How to Get Competitive This Season

How to Get Competitive This Season

From Scrambles to Championships, There's Something for Everyone

One of the best things about golf is that everyone can compete. There are endless opportunities for some competition, whether you're a seasoned scratch golfer or a high-handicapper who just picked up the game.

We at NebGolf have been working to deliver competitive outlets for all of our 33,000+ members across the state, and hope to continue to expand those in the near future.

Most of you know us for our Championships, which we've been conducting since 1905, when the first Nebraska Amateur was contested. Our organization was built on identifying the best amateur golfers in the state, and we now conduct 15 state championships for men and women of all ages. The focus of these championships is just that, to provide the best golfers in the state with a great experience and a chance to challenge themselves.

Much like the USGA, these will always be a part of our fabric. However, times have changed and more and more people are getting into the game and looking for a way to compete.

We'll soon have more opportunities for members of all skill levels, but we wanted to take a chance to showcase all the ways golfers can already get out and compete. Take a look at our guide below.

Nebraska Tournaments Listing

This is one of the best and most comprehensive resources for tournaments and events. Our NebGolf member clubs can submit any tournaments they are hosting throughout the year, and we list them for all to see. Scrambles, best balls, charity events, weekend stroke plays and more at courses all across the state. Search through each month for an event, and link to a registration page or the course website for more. Visit the Nebraska Tournaments page to see what you can play in!

Join a League

If you're in a small town, your local course most-likely has a dedicated league night each week. If you're in a city, your options are plenty. In some places, you can play in a league nearly every night of the week, and sometimes in the morning. It's a great way to play nine holes with a bit of competition. The best part is the frequency, get in a routine playing every week on the same night. Ask courses around you, or check out their websites, to see how you can get into one of their leagues. Our Course Directory is a great way to find courses near you.

Member Club Point Events

This is a step up for those looking to play their own ball in a competition. Though points in the NebGolf SWAG Point Standings are on the line, these are flighted, so everyone has a chance at some merchandise. They can be a good test for those preparing for championships, or just a way to play a great golf course over the weekend. Courses that host such events include Beatrice Country Club, Fremont Golf Club, Riverside Golf Club, Indian Creek, Lochland Country Club, Southern Hills Golf Course and Elks Country Club in Columbus. These are listed on the Nebraska Tournaments page, but can also be found on the Point Tournaments page under Non-NebGolf Point Events.

Team Up with Interclub

NebGolf's Interclub program is a unique way to represent your home club and compete in a Ryder Cup-style format. A team of eight from each club plays a match against another club in their group. Teams play both single and four-ball matches simultaneously. The club's professional plays in the No. 1 spot, and a scratch golfer in the No. 2 spot, both in gross matches. The remaining six players play net matches. Groups consist of four clubs, so each team plays three matches with the top club advancing to the playoffs. The Semifinals and Final are conducted at Wild Horse Golf Club in Gothenburg each year. Check out the NebGolf Interclub page to learn more.

Join a Local/Regional Golf Association

There are several golf organizations in the state that offer regular competitive opportunities.

For women, the Nebraska Women's Amateur Golf Association annually hosts seven competitions, as well as a spring and fall meeting with golf. These include fun formats, social events and prizes. Learn more at nwaga.org. The Lincoln Women's Municipal Golf Association also hosts events throughout the year at Lincoln's city courses. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association offers events and leagues throughout the year through the Omaha Chapter.

Senior golfers (50+) have a plethora of options across the state. The Nebraska Senior Golf Association puts on 10-12 events each year, with both team and individual formats. The season is capped with a two-day state tournament with both gross and net winners. Regional senior tours offer even more opportunities, with the Central Nebraska Senior Golf Association (30-35 events), Eastern Nebraska Senior Golf Association (20+ events) and Northeast Nebraska Senior Golf Association (18-20 events) covering the state. The Panhandle also has organizations that put on several events from juniors to seniors. Learn more about all these opportunities on our Senior Golf page.

The Lincoln Municipal Golf Association has been around since 1963, and offers partner events, individual match play and stroke play tournaments and more. It's open to men 18-and-older in the Lincoln area.

The new Latino Golf Association is a great way to engage with others in a fun and relaxed environment.

Pro-Ams

The Nebraska Section PGA conducts pro-ams on several Mondays throughout the season. Play with a club pro and as part of a team at some of the top courses in the state. Take a look at their schedule and talk to the PGA Professional at your course to see how to get involved. There are also several other events that feature pro-ams, like the Pinnacle Bank Championship at Indian Creek.

Junior Golf

There's more junior golf opportunities than ever before. Nebraska Junior Golf offers 60+ competitions for junior golfers of all ages and skill levels. Visit nebraskajuniorgolf.com for more. PGA Jr. League is another great way to get your youngster introduced to competition in a fun team environment. Learn more at nebraskapga.com.

Championships

Finally, for the elite players, there are several championships that identify the best golfers in the state. NebGolf has championships for junior boys and girls, all the way up to senior men and women and everything in between. These are multi-day events at some of the best and more-challenging courses in the state. These are a true championship experience, and are the highest level of competition in the state. The men's championships typically require a certain handicap to enter. Check out the 2026 schedule here.

If you're looking to take yet another step, NebGolf hosts several qualifiers for USGA Championships. These are one-day events that give golfers a chance to earn a spot in a national championship conducted by the USGA, which are the pinnacle of amateur golf. Our Girls' Amateur, Junior Amateur, Women's Amateur and Nebraska Amateur champions also earn exemptions into their respective USGA championships. Learn more at usga.org.

Let us know how you get competitive on Instagram, Facebook, X or TikTok.

About NebGolf
The Nebraska Golf Association, founded in 1966, is comprised of all members of public and private clubs and/or municipal or regional golf associations which utilize an approved handicap service recognized by the USGA and provided by the NGA. Our mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values to all golfers in Nebraska. Among the duties of the Association include governance of member clubs and service as their handicapping and course rating authority, conduct of state golf championships, local USGA qualifying & other notable competitions, promotion of junior golf, presentation of worthwhile educational programs and support of allied golf organizations in Nebraska. The Nebraska Golf Association is an Allied Golf Association of the USGA and carries out core services including Handicap Administration and Oversight, Course Rating, Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status, Tournaments and USGA Championship Qualifiers and USGA Initiatives and Community Programs.