The calendar has turned to 2024, which means the golf schedule is fresh, kicking off this week with the PGA Tour’s The Sentry in Hawaii.
However, the professional game is only one aspect of the global sport. Amateur golf takes up a big chunk of the schedule, and there are plenty of signature events to be excited about in the coming year.
Whether it’s the Curtis Cup or a new NCAA Championship venue, players returning from injury or others having one last semester in their college careers, there is plenty to look forward to in the amateur golf realm.
Here are 24 things to look forward to in amateur golf in 2024.
The United States team pose with the Curtis Cup and their team caddies after the singles matches on day three of The 2022 Curtis Cup at Merion Golf Club on June 12, 2022 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
The biennial competition between the best female amateurs in the United States facing off against those from Great Britian and Ireland returns to Sunningdale Golf Club in England from Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The Americans lead the all-time series, 29-8-3.
Michael Thorbjornsen plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run on July 09, 2023 in Silvis, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The senior at Stanford holds the top spot in the PGA Tour University rankings for 2024, but he hasn’t hit a shot for the Cardinal this season because of a stress fracture in his back. He’s one of the best amateurs in the world when he’s healthy, so his return will be welcome.
Ingrid Lindblad from LSU plays her tee shot on the 10th hole during the first day of stroke play competition at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)
The top-ranked female amateur in the world has had an incredible college career, but 2024 could be her first time to win NCAAs or a major award before turning professional. She had two wins in the fall and is searching for more this spring.
Gordon Sargent of the United States of America plays his tee shot at the 10th hole during practice round at the 2023 World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
Sargent has some job security after he finishes his junior season at Vanderbilt: he earned a PGA Tour card via PGA Tour University Accelerated in the fall. But first, the 2022 NCAA individual champion is looking to finish his amateur career on a high note.
Omni La Costa’s Champions Course in Carlsbad, California in 2020. (Courtesy of Omni La Costa)
There’s a new NCAA Championship venue the next three years: Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California. Gil Hanse performed an extensive renovation at the course, and as of a month ago at the annual coaches convention in Las Vegas, Texas men’s golf coach John Fields said the course was ahead of schedule and would be ready to go for NCAAs.
Arizona State golfer Preston Summerhays plays his tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic)
Speaking of NCAAs, the annual championships should be a thriller on the Pacific Coast of California. A new, renovated course means teams will be tested on the layout. Those who learn and adapt to the new venue quickly could hoist hardware come week’s end.
Neal Shipley smiles after hitting an approach shot on hole 17 during the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
The runner-up at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, Neal Shipley became a fan favorite at Cherry Hills Country Club last summer with his spectacular run to the championship. Come April, he’ll be walking amongst the azaleas at Augusta National. Safe to say he’ll still be a fan favorite there, too.
Anna Davis watches her tee shot on hole six during the quarterfinals of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (James Gilbert/USGA)
Anna Davis has long been one of the best female golfers throughout her junior career. Many thought she may turn professional and skip playing collegiately. However, she signed with Auburn and will join the Tigers’ lineup this spring, which also features reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Megan Schofill.
Jenny Bae hugs Rose Zhang at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 1, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Entering its fifth year, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur has staked its claim as one of the premier female amateur events on the calendar. After a thrilling finish in 2023, it’s safe to say the anticipation is high for this year’s rendition of the championship.
Clippd is partnered with the NCAA. (Photo: Clippd)
Anyone who follows college golf understands the debacle in the fall regarding live scoring and rankings. With things finally stabilized, it’s time to see how Clippd can manage the scoring, how its new website Scoreboard will look hosting scoring and rankings and how Mark Broadie’s rankings will evolve after more data and initial confusion from coaches.
2023 U.S. Amateur champion Nick Dunlap smiles while listening to a media question during a press conference following a morning practice round ahead of the 2023 Walker Cup at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Photo: Chris Keane/USGA)
The sophomore at Alabama became the best amateur in the world last summer after he captured the 2023 U.S. Amateur. He had a strong start in the fall, too, winning one tournament while representing the Americans in the Walker Cup and World Amateur Team Championship. Now how will his trajectory change with the target on his back?
Trophies for the 2023 Men’s National Golf Invitational. (Photo: Cameron Jourdan/Golfweek)
The National Golf Invitational returns for its second year, and it’s going to be bigger and better. In 2022, the NCAA announced it would allow teams to play in one season-ending event, and Golfweek teamed up with Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona, just south of Phoenix, to host the inaugural National Golf Invitational. Think the NIT of college golf. This year, the competition returns to Ak-Chin Southern Dunes with the women teeing off May 9-12 and the men May 16-19.
USC women’s golf won the 2023 Pac-12 Conference Championship. (Photo: USC Women’s golf)
College golf is going to look (somewhat) different come the fall. Conference realignment has been a major event for college football, but it affects every other sport at moving schools, as well. However, it won’t change much for golf. Sure, USC and UCLA, Oregon and Washington are going to the Big 10, but their schedules are likely to remain the same outside of the conference championship.
The Wake Forest women’s golf team won the 2023 East Lake Cup at Atlanta Athletic Club. (Photo: NBC Universal)
Wake Forest won three times in five events in the fall, two of those coming via match play. Even with the Demon Deacons losing two of their best players, coach Kim Lewellen has retooled her lineup and remained one of the best teams in the country. Will they be able to defend their title? Only time will tell.
Christo Lamprecht of South Africa looks on after playing his second shot out of a bunker on the third hole on Day Two of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club on December 08, 2023 in Malelane, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
Christo Lamprecht made his name well-known last year. He won the Amateur Championship and also low-am honors at The Open Championship, the tournament he co-led after 18 holes. This fall, he won twice for Georgia Tech at two of the biggest events on the slate. Could he be in line for a major award(s) this spring?
Texas Tech’s Ludvig Aberg won the 2023 Haskins Award. (Photo: Ben Adelberg/The Back of the Range)
Speaking of major awards, the Haskins and Annika Awards are the premier awards handed out to the college golfers of the year. Last year’s winners were Ludvig Aberg and Rose Zhang. Wonder what they have been up to since then? The next winners will have big shoes to fill, but this comes with such a prestigious honor.
Tiger Woods plays a shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The U.S. Women’s Amateur is the ultimate test of skill and stamina. This year, it heads to Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the best female amateurs in the world will be tested on one of the best championship courses in the United States.
The 10th Hole of Hazeltine National Golf Club in the Chaska, Minn.. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Copyright USGA/Russell Kirk)
Championship golf returns to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, for the first time since the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, when the U.S. Amateur comes to town Aug. 12-18. The course also hosted the 2016 Ryder Cup and 2009 PGA Championship. Safe to say, it’s a great championship test for the best amateurs in the world.
Ratchanon Chantananuwat of Thailand tees off from the 5th hole during Day Two of the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 03, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
How good is Stanford 2024 signee T.K. Chantananuwat? He won the Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup on the Asian Tour as an amateur in April of 2022. He became the youngest golfer to win on a tour recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking at the age of 15 years and 37 days. He’ll join the Cardinal in the fall.
Stanford women’s golf
Speaking of strong recruiting classes, you don’t have to look far to find the top women’s class for 2024. It’s Stanford, which signed four top-100 players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, led by Sweden’s Meja Ortengren. Stanford golfers have won the past three Annika Awards, and the Cardinal have won the stroke-play portion at NCAAs for three straight years. The rich get richer.
The North Carolina men’s golf team won the 2023 East Lake Cup at Atlanta Athletic Club. (Photo: NBC Universal)
The top-ranked Tar Heels have won three of their five tournaments this season, including the Fighting Illini Invitational and East Lake Cup. The two tournaments North Carolina didn’t finish first? It placed second to Vanderbilt at the Ben Hogan Collegiate and the St. Andrews Links Collegiate. After losing in the semis at NCAAs last year, the Tar Heels are one of the favorites to win it all in California this year,
Team USA celebrates after winning the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup. (Photo: Arnold Palmer Cup)
The Arnold Palmer Cup heads across the pond this year. The Ryder Cup-style competition, which features men’s and women’s collegiate golfers from the United States against their International counterparts, will be played July 5-7 at Lahinch in Ireland. The Americans lead the all-time series 14-12-1. The coaches for each side were announced last month.
Boston U’s Christy Chen. (Photo: Boston Athletics)
Boston University’s Christy Chen has been the best college golfer you haven’t heard of this season. In four starts, she has three victories, coming at the Bucknell Invitational, Princeton Invitational and the Yale Invitational. Only time will tell how may more victories she’ll rack up.