Headline: MGA Announces Sites and Dates for Its 2017 Championship Schedule; Season to Kick Off on May 9-10 With the Playing of the Four-Ball

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2016

Haverhill CC
Renaissance
Red Tail GC
Haverhill CC
Renaissance
Red Tail GC
TGC
Charles River CC
Wyantenuck CC

Norton, MA — In preparation for the upcoming season, the MGA has released a list of 2017 MGA Championship Proper sites and dates.

In addition, it was announced that online registration for all MGA Championship events will go live beginning on Thursday, February 2nd at 10:00 a.m. At that time, all eligible competitors will be able to secure their spot at upcoming championships and qualifiers.

The 2017 MGA Championship season will kick off on May 9-10 with the playing of the Four-Ball and will conclude at the end of September with the Mid-Amateur.

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2017 MGA Championship Quick Links

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Over the course of a season, the MGA utilizes more than 80 Member Clubs to host various events including championships, qualifiers (both MGA & USGA), Member Days and special events. Qualifying sites are used for seven of the 12 MGA Championships and spots are – as always – reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. A list of those qualifying sites will be made available after the New Year.

Interested competitors are reminded that in order to register for any MGA Championship, he/she must have an active handicap index with an MGA Member Club. Golfers who are currently inactive in the GHIN system should contact their home club directly or utilize the MGA Members Now! program to activate their GHIN # in time for the launch of online registration.

“We are trying to educate golfers about our eligibility policies,” said Kevin Eldridge, the MGA's director of rules & competition. “Our staff is always available to answer any questions that a golfer may have to ensure that the process of registration is seamless.”

Highlights from the upcoming season will no doubt be a return of the MGA Amateur Championship to Charles River Country Club for a sixth time. This year’s five-day competition, which includes both stroke and match play, will be contested on July 10-14 in Newton. Leading up to that championship showdown, a total of 10 qualifiers will be held across the state from May 29 through June 22.

In June, the MGA Open Championship will be hosted by TGC for the first time in event history. Qualifying for that event – which is open to amateurs and professionals who hold an up-to-date handicap index from any state or regional golf association – begins in May and will feature approximately six qualifying hosts located across the state.

Key changes for the 2017 MGA Championship season include the following:

  • A Super Senior Division has been added to the MGA Senior Four-Ball Championship. That division will feature eligible teams of two active MGA Member Club golfers, ages 65+ with a combined handicap index of 16.0 or less.
  • The age limit for the MGA Junior Amateur Championship has been increased from 17 to 18 years old. All active MGA Member Club golfers or Massachusetts residents age 14-18 will be eligible.
  • The age eligibility for the Junior Division of the MGA Father & Son Championship has been adjusted to sons age 14-18; sons 19+ will be eligible to compete in the Senior Division.

Additional 2017 MGA Championships Proper hosts include: Needham GC, The Orchards GC, Pinehills GC, Andover CC, The Ridge Club, Wyantenuck CC, Oakley CC, and Franklin CC.

A complete list of local and sectional qualifiers conducted as a prelude to the 2017 USGA Championships will also be available online in the coming months.

The MGA works with the New England Golf Association (NEGA) to conduct qualifying rounds for the major USGA Championships including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women's Amateur, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Senior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur, U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, and U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball.

Participants must register for USGA events at www.usga.org.

Online registration for all USGA events will go live beginning in March.