course, private bar and shared buffet)
- 16 Green – SOLD OUT
- 17 Tee – Limited number remaining
- 17 Fairway – SOLD OUT
- 30-person Suites (on-course, shared bar and shared buffet)
- 16 Fairway – Limited number remaining
- 10-person Tables (coming soon)
Additionally, hospitality purchasers will be provided with options to bundle hotel rooms, Ranch Houses (4-bedroom golf cottages) and VIP experiences at Omni PGA Frisco Resort.
Those interested in securing hospitality for the 2027 PGA Championship should complete the interest form at https://rsvp.pgahq.com/2027pgachampionship or contact Casey Dadio, Corporate Hospitality Sales Manager, at cdadio@pgahq.com.
Blake Rowling, CEO of TRT Holdings, has been named General Chair of the 2027 PGA Championship. Rowling will lead the Championship Host Committee, overseeing more than 50 committee chairs and over 3,000 volunteers, while also supporting the Championship’s sales initiatives. Rowling, a Texas native and University of Texas graduate, leads TRT Holdings which operates as a diversified holding and investment company with major interests in hospitality, energy, real estate and retail.
“It’s an honor and privilege to accept the position of General Chair for the 2027 PGA Championship,” said Rowling. “Hosting a men’s major at the Home of the PGA of America and Omni PGA Frisco Resort is a dream come true. The 660-acre campus was designed with hosting a major championship in mind, and we’re excited for the destination to shine on a global stage. I look forward to collaborating with the Championship staff as well as the business and community leaders as we prepare to deliver a world-class experience in 2027.”
Check the Source Before Purchasing
The PGA of America strongly advises interested parties to check the source before purchasing 2027 PGA Championship corporate hospitality packages. The PGA of America is the only source to offer official hospitality packages to the event, and only official hospitality packages are located on the actual championship grounds at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
Due to high demand and limited availability, it has become common practice for independent companies to market unofficial hospitality packages to the corporate community. These packages often falsely imply an affiliation with PGA of America and the 2027 PGA Championship, and will not provide access to the grounds of the event.
Other Opportunities
Those interested in receiving information on Championship tickets and volunteer opportunities can visit here. Additional details on both will be available later this spring.
PGA of America Partners with Punta Coral in Colombia
New Resort Development to include first PGA of America Golf Academy in South America
FRISCO, Texas. — The PGA of America has announced a strategic partnership with Punta Coral in Cartagena, Colombia, to develop PGA Punta Coral—the first PGA-affiliated golf facility in South America. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring.
Punta Coral is a premier mixed-use resort development that will showcase the 18-hole facility designed by award-winning architects Ron Garl and Ricky Nix. The course, designed for both residents and visiting players, will also host the first PGA of America Golf Academy in Colombia. The academy will introduce the Association’s player engagement programs, with a strong focus on beginner and junior development.
A new academy building, which will be located alongside the state-of-the-art practice areas, will also serve local golf professionals seeking to complete the PGA of America’s education pathways, supporting career growth and professional development in Colombia’s expanding golf market.
“Punta Coral’s dedication to creating a world-class golf facility and fostering the growth of the game in Colombia aligns seamlessly with the PGA of America’s mission to promote sustainable, long-term development of the game worldwide,” said PGA of America Director of Global Development Sean Thornberry, PGA. “This partnership unlocks new opportunities to grow the sport in one of the most promising golf regions in South America.”
“The arrival of the PGA of America to the Continent for the first time is not just a mark of quality, it’s an immense achievement and a sign for what’s to come,” said German Calle, VP of Marketing for Punta Coral. “We will work together for the good of golf in the entire region.”
With this agreement, the PGA of America now has branded golf-facility partnerships in eight countries, including Mexico, Dominican Republic, Morocco, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam and Colombia.
Entries Open for 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that online entry applications are now available for the 126th U.S. Open Championship, to be played from June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.
