Eligibility
The California State Fair Championship (SFC) is an elite amateur golf event attracting both International and USA players with an average index of +2.5 for the 108-player field. Most of the field is made up of “Exempt Players” based on WAGR ranking, Junior Tour Rankings or performance in Competitive Events. Any player meeting one of the Exemption Criteria listed below is eligible to register for the Championship. Players may also qualify for the Championship through one of two local Qualifying Championships, finish in the top 10% of any 2025 US Amateur Qualifier, or apply for a Merit Exemption (see specific Qualifying and Merit Exemption sections below for additional information).
All players, exempt and non-exempt, must register for the tournament through the SFC Online Registration Page. The Championship fills up quickly and is filled on a first come, first serve basis. Meeting tournament entry qualification, either as an exempt or non-exempt player, does NOT guarantee entry into the tournament.
Exemptions
Amateurs who meet one or more of the following exemption criteria may register for the Championship.
Amateur Ranking
- Top 4000 on the WAGR – World Amateur Golf Ranking (as of date of entry)
- Top 4000 on the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Amateur Ranking (as of date of entry)
Exempt Players based on Junior Tours
- 2026 AJGA Top 300 Points List (at time of entry)
- 2026 Junior Golf Scoreboard Top 300 Points List (at time of entry)
- 2026 JGANC top 2 Points List for the 14-18 Boys Age Group (at time of entry)
- 2026 JTNC top 2 Points List (at time of entry)
- 2026 First Tee of Greater Sacramento junior tour player of the year as of August 1, 2026
- 2026 Winner of the FCG Callaway World Junior Golf Championship
- State Fair Men’s Championship: Top 45 and ties in 2025
- Memorial Amateur: Top 20 in 2026
- Sacramento County Men’s Championship: Top 10 in 2026
- Sacramento City Men’s Championship: Top 10 in 2026
- Top three players in the 2026 Sacramento Junior Championship presented by the Morton Golf Foundation
- City Easter Junior Boys Champion in 2026
- County Junior Boys Champion in 2026
- Peggy Dodds Memorial Junior Boys Champion in 2026
- State Fair Junior Boys Champion in 2026
- State Fair Mid-Amateur Champion in 2026
- San Francisco City Championship Champion & Runner-Up in 2026
Qualifying
Players who are not exempt can qualify to register for the State Fair Championship by any one of the following:
- Pay the $25 qualifying fee when registering for the Sacramento City Championship, MacKenzie Course, Haggin Oaks GC, June 6-7, 2026 – finish in the top 20.
- Pay the $25 qualifying fee when registering for the Sacramento County Championship, Ancil Hoffman GC, July 11-12, 2026 – finish in the top 20.
- Finish in the top 10% of any U.S. Amateur Local Qualifier in 2026. If you choose this option, send an email to the State Fair Championship Tournament Director, Larry Glasmire, at larryglasmire@comcast.net and indicate the date and location of the US Am Local Qualifier in which you will compete BEFORE you enter the tournament. When the results of the Qualifier have been posted, we will confirm if you have finished in the top 10% and notify you how to register for the State Fair Championship.
Merit Exemption
Players who do not meet one of the exemption criteria and who do not qualify are welcome to submit an application for invitation. Please include your recent golfing resume and any other information to support your entry into the SFC. The Tournament Committee will review the golfing resumes, and in the first week of August, announce the names of players for the tournament. Once a Merit Player is accepted into the tournament, he must register and pay within 2 days to confirm his place in the SFC.
