2026 Tri-State Championship
June 9 & 10, 2026
Sanford Country Club, Sanford, Maine
The Tri-State Championship is an annual two-day match play tournament between Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. All VSWGA members are encouraged to apply for a place on our Vermont Tri-State team. The Vermont Team will be made up of 30 players in three handicap index divisions, plus two alternate players with a handicap index of 15 or higher.
Format:
- Day one (Tuesday)is a modified alternate shot match play. Strokes to be determined by comparing the lowest handicap player of each team at 90%.
- Day 2 format is individual match play at 100% handicap.
The two alternate team members will play with the alternates from the other states unless needed to replace an injured or sick teammate. Format for alternate competition will be decided by the host team. The substitution of an alternate player for a match player can happen at any time during play and for any division.
Entry Fee: TBD. This includes golf plus cart both days of the tournament, a Tri-State team shirt, and Tuesday night banquet dinner.
Eligibility: Entry is open to amateur golfers with an active VT GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 30.0 as of May 19, 2026. Five scores must have been posted to GHIN between January 1, 2026 and June 1, 2026 to be considered for selection. Golfers must also meet the VSWGA Eligibility Requirements for Major Tournaments.
Entries Close: Monday, May 18 at 3:00 p.m. Register on Golf Genius. All players will be placed on a “Pending Registration” list until the team is finalized on May 27. Applicants will then be notified whether they have been selected for the team.
Refund Deadline: No refunds after May 30.
Banquet: Tuesday, June 9 (mandatory).
Practice Round, Team Meeting, Details: June 8, fee TBD. Mandatory players-only team meeting Monday end-of-day (time/location TBD). No caddies are allowed on tournament days. The clothing combination for the Vermont Team is green shirt and black bottom on both days. Team shirts will be provided.
Tri-State Team Selection: The following considerations are taken into account during team selection:
- Handicap Index with a focus on 2025 Vermont postings.
- For those members with previous Tri-State experience, performance statistics for the past three years will be used.
- For players who are new to Tri-States, performance in relation to the players’ handicap for the past three VSWGA Major Championships played will be used.
- Past alternates and those players who have traveled to Maine and New Hampshire for Tri-State will be given consideration when breaking ties while ranking applicants.
- For the purpose of the tournament, player handicap index as of June 1 will be used.
Division placement is based on handicap index as of May 28, 2026. For the purpose of the tournament, whatever a player’s handicap is on June 1st, they will play to 80% of that handicap. Further information will be sent to all selected team members.
Players can enter a pending registration in Golf Genius. Each applicant will be notified as to whether they have been selected for the team. Further information (time for practice rounds, meetings, etc.) will be sent to all selected team members.
The division handicap index ranges and the number of players selected to each are:
| A | 0.0 – 14.9 | 10 players |
| B | 15.0 – 21.9 | 12 players |
| C | 22.0 – 30.0 | 8 players |
No caddies are allowed on tournament days.
Send questions to: the Tri-State Committee Members: Mary Jane Shomo, Captain; Nancy Devaux, or Barb Masterson. Email addresses can be found in the VSWGA handbook.
Eligibility: Players must also meet one of the following situations:
- Vermont Resident*
Any amateur golfer, as of the first day of the tournament, who is:- a legal resident of Vermont and,
- a member in good standing of a VSWGA member club* and,
- has an active Vermont 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
2. 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 VSWGA member club* for at least three years and,
- has an active Vermont 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 the state listed on their driver’s license.
Previous Tri-State Championships