Thousands of golfers will attempt to qualify for the championship through a two-stage process, with a final field of 156 players advancing to Shinnecock, where a U.S. Open champion will be crowned. Non-exempt players will compete in one of 110 18-hole local qualifiers (108 in the United States and one each in Canada and Mexico) between April 20 and May 18.
Nearly 1,000 players will then compete in 36-hole final qualifying, scheduled at 13 sites worldwide. Final qualifying is set to be contested in England (May 18), Japan (May 25) and Canada (June 8) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 18 in Dallas, Texas, and nine on June 8, which also is known throughout the industry as “Golf’s Longest Day.”
There are 25 categories for full exemptions into the U.S. Open, including the top 5 players in the 2026 FedExCup standings as of May 18, who are not otherwise exempt. Players can also gain access by being among the top 60 points leaders (and ties) in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 18 and those who move into a second OWGR top 60 on June 15. The top player in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai as of May 18 who is not otherwise exempt also will gain entry into the field.
Entry applications, along with a list of qualifying sites, can be accessed at champs.usga.org, and entries will be accepted through Wednesday, April 9, at 5 p.m. EDT. To be eligible for 2026 U.S. Open qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4, or be a professional.
Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) in the United States, as well as the DP World Tour, Japan Golf Association, Golf Canada and Mexican Golf Federation, are working with the USGA to provide thousands of entrants from all backgrounds with the opportunity to compete for a spot in the year’s third major championship. This collaboration with AGAs allows for an open qualifying process in all five USGA Open Championships.
Since 2004, an average of 77.9 players (virtually half) in the U.S. Open field have advanced through one or both stages of qualifying. At the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, 70 players in the 156-player field earned their spot through qualifying. Of those 70 players, 15 made the cut, including four finishing in the top 20 overall. Carlos Ortiz, of Mexico, finished in a tie for fourth and is now exempt into this year’s championship.
Entry applications for four other USGA Open Championships are also now available. The 81st U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by Ally will be played June 4-7 at The Riviera Country Club, in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The 46th U.S. Senior Open Championship will be contested July 2-5 at Scioto Country Club, in Columbus, Ohio., and the 8th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship will be held Aug. 20-23, at Barton Hills Country Club, in Ann Arbor, Mich. The 5th U.S. Adaptive Open will be held from July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club’s South Course, in Rockville, Md.
Past U.S. Opens contested at Shinnecock Hills include the second U.S. Open in 1896, when James Foulis outlasted defending champion Horace Rawlins by three strokes, and the 100th U.S. Open in 1995, won by Corey Pavin over Greg Norman by two strokes.
Shinnecock Hills also hosted the U.S. Open in 1986, when Raymond Floyd broke away from Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins to win by two strokes, and in 2004, when Retief Goosen captured his second U.S. Open, defeating Phil Mickelson by two. Brooks Koepka successfully defended his U.S. Open title in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills, after winning at Erin Hills a year earlier.
Golf Participation Boomed in 2025, 82 Million Rounds Played
The USGA today unveiled the 2025 Golf Scorecard, an annual data report that uses information from scores posted under the World Handicap System™ (WHS™) to highlight golf participation trends. 3.68 million golfers with a Handicap Index® posted a record 82 million scores domestically in 2025, providing a unique macro snapshot of how the game was played last year.
New to the 2025 Scorecard is America’s Golfiest State, which considers the total number of scores posted by golfers in the state with a Handicap Index, as well as days in the active posting season window, to provide a look at which state truly plays the most golf. With one of the shortest active posting seasons in the country, Maine takes home the title of America’s Golfiest State in 2025, with the most golf played when taking each factor into account. Across the country, Florida leads the Southeast based on these metrics, Wisconsin paces the Midwest, Colorado heads up the Central and Arizona carries the torch for the West.
Comparing the 82 million-plus scores posted in 2025 to data going back to 2020, notable trends and stats include:
- Continued growth in 9-hole score posting: For the fifth consecutive year, there was a record number of 9-hole rounds played with 14,998,824 scores posted in 2025 – a 5% increase over 2024 and up over 46% since 2020.
