Golf tournaments are a true test of your game and skills.

Anyone can play well in a casual round with friends… but does your game stack up in competition? Whether you’re shooting in the 90s or 70s, everyone can benefit from tournament golf.

Golf competitions shine light on your weaknesses and allow you to practice more efficiently as a result. Not to mention you can meet like-minded people, hit clutch shots under pressure, and maybe walk away with some hardware.

Here’s how to find the right golf tournaments for your next season and ensure that they align with your overall golf goals. 

Selecting the Best Golf Tournaments

Since 2016 I’ve competed in more than 200 days of tournaments - from local events to Q-School in 2019. Not all tournaments are created equal, here’s how to rank them and what to sign up for in the new year. 

3 Levels of Competition 

It’s best to play a wide range of tournaments to have the most fun but also learn the most about your game. 

Hit and Giggle

Tiger Woods talks about “hit and giggle” golf enough I figured this should be our first type of event. These are very casual tournaments and a great way to ease into the season, especially if you have a long off season. 

These type of events might include:

• Weekly golf league night
• 2 or 4-golfer scrambles
• Back nine and networking

These one day events follow the rules of golf (aka no dragging 3-footers) but are more social and a good way to meet new people. They’re also great to keep your game sharp between other events and provide feedback to make your practice more effective. Plus, they are ideal if you’re new to competitive golf. 

Championship Events

The second type of tournaments are similar to your weekly PGA Tour events. These are ones that are more formal, usually cost more money, and are likely multiple day events. 

Some good examples of these tournaments might include:

• State tournaments 
• Competitive men’s club
• Club championships or member-member/member-guest events

Depending on the size of the field there might be a cut too. These are great events to test your game under tough tournament conditions. 

Stretch Tournaments 

The final type of golf tournament you should sign up for are stretch tournaments; these are similar to majors of professional golf. These are the big events you circle on the calendar months in advance to prepare and strategize. 

These tournaments should feel like a stretch and likely give you butterflies when signing up. This is how I felt when I signed up for my first US Open Qualifying and Q-school a few years ago.

It’s normal to think, “Am I good enough to play in this tournament?” This is a good thing as it’ll make you step out of your comfort zone and prepare more as well. 

Expect plenty of nerves but also tons of fun too. Plus, when you do compete, every other type of tournament will feel easier in the future. 

Closing Thoughts

Play in a variety of tournaments in 2023 to mix it up and improve your skills. Make sure to read my best tournament tips to help you plan and strategize to get the most out of your game. 

Finally, don’t forget to have fun and learn from each event. Every round you should either get educated (learn from your mistakes) or validated (know that your practice routines are working).