How do I start competing?

[kleraudio]

So I really want to start playing flighted tournaments.  I have a couple of guys I golf with but they're very sporadic in their schedule.  I usually book single tee times and get grouped up with strangers.  I'd love to have a normal playing group where we can bet a few bucks and have a good time, but it's just not in the cards for me.

I signed up for a GHIN number and as of the 6/1 revision I will have an official hdcp.

Soooo where do I start looking for tournaments to play in?   I would LOVE to start playing competitively.  I play so much better when something is on the line!

[Bjans1]

Best place to start IMO is your state's golf association. For example, I'm a wisconsin resident and if you check their website WSGA.org you'll see a tournament schedule that has a bunch of events for both gross and net types.

There's also the USGA events that you can play (assuming you have the proper handicap credentials).

Finally, check the local courses in your area, there's a lot of tournaments to be found on the bulletin boards near the pro shop/locker rooms of most places.

[kleraudio]

Great, thank you for the advice.  I'm a member of COgolf.org.  I'll have to see what's available!

[kleraudio]

Meh, it's really mostly junior events and best ball stuff..... I was looking for more stroke play type stuff that is flighted... or Net so I can be paired up with anyone and play a net round..

[David in FL]

Look into your local amateur tours. Golf Channel and Golf Week are two of the more popular, but there are others. They're not real cheap....$200 or so for an annual tour membership and you'll pay $60-$100 per event, but you'll have a BLAST! You can also check with your local public courses. They'll often hold events. Good luck, and have fun! :beer:

[kleraudio]

Thanks David.  I did look into those amateur tours but 200 for a yearly membership is a bit steep for me.   I'll have to check out the public courses websites around here and see if they've got any events running.

[dbuck]

Some of those local tours let you play a tournament or so as a guest. You might investigate that and find that you like it enough to pay the membership.

[cfritchie]

Go talk to the local PGA Professional at the course you play at most of the time. He could suggest a group of guys/players that fit your demographics. Maybe he or one of the assistants would pair you with a couple different groups to see if you are a good fit.

Some public courses do have an MGA (Mens Golf Association) that you can join.

[Maddog10]

Thanks David.  I did look into those amateur tours but 200 for a yearly membership is a bit steep for me.   I'll have to check out the public courses websites around here and see if they've got any events running.

I don't know if things are the same where you live, but our local paper puts out a full schedule of every tournament in the area for the entire year. It includes stroke play, match play, scrambles, men & women's events, couples events, benefit tournaments, statewide tournaments, etc. It includes everything. There is also a brochure that comes out each year and widens the radius to everything within about 2 hours. I'm sure all of your local clubs have invitationals each year that are flighted stroke play tournaments? Just get in touch with a local club and ask them about their tournament schedule, and if there's anywhere you can find a consolidated list of all the tourneys in the area.

[kleraudio]

Man that would be sweet but I get the paper and have never seen that!

I'll have to investigate this weekend and see whats coming up.  Net stroke play would be my preferred way to play.   But I'm open to anything that isn't a team tournament (for now).

Thanks!