- More golfers with a Handicap Index®: 3.68 million golfers in the U.S. maintained a Handicap Index in 2025 – up more than 8.2% year over year and up over 46% since 2020.
- New golfers posting more 9-hole rounds: Those who established a Handicap Index in 2025 were more likely to play and post 9-hole rounds. Among these golfers, 50.2% of scores posted by females and 26.7% of scores posted by males were 9-hole scores.
- Short-course posting trend continues: Building on the success of score posting at short courses in 2024, over 290,000 scores were posted at more than 470 short courses nationwide.
- Most rounds posted are recreational: A widely held notion that a Handicap Index is only for golfers who are playing in elite competitions continues to be dispelled by the data, as 94.4% of the 82 million rounds posted were recreational, and over 75% of all golfers with a Handicap Index were playing and posting purely for fun.
- Number of yards played spans the country: There are over 4.4 million yards from the site of the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally, Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., to 2026 U.S. Open venue Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., which means it would take 98,723 trips from Riviera to Shinnecock to equal the number of yards played in 2025.
“We were thrilled at the positive response to last year’s inaugural snapshot of the recreational game and enjoy using World Handicap System data to help tell these compelling stories about golf in the U.S.,” said Steve Edmondson, USGA managing director of Handicapping and Course Rating. “Alongside our Allied Golf Associations, we have seen another record year of score posting and golfer engagement and are all excited to see trends continue to evolve.”
2025 GHIN Rewind
Those with a Handicap Index can access their own personal golf recap via GHIN Rewind, which was deployed for the fourth year in mid-December. The 2025 GHIN Rewind added a spotlight for users who posted their scores hole-by-hole, detailing their scoring distribution (birdie or better, par, bogey, etc.) and scoring average by hole type (par 3, par, 4, par 5).
GHIN Rewind’s personalized year-in-review includes comprehensive data highlights including Handicap Index changes, average score, total rounds played, lowest and highest scores, courses played, days and months played, hardest and easiest courses, and most-played courses. The engaging, story-style format is designed to be easily shared on social media.
“It’s been so rewarding to see GHIN Rewind become a staple on the recreational golf calendar, and we are continually energized by the enthusiasm we see for the initiative each year,” said Tom Padula, USGA senior director of GHIN. “We know golfers want more insight into their scoring and performance data, and our users can look forward to new features and experiences related to stats and insights this coming year.”
Those who accessed their personal golf recap in mid-December can now revisit their GHIN Rewind and see their full year of posting activity, which has been updated to account for any rounds played in December. Players must have posted at least three 18-hole rounds to see their GHIN Rewind. The feature is available on the GHIN app for iOS and Android.
Download the GHIN app presented by Sentry now on iOS or Android, and for more information about the app and its features, please visit GHIN.com.
PGA Jr. League Player Registration Open at Facilities Nationwide
FRISCO, Texas – Registration for PGA Jr. League is now open. PGA of America Golf Professionals across the country are preparing to welcome kids of all skill levels to learn and play the game in a team format. Families can locate a nearby program and register online at PGAJrLeague.com.
PGA Jr. League programs are led by expert PGA of America Golf Professional Coaches and offered in two age divisions: 13u (ages 13 and under, with minimum age varying by facility) and 17u (ages 14-17). Kids wear numbered jerseys and play on teams with their friends, competing in a two-person scramble format that builds confidence and encourages sportsmanship.
“PGA Jr. League is undoubtedly one of our most successful growth of the game programs, and its positive impact on our sport will be felt for generations,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “At the center of it all, our PGA of America Golf Professionals are bringing this game-changing program to life, having reached a record 74,000 players in 2023. We love this game and PGA Jr. League has truly provided a fun, meaningful way to share it while creating new life-long golfers.”
PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth pillar program of the PGA of America’s 501 (c)(3) foundation, PGA REACH, with efforts focused on making the program accessible to all youth regardless of background, circumstance or ability. Last year, more than 5,000 scholarships were awarded to children who qualified for financial assistance or were from a military family. Families can donate to the PGA Jr. League Scholarship Fund during player registration or directly here.
Recreational PGA Jr. League seasons take place year-round and can officially begin March 1, though start dates vary by location. Following recreational play in the spring and summer, hundreds of 13u All-Star teams (boys and girls ages 10-13) and 17u All-Star teams (boys and girls ages 14-17) from across the country are formed in each league to begin their #DriveToTheChampionship through the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season.
In 2023, and returning in 2024, the inaugural 17u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship was held at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, won by Team Virginia of Dulles. Last year also marked the first time the 11th annual 13u Championship was held at the Home of the PGA of America on the Fields Ranch West course at PGA Frisco, aptly captured by Team Texas of nearby Farmers Branch.
PGA High School Golf National Invitational Returns to PGA Frisco in 2024
Boy’s Invitational set for July 1-3; Girl’s Invitational to follow July 8-10
FRISCO, Texas — The top high school golfers from across the country will journey to PGA Frisco this July for the 2024 PGA High School Golf National Invitational presented by Titleist & FootJoy.
This marks the second straight year the event will be played at PGA Frisco and the sixth edition of the PGA High School Golf National Invitational since its debut in 2019.
The Boy’s Invitational will take place July 1-3 on the Fields Ranch East and West Courses at PGA Frisco as well as WestRidge Golf Course in McKinney. The Girl’s Invitational will be contested July 8-10 across Fields Ranch West course as well as Old American Golf Club in The Colony and Gentle Creek Country Club in Prosper.
The invitation-only field consists of golfers who have won their respective state high school championships as a team or as an individual from small, large, public or private schools. Individual and team champions will be crowned following the three-day, 54-hole stroke-play event.
“The PGA of America is thrilled to host the PGA High School Golf National Invitational for a second time at PGA Frisco in July,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, Director of Golf at The Country Club of Lansing. “High school golf plays a vital role in the growth of the game, and we look forward to seeing the best high school players in the country showcase their skills at our amazing home in Frisco.”
The 2023 PGA High School Golf National Invitational was the first junior event held at PGA Frisco.The Girls’ Invitational was won by Texas (RGN) from San Antonio; Georgia (RVA) from Alpharetta took the Boy’s division. Athena Yoo (Georgia LMB) and Charles Beeson (Georgia RVA) claimed individual medalist honors among the Girls and Boys, respectively.
Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco is set to host 30 championships over the next 12 years. The 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship was the first major contested at Fields Ranch East, soon to be followed by the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2027 PGA Championship.
2023 PGA National Club Championship Features Club Champions From Across The Country
Women’s divisions take place Dec. 12-14, Men’s divisions to play Dec. 17-19, at Troon North and Westin Kierland in Arizona
Fields | Women’s Divisions Starting Times | Men’s Divisions Starting Times
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Dec. 11, 2023) ー Amateur club champions representing all 41 PGA Sections will compete in the 2023 PGA National Club Championship over the next two weeks at Troon North Golf Club and The Westin Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The fourth annual PGA National Club Championship will be contested by 520 club champions ranging from ages 13 to 80.
The PGA National Club Championship showcases the best amateur club champions and highlights the PGA of America Golf Professionals who helped elevate their games. Winners of 2023 club championships nationwide received an invitation to the 2023 PGA National Club Championship from their PGA of America Professional.
The Championship will feature six divisions, with each division competing over 54 holes. The divisions are Open (any age), Senior (50+ years old) and Legend (60+ years old), for men and women.
The women’s divisions will compete Dec. 12-14, followed by the men’s divisions Dec. 17-19. All contestants will play one round on each of the three courses: Troon North Golf Club’s Monument and Pinnacle courses and Westin Kierland’s Ironwood/Acacia.
TaylorMade, supporting partner of the PGA National Club Championship, will once again be onsite to provide participants with a first-class experience including complimentary fittings.
Elijah Craig, the official bourbon partner of the National Club Championship, will host events on-site, including tastings and happy hours.
Dunning Golf is the championship apparel partner of the National Club Championship, supplying competitors with premier apparel items.
For more information on the PGA National Club Championship, visit the championship website.
