Two ways amateur golfers can get competitive juices flowing

Sunriver will host the 2023 U.S. Am Tour finals

There’s nothing quite like that feeling of feeling the pressure on the golf course.  In fact, it’s one of the things you’ve got to love about our great game.

Whether you’re a 20-handicap golfer grinding out a $5 Nassau bet on the last hole, or a PGA Tour champion like Jon Rahm or Tiger Woods looking to close out a major championship, we can all relate to that feeling in the pit of our stomach and the need to overcome it and perform at our best.

If you’re anything like us, you live for that moment and there’s no better feeling than conquering those demons and playing your best when it matters most.  But the thing that often baffles us is that most players want to be in that moment once every few weeks or months and expect to make magic happen every time. Golf, just like anything, requires practice of being under pressure — and there are ways to make this happen all across the country.

So today, we wanted to highlight a few organizations that are hosting events that can help you get those feels and get “tournament ready” for your next golf getaway with your crew — or risk getting ridiculed for not performing.

U.S. Am Tour

If you love to compete, then take a look at the U.S. Am Tour.  With 47 local tours hosting more than 700 local tournaments every year, it’s a great way to enjoy one-day events in your local market and compete against golfers just like you — obsessed with the game and love getting their juices flowing in the heat of competition.  The competition is set up for players of all abilities in flighted competition so you don’t have to worry about trying to beat a scratch golfer if you are an 18 handicap.

In addition to the one-day events, the U.S. Am Tour also hosts multiple 2-day major championships throughout the year at fantastic venues including the likes of Sea Island, Turning Stone Resort Casino, and TPC Sawgrass where players can earn points and ultimately have the chance to compete in their multi-day U.S. Am Tour Finals which will take place at Sunriver Resort in 2023.

Spark Golf

If you’re looking for competition in a more relaxed environment, then Spark Golf could be the right place for you.  Spark Golf has exploded in recent years as this 9-hole social golf league environment is set up for you and your friends to enjoy at more than 1,200 golf courses throughout the United States and Canada.

Spark Golf is free to join, and once you download the app you can see which courses in your area are available, and simply log in and sign up to play.  It’s that easy!  This is definitely a great way for you and your local crew to easily manage golf outings, giving you a nice excuse to sneak out for some mid-week golf and play competitively.

Recommendation

We’ve had the pleasure of playing in both formats, and each provides their own benefits and are not mutually exclusive so you can easily use both platforms as a way to play and compete throughout the year. This will make you game-day ready for your big trip, and we hope it helps you enjoy those all-important annual bragging rights after your crew’s next golf vacation!