Nevada Golf Circa 2026

Since the beginning of amateur golf in Nevada, THE Nevada State Golf Association has been center stage, driving the narrative and organizing the biggest events while bringing every part of the Silver State together on and off the course.

Now, another dramatic evolution has taken full flight as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Nevada Golf was born as the golf associations of Northern Nevada (NNGA) and Southern Nevada (SNGA) collaborated to create Nevada Golf, under the leadership and with the approval of the United States Golf Association.

Nevada Golf is now the official Allied Golf Association of the USGA, moving forward, a true partnership that will elevate amateur golf in Nevada on all levels from juniors, to seniors, to men and women, to any golfer throughout this one-of-a-kind and dynamic state.

NevadaGolf.org is the most vital online golf resource in Nevada golf. Here you will find Nevada golf news, information, schedules, scoring, results, and other key information about prestigious state tournaments, golfers, associations, women’s golf, and much, much more.

Nevada golf is vibrant, and our mission is to bring to life the events, tournaments, people, and key stories with regular updates throughout the year.

The Northern Nevada Golf Association and Southern Nevada Golf Association each enjoy a deep history. The Northern Nevada Golf Association was founded in 1972, while the Southern Nevada Golf Association was created in 1967. Combined, the organizations boast more than 28,000 members. Now, we are all together.

The key Nevada Golf tournaments include the following majors: Nevada State Amateur, Nevada State Mid-Amateur, Nevada State Net Amateur, Nevada State Match Play, Nevada State Senior Amateur, and the Nevada State Junior Amateur. Plus, there are now cohesive Northern and Southern Nevada amateur golf tournament schedules open to all members, plus social and other events throughout the year.

There are also special tournaments named in honor of some of the most important and giving members of the regional and state associations. Annually, the Cobb-Whalen Cup and the Oliver Cup are played, combining both camaraderie and competition at the highest levels. Plus, the prestigious Silver Cup is played between the best women golfers in Nevada.

Nevada golf champions include lifetime amateurs, college stars and future PGA TOUR champions. The Nevada State Amateur dates back to 1953 when it was won by Bill Higgins. That year also marks the first playing of the Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour when it was played at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.

Other notable champions throughout the years of the Nevada State Amateur are Las Vegas Golf Hall of Famers Charles Teel (1957-58), Eric Dutt (1976) and Brady Exber (1991) in addition to Las Vegas Golf Hall of Famers and future PGA TOUR players Craig Barlow (1994) and Edward Fryatt (1992).

Also winning the Nevada State Amateur were former University of Nevada golfers Butch Sheehan (1974-75), Rich Barcelo (1995), and Nicolas Smits (2014). Sheehan and Barcela went on the play professionally on the PGA Tour.

Butch Sheehan is the brother of Patty Sheehan—an LPGA legend whose 42 professional victories, six major titles, and numerous Hall of Fame inductions make her one of golf’s all-time greats.

Nevada is the “Battle Born” state, and there have been plenty of golf battles over the years. Throughout this website you will find historic information about the tournaments, epic victories, and bitter defeats … Everything that makes the game of golf so grand.

On the course, Nevada layouts are as diverse as the people in the state, and, in total, there are more than 100 Nevada golf courses. Snow-capped mountain courses are enjoyed in the North, while unique desert layouts are found in the South. Both areas also feature varying styles of courses from links to traditional and everything in between.

On and off the course, golf in Nevada is a billion-dollar industry that is a major part of the overall economy and an enticement to golf travelers. Nevada Golf and its allied associations in Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada will work together to promote golf in Nevada to the world.

Golf in Nevada. Epic. Exciting. Dynamic. Diverse. Competitive. Historic.

And now #BetterTogether.