VSWGA Major Championships
Every year, the VSWGA organizes three major state championships: Amateur, Senior Amateur, and Mid-Amateur. Every three years, we host the annual Tri-State Championship, a match play tournament for teams from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Vermont will host Tri-States in 2024. Every six years, Vermont hosts the annual New England Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.
In addition, the New England Golf Association (NEGA) holds a Women’s Amateur Championship.
Eligibility: To participate in any VSWGA Major Championship Tournament, all players must be a member in good standing of the VSWGA. In addition, all players must meet one of the following:
Vermont Resident*:
Any amateur golfer, as of the first day of the tournament, who is a legal resident of Vermont and is a member in good standing of a member club** of the Vermont State Women’s Golf Association, has an active GHIN handicap issued by a VSWGA member club and has posted a minimum of 10 rounds of golf in the last 12 months at any VSWGA member club.
OR
Non-Vermont Resident:
Any amateur golfer, as of the first day of the tournament, who is not a legal resident of the State of Vermont, but has been a member in good standing of a Vermont State Women’s Golf Association member club** for at least three years***, has an active GHIN handicap issued by a VSWGA member club, and has posted a minimum of 10 rounds of golf in the last 12 months at any VSWGA member club.
*Legal residency is defined as the place of primary residence. Often this is determined by where the person is registered to vote or what State is listed on their Driver’s License.
** See a list of VSWGA member clubs, which includes Lakeside Golf Club.
***For 2024 only: non-residents who meet all other criteria but have only 2 years at a VSWGA member club (2023 and 2024) are eligible to participate.
Juniors:
Vermont Residents who are Juniors are eligible to play in the VSWGA Amateur Championship and the NEGA Women’s Championship. Registration for the VSWGA Amateur Championship is free to all Vermont Juniors, however they must have an active Vermont GHIN handicap and meet the handicap requirement for the tournament. Additionally, Juniors that wish to compete in the Net Division of the Championship must have posted a minimum of 10 rounds of golf in the last 12 months.
No registration fees will be charged to Juniors that play in the Vermont Amateur Championship. Juniors must join the VSWGA and register in Golf Genius. VSWGA Membership is free to Juniors.
A Junior is any player who is a resident of the state of Vermont or meets the previously listed eligibility requirements and has not reached their 19th birthday by the opening day of the tournament. A Junior of 18 years of age is eligible only if they have not yet begun their first semester of college. Parents and guardians are not allowed to caddie for Juniors.
Field Size: Vermont State Championship field(s) are limited to a posted number of applicants with the lowest USGA indices (at the close of registration). See tournament pages in the menu for each of the majors for more information.
Format: The Amateur, Senior Amateur, and Mid-Amateur, and NEGA Amateur are stroke play events. Tri-States is a match play event.
Awards: Prizes and Universal Certificates will be awarded based on the number of players in the tournament. Universal Certificates may be used at any VSWGA Member Pro Shop. All certificates expire on September 30th of the following year.
Tee Times and Lodging: All tournament tee times and lodging information will be e-mailed to registrants and posted on the VSWGA website.
Restrictions and Refund Policy:
If the Championship course is declared unplayable and as a result it is not possible to complete the 36 or 54 holes of play in the period in which the Championship is scheduled, the Championship will not be extended beyond the last scheduled day and the winner shall be the individual who returns the lowest score for the number of stipulated rounds played. Registration fees are not refunded after the start of an event as many tournament expenses are non-refundable.
The VSWGA does not refund entry fees to players who withdraw from a tournament after the tournament has begun. If a player experiences an emergency and withdraws after the “No Refunds” date, they may submit a request for a refund, in writing, to the Tournament Director. If approved, a refund will be made, less a $25 administrative charge.
Practice Rounds: Available dates for practice rounds are at the discretion of the golf course and information will be e-mailed to registered participants. Cart fees are usually required for practice rounds.
Details Subject to Change: Details are subject to change and will be posted on the VSWGA website if needed.
Registration/Check-In: Registration/Check-in at all tournaments will be in the morning starting 1 hour before the first tee time, until 1 hour before the last tee time on the first day. Registration information will be emailed to registered players.
Carts: There is often a limited number of carts. On tournament days carts are not required. Cart fees are in addition to registration fees and will be paid directly to the course on the day of play. Players must indicate whether they want a cart when they register. Competitors are asked to share a cart whenever possible.
Caddies: No golf professional is allowed to caddie for any competitor. Parents and guardians are not allowed to caddie for a Junior player.
Distance Measuring Devices: Distance measuring devices (including phones when using a distance measuring app) are permitted as long as they do not measure gradient, slope, wind speed or wind direction. These features must be turned off during Tournament play. Phones must be silenced when in use as a distance measuring device.