State amateur championships.
19 state amateur championships across the major U.S. golf states. Every state has a State Amateur run by its state golf association, the longest-running line on most adult amateurs' résumés before any USGA or marquee invitational entry. Coverage here is strongest in the highest-volume golf states and expanding toward all 50; see the note below if yours isn't listed yet.
California State Amateur (NCGA)
Cal State Am (NCGA)California State Amateur, conducted by the Northern California Golf Association. Running since 1912, one of the oldest state amateurs in the country. 156-player match-play championship rotating through NCGA's premier member venues. Past champions include Ken Venturi, Bobby Clampett, and Mark O'Meara.
Since 1912, one of the oldest state amateur titles in the U.S.
SCGA Amateur Championship
SCGA AmSouthern California Golf Association Amateur Championship. Stroke-play qualifying followed by match play. The SCGA dates to 1899, one of the oldest regional golf associations in the United States, and its amateur title is a regional flagship covering a region with over 100,000 SCGA members.
Texas State Amateur Championship
Texas AmConducted by the Texas Golf Association. 72-hole stroke-play championship rotating through Texas's top private clubs. The TGA also runs the Texas State Open, Texas Mid-Amateur, and Texas Senior Amateur; Texas runs more amateur events than any other state.
Texas runs more amateur events than any other state.
Florida State Amateur Championship
Florida AmConducted by the Florida State Golf Association. One of the deepest state amateur fields in the country given Florida's year-round golf calendar and density of top junior pipelines. Hosted on rotating premier private clubs across the state.
New York State Amateur
NY State AmConducted by the New York State Golf Association. 156-player match-play championship rotating through NYSGA's member venues. Combines with the NYSGA's Mid-Amateur, Senior, and four-ball events to anchor the New York competitive amateur calendar.
Pennsylvania Amateur Championship
PA AmConducted by the Pennsylvania Golf Association. Stroke-play championship rotating through Pennsylvania's deep roster of classic-era venues including Aronimink, Merion, and Oakmont. The PaGA also runs the Pennsylvania Open and Pennsylvania Mid-Am.
Georgia Amateur Championship
Georgia AmConducted by the Georgia State Golf Association. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. Strong WAGR weighting given Georgia's college-golf depth (Georgia Tech, Georgia, Augusta) and the GSGA's premier venue rotation.
Carolinas Amateur Championship
Carolinas AmConducted by the Carolinas Golf Association, the joint North + South Carolina golf association. One of the deepest state-level amateur fields in the country given the Carolinas' density of golf programs and the CGA's premier venue access at Pinehurst, Quail Hollow, and beyond.
Joint NC + SC championship, one of the deepest state-level fields in the country.
Tennessee State Amateur
Tennessee AmConducted by the Tennessee Golf Association. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. Past champions have routinely surfaced on the PGA Tour. TGA's premier amateur title is a recognized state résumé line.
Ohio Amateur Championship
Ohio AmConducted by the Ohio Golf Association. 156-player stroke-play championship. Strong tradition given Ohio's golf history (Jack Nicklaus's home state) and the OGA's deep member-club rotation including Scioto and Inverness.
Michigan Amateur Championship
Michigan AmConducted by the Golf Association of Michigan. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. Running since 1916. Past champions include Walter Hagen and Ryan Brehm. Hosted at premier Michigan venues including Oakland Hills and Crystal Downs.
Massachusetts Amateur Championship
Mass AmConducted by Mass Golf. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying: the longest continuously running state amateur in the United States, dating to 1903. Hosted at New England's deepest classic-era venue rotation including The Country Club, Brookline.
Since 1903, longest continuously running state amateur in the U.S.
Illinois State Amateur Championship
Illinois AmConducted by the Chicago District Golf Association. 156-player match-play championship after stroke qualifying. The CDGA's premier amateur title, hosted at premier Chicago-area venues including Olympia Fields and Medinah.
New Jersey Amateur Championship
NJ AmConducted by the New Jersey State Golf Association. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. New Jersey's classic-era venue rotation (Baltusrol, Plainfield, Ridgewood) routinely produces a deep field of college-elite amateurs.
Virginia State Amateur
Virginia AmConducted by the Virginia State Golf Association. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. Hosted at Virginia's premier member venues including Kinloch, Independence, and Country Club of Virginia.
Maryland Amateur Championship
Maryland AmConducted by the Maryland State Golf Association. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. The MSGA also runs the Maryland Open and Maryland Mid-Am, anchoring the state's competitive amateur calendar.
Colorado Amateur Championship
Colorado AmConducted by the Colorado Golf Association. 156-player stroke-play championship. Hosted at premier Front Range and mountain venues including Cherry Hills (multiple U.S. Opens) and Castle Pines.
Arizona Amateur Championship
Arizona AmConducted by the Arizona Golf Association. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. Hosted at premier Arizona venues during the spring, one of the few state amateurs played outside summer due to desert climate.
Washington State Amateur Championship
WA State AmConducted by Washington Golf. Match-play championship after stroke qualifying. Hosted at premier Pacific Northwest venues including Sahalee and Chambers Bay.
State championship we're missing? Most state golf associations also run a State Open, State Mid-Amateur, and State Senior Amateur off the same homepage. The state association URL above is the entry point for all of them.
About state amateur championships
Every U.S. state has at least one state amateur championship conducted by its state golf association. The Massachusetts Amateur (1903) is the longest continuously running state amateur in the country. California is uniquely split: the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) and Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) each run their own state-level amateur, with the NCGA's version dating to 1912. Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas run the deepest fields by raw entry numbers given the density of college and competitive junior pipelines in those states.
For most competitive adult amateurs, the state amateur is the first WAGR-eligible event on the calendar each summer. Performance here unlocks USGA championship sectional qualifying exemptions, invitations to marquee invitationals, and, at the deepest end, Walker Cup or Palmer Cup consideration via WAGR points. Check the field's handicap requirement before you enter; caps vary by state and by year.
Each state golf association linked above also runs a State Open (the state's pro + amateur championship), a State Mid-Amateur (25+), State Senior Amateur (55+), and various four-ball / partner events. Entry forms and qualifying for all of them route through the same state association homepage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I qualify for my State Amateur?
Most state golf associations run their State Amateur as an open entry: any amateur member of the association (or resident of the state) with a handicap index inside the published cap can enter directly, no sectional qualifying required. A handful of the deepest-field states (Texas, Florida, California) run a 36-hole qualifier when entries exceed the field size. Check the state association's own site for the current handicap cap and entry deadline before assuming you're in.
Do I need to be a resident of the state to play in its State Amateur?
Usually yes, or a member of that state's golf association, which most states let you join regardless of residence. Some states also require an active USGA Handicap Index maintained through a club in that state. Confirm eligibility rules directly with the state association; they vary more than most players expect.
Is the State Amateur stroke play or match play?
Both formats show up. Most State Amateurs run 36 or 54 holes of stroke-play qualifying, then cut to match play for the final rounds. A minority stay stroke play throughout. The format is set by each state association and can change year to year, so check the current year's notice of championship.