Most new golfers think NCGA tournament golf is only for scratch players. They picture stiff competition and players who never miss a shot. While we do have great players in our Championship events, the majority of NCGA tournaments are net events, which have players of all different abilities.
Here's the short answer: the Weekend Net Tour (WNT) is the best first tournament if you've never played in one before. It's one day, it’s a net event, held on a weekend, it's open to every skill level, and you can win prizes! In this guide, you'll learn
If you only remember one thing from this post, remember this: sign up for the Weekend Net Tour. It's built for golfers just like you.
Here's why it works so well for first-timers:
Let the NCGA take care of all the legwork in finding tee times at good courses to play. All you have to do is register through our WNT Tournament Calendar, and we’ll see you on the first tee!
Before you register for any NCGA event, make sure you have these four things ready:
Hot Tip: Be sure to plan ahead. Since the WNT is such a great starting point, it means that it is popular with all players and can fill up quickly. Tournament registration opens in three waves throughout the year:
mid-January
mid-April
mid-July
So be sure to register early!
The Weekend Net Tour isn't your only option. A few other NCGA events share the same beginner-friendly setup: one day, net scoring, and flighted fields.
Not sure if you’re quite ready for a tournament? Come play in our Member Outings; these are casual golf events with no leaderboards or scorecards. Just a fun day on some of the best golf courses in Northern California. Grab your friends and make it an annual tradition to play in at least one Member Outing!
This series offers a casual, flighted format built just for women. Tournaments are flighted by handicap, ensuring golfers of all skill levels have the chance to compete, enjoy the game, and win. With 80+ events hosted on weekdays at a variety of golf courses throughout Northern California, you'll have plenty of scheduling flexibility to find one that works for you.
Open to women 50 and older and men 55 and older, this series offers flighted net competitions in a single-day format. Played on weekdays, these competitions are flighted by handicap and age. There are prize funds for each flight and an optional skins game.
For players 9-18 years old, these one-day, 18-hole events are flighted by handicap and are a great way to get junior golfers started in tournament play!
Every one of these options shares the same traits that make a tournament easy to start with: one day, net scoring, and flighted fields so you're playing against golfers at your own level.
Not every NCGA event is a great starting point. Multi-day championships, like the NCGA Amateur, Stroke Play Championship, and California Amateur qualifiers, are better goals to work toward after you've played a season or two of net tournaments.
Here's why they're tougher for beginners:
None of this means you should avoid these tournaments forever. Think of them as a great goal to build toward, not a place to start.
Ready to sign up? Here's exactly what to do:
That's it. Six steps, and you're officially entered in your first NCGA tournament.
Hot Tip: For an in-depth review on how to navigate the NCGA Tournament Calendar, be sure to check out our “Step by Step Guide on How to Register for an NCGA Tournament” here.
Here's the takeaway: the Weekend Net Tour is your best first step. It's low-pressure, flighted by your handicap index, held on weekends and on various courses.
Check the current tournament schedule and register soon; spots in popular events fill up quickly. And if you're not sure your NCGA membership or handicap is set up correctly, take care of that first so you're ready to register the moment you find your event.
We’ll see you on the first tee!