Golf tournaments are great competitive events where you can both have fun as well as challenge your golf game along with others. There are hundreds of golf tournaments held all over the world, both for professionals and amateurs. Even local organizations have golf tournaments.
For male professionals, four major golf tournaments are held each year. They are:
- The Masters
- The U.S. Open
- The British Open
- PGA Championship
Female professionals have their own four major golf tournaments each year. They are:
- Kraft Nabisco Championship (formerly the Dinah Shore Tournament)
- LPGA Championship
- U.S. Women’s Open
- Women’s British Open
Of course, amateur golfers will have golf tournaments as well, including the U.S. Amateur Championship for men and women, and juniors. Amateur seniors and amateur professionals also have specific golf tournaments to gain experience and even notoriety.
Professional golf tournaments are almost all held the same way. There are two days of qualifying rounds, after which, the bottom players are cut. Then there are two more days of competition. Each round is 18 holes.
Open golf tournaments, such as the U.S. Open, are held to try and give amateurs the chance to break into the field of professional golf. Golfers participate in a series of smaller tournaments to qualify for the Open, where they proceed to the big competition and compete against professionals. The last amateur to win a U.S. Open was back in 1933.
Amateurs also get the chance to play in big golf tournaments. The Masters Golf tournament invites the winners of several prestigious events to participate in the big one. That includes the winner of the U.S. and British Amateur Championships.
Most local golf tournaments are held to raise money for specific organizations or charities. Anyone can participate, and they can be quite fun. Most local golf tournaments are one, maybe two, day events and consist of one 18 hole round. Prizes may be awarded for skins, long drives, and long putt, to name a few. Local golf tournaments are flighted – meaning that participants are separated into classes according to ability. Many are also scramble or best ball format.
When you are a regular participant in golf tournaments, you can see why the pros love them so much. Although you won’t be receiving the same big paycheck that they do, you can sure have a lot of fun!
