The 2026 U.S. Challenge
Individual and Team Championship
Presented By
USA Today Sports/Golfweek & The Sun Country Amateur Golf Association
Hosted By
French Lick Resort - The Donald Ross Course
French Lick, IN
May 31 - June 3, 2026
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Welcome to the 2026 U.S. Senior Challenge at French Lick Resort. Now in its 41st year, the U.S. Senior Challenge was the nation's first senior amateur golf tournament, allowing individuals or 4-man state teams to compete. The U.S. Senior Challenge is a tournament within a tournament where individual and team champions are crowned.
FORMAT: A player may register as an individual or part of a four-man team. Individuals will play a standard 54-hole tournament format. Those registering as a state team will play a 54-hole format, with the best three of four scores determining the team total. Each team player will also compete individually. (Individual players may be combined from contiguous states to form a team.) Teams may be made up of individuals from any age division. A team champion will be crowned, along with an individual winner in each division.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The U.S. Senior Challenge is certified by The USGA and R&A as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) counting tournament leading to 25+ exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur to be held at Baltimore CC in Baltimore, MD.
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Tournament Facts:
- Eligibility:
- Senior Golfers must be 55 years old by May 31, 2026
- This is a cart-only tournament
- No caddies
Tees:
-The Senior Division (age 55-64) will play 6400 - 6700 yards
-The Super Senior Division (age 65-69) will play 6100 - 6300 yards
-The Legends Division (age 70-74) will play 5900 - 6100 yards
-The Super Legend Division (age 75+) will play 5400 - 5800 yards
-Course conditions and daily statistics will determine the yardage and may vary from day to day.
Conditions of Play:
USGA Rules of Golf shall be in effect
Daily tournament coverage will be found at www.golfweekseniornation.com
Tournament registration is $899.00 and includes four rounds of tournament golf on the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort:
- One (1) Practice round with a cart
- Optional skins game.
- Three (3) tournament rounds with a cart on the Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort
- Use of the complete practice facilities during the tournament
- On Sunday night, May 31st, the Challenge Man of the Year dinner is included in the price. Additional guests are welcome for $100.00 per person, payable at registration. Attendance is STRONGLY encouraged
- An awards luncheon following the final round of play for players and spouses.
Optional practice rounds: Other than the May 31 shotgun, additional practice rounds are available at the prevailing club rate by calling the Donald Ross pro shop and identifying yourself as a Senior Challenge participant.
Schedule of Events:
Sunday, May 31
Breakfast is available for purchase at French Lick Resort
Practice Round: 1:30 PM Shotgun
6:00 PM Challenge Man of the Year Dinner with spouse included (You are strongly encouraged to attend)
Monday, June 1
Breakfast is available for purchase at French Lick Resort
Round 1 - 8:00 AM Tee times off of #1 & #10
Lunch is available for purchase at French Lick Resort
Tuesday, June 2
Breakfast is available for purchase at French Lick Resort
Round 2 - 8:00 AM Tee times off of #1 & #10
Lunch is available for purchase at French Lick Resort
Wednesday, June 3
Breakfast is available for purchase at the French Lick Resort
Round 3 - 8:00 AM Tee times off of #1 & #10
Awards luncheon post-round at French Lick Resort is included for the players and their spouses
Departures
Contact Us:
Ron Gaines, Golfweek Senior Tournament Director & Senior Rankings: rgaines@golfweek.com
Mike Quinlan, President / Executive Director of the U.S. Senior Challenge: mjquinl@yahoo.com
VISIT US AT: www.golfweekseniornation.com