What is the LPGA Amateurs and is membership worth it?

About the LPGA Amateurs

The LPGA Amateurs is a global association of women golfers, made up of 130+ local membership chapters which organize events for women to learn & play golf. The association has over 15,000 members of all skill levels & abilities.

The organization also has national competitions where teams from different chapters compete against each other. Every chapter has a different menu of events but in general there will be social events, instructional clinics, leagues and competitions throughout the golf season.

Locally in Cincinnati, I am a member of our LPGA Amateur chapter. Each year they have a “Tee Off” brunch at the start of golf season. They host leagues at various golf courses in the area. They host instructional clinics. They also usually organize a stay & play golf trip weekend at a golf course 1-2 hours outside of Cincinnati (it changes every year!).

Find a Chapter

To find a chapter near you, click here. If there is no chapter near you, it’s definitely possible to start one!

Chapters rely heavily on volunteers to organize events. Even if you don’t consider yourself a skilled golfer (as it can be intimidating when you are just starting out) surely you can serve as a volunteer in some capacity to help events come together. The energy & enthusiasm of the volunteers really make or break how well the chapter runs, so go for it!

Benefits

Membership has many fringe benefits like discounts on partner brands, and complimentary entrance to LPGA professional tournaments. Full list of benefits are available at the LPGA Amateurs webiste. The membership includes a subscription to GOLF magazine.

In my opinion the main benefit is that you will get emails about organized events in your area specifically for women golfers such as clinics, leagues and competitions. At those events you can connect in real life with people near you and hopefully make some new friends and regular golf playing partners.

Costs

Annual dues range from $50 to $150 depending on your age and special membership statuses (discounts available for seniors, young professionals, military and online-only memberships.)

Decision time: is it worth it for you?

The cost vs. benefit analysis is really a personal decision, of course. While I love the fringe benefits of complimentary tournament tickets, discounts on partner brands, and GOLF magazine, the value that I see really comes from the in-person events and the relationships you can build when you attend those events. So you really need to find out what events your chapter offers and whether you would prioritize those in your calendar.

When you click “Find a Chapter” you can navigate to the local chapter website which should give you the details of events and leagues available. For example, the Cincinnati chapter has dozens of events programmed such as indoor golf leagues in early spring & late fall, outdoor leagues, competitions, and a charity scramble. If you can’t find a list, you should email the chapter organizer and ask what events are planned for the remainder of the season. They may have events that are open to non-members so that you can attend and get a feel for the culture of your local chapter before deciding on membