NORTON, Massachusetts – Less than three weeks after online registration went live for all Mass Golf Championships and Women’s Championships, competitors continue to take advantage of the opportunity to secure their spot in events which will be held from May through October.
In total, Mass Golf will host 20 Championships and 42 qualifiers this season. While the first Championship event of the season – the Four-Ball Championship – will not be held until the first week of May, entries will close for that event on April 18.
“It’s hard to think about the golf schedule with snow still on the ground, but the season will be here before you know it,” said Kevin Eldridge, Mass Golf’s Director of Rules & Competitions. “We highly encourage competitors to register early so that they will not miss out on what will be a tremendous season of events.”
Thirteen days after online registration began for Mass Golf Championships and Women’s Championships, the first wave of online registration went live for four USGA Championships – U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Registration for the remaining USGA Championships will become available in the coming weeks.
Click here to learn more about the launch of USGA online registration and the Mass Golf clubs that will be hosting qualifiers in the coming months.
For Mass Golf competitors, however, the next big date to mark on the calendar is Thursday, March 7th as that is the day when online registration will go live for all Women’s Team Tournaments, Mixed Team Tournaments and Parent/Child Tournaments.
“From our most competitive championships to our parent-child events, we have an opportunity to play for everyone,” said Eldridge. “We encourage golfers – new and old – to use these months to check out all of the events that we offer. We truly feel that we have one of the most comprehensive playing schedules in the region if not the country.”
To assist competitors with managing the start of the online registration, here are a few of the most frequently asking questions compiled by the Mass Golf staff.
Who do I contact if I am having problems registering?
The Mass Golf staff is here to assist you with any issues or questions that you might have. Click here to access email addresses and phone numbers for members of the Championship department.
Do I need to have an active Handicap Index to register?
Yes. Only golfers who have an active and up-to-date USGA/GHIN Handicap Index are eligible to register for Mass Golf Championships, Tournaments and Member Days. Golfers with an inactive Handicap Index should contact their current club to take the necessary steps to become active. Golfers affiliated with a Mass Golf club that is part of the Members Now! program (click here to see a list) are able to renew online through the My Mass Golf home program.
What if my handicap index does not meet the requirements now but I know that it will in the next few months?
Golfers are able to register only if their current Handicap index meets the stated event requirements. When golfers log into their My Mass Golf home program and proceed through the Event Registration process, they will see which events they are eligible for under the “Register” column. If the golfer meets all event eligibility requirements, they will see an “Online Entry” or “Apply Online” button. If they are not eligible, they will see a note indicating what eligibility requirement is not met (e.g. “index not met”).
Why are “Championships” not listed as “Men’s Championships”?
There is no gender requirement for any Mass Golf Championship. However, there is a gender requirement for Women’s Championships (female golfers only). Women golfers who meet the stated eligibility requirements for any Championship are able and encouraged to register.
Other than the stated eligibility requirements found on each event landing page, is there anything else I need to know prior to registering?
Every competitor should take a moment to review the Mass Golf Policy & Procedures page. Included on that page is the following summary of General Criteria for Championship Eligibility, which is as follows:
Each Mass Golf Championship has its own specific tournament eligibility criteria (i.e., maximum handicap index, age requirements, etc.). Please reference the specific Championships for further details. In general, to be eligible for a Mass Golf Championship, all applicants must meet the following criteria:
Any amateur golfer who has an active Mass Golf/GHIN Handicap Index at any public, private, semi-private, municipal or non-real estate Mass Golf member course/club (or have completed a Handicap Certification)
Have played and posted 5 rounds at any Mass Golf member club/course within 12 months of the specified Championship entry deadline
*Exceptions – Open Championship, Ouimet Memorial Tournament, Junior Amateur Championship, Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship (Junior-Junior & Mite Divisions) & Young Golfers’ Championship.
What do I do if my preferred qualifying site is full?
Qualifying spots are secured on a first-come, first-serve basis. If your preferred qualifying site is full, we encourage you to select another open qualifying spot in order to complete the registration process. You can then send an email to a member of the Mass Golf Championship staff asking to be put on a wait list for your preferred site. The wait list is established in order by date/time they were received. Entries received on the same day are placed on the list in the order in which they are opened.
This policy is the same for non-qualifying events that may become over-subscribed such as the Four-Ball Championship and Senior Four-Ball Championship.
If there are still spots available after entries close can I still get into the event?
No. Once entries close for an event – regardless of how many entries are received and how many spots may still be available at that time – registration is considered closed and no entries will be received. There are no exceptions.
If I am exempt into an event, do I still need to register?
Yes. Exempt competitors must register online for an event prior to the entry close date.
What happens if I sign up for an event now but I can’t make it and have to withdraw?
Mass Golf has a stated withdrawal process for all Championships and Tournaments.
Competitors, who have submitted an entry for a Mass Golf event and wish to withdraw for any reason, MUST notify the Mass Golf office in writing (e-mail is acceptable and encouraged) or by phone. Entry fee will be refunded less a $20 administrative fee, regardless of reason, if Mass Golf is notified in writing or by phone seven days prior to each event (Championship or Qualifier). Entry fee will be refunded less 50% for any withdrawals received less than seven days prior to each event. No refund will be processed for a withdrawal notification that is received on the scheduled date of an event (Championship or Qualifier).
How do I register online for Championships or Women’s Championships?
All online registration is done at MassGolf.org and through the My Mass Golf home page. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to register online.
Step 1: Visit MassGolf.org and input your login credentials after clicking the “Member Login” button located at the top right of the home page.
Step 2: Once logged into your home page, click the Event Registration icon and then select Championships.
Step 3: An online registration link will appear to the right for all Championships – in chronological order – that you are eligible for based on the most recent handicap revision. On that page you can also view 2019 New England Golf Association (NEGA) events and USGA qualifiers being held locally using the toggle options located at the top of the page. Please note that registration for all USGA and NEGA must be processed on the respective association web sites.
Step 4: After agreeing to the terms and conditions of championship play, you can use the one-page form to input your credit card and billing information before clicking “Next” at the bottom of the page to complete the transaction. Upon completion of the payment process, you will see an online confirmation message on screen and will receive an email confirmation.
Step 5: All of your registrations will now be visible whenever you log into your My Mass Golf Home. After clicking the Event Registration icon, you will see a historical record of your Mass Golf registrations.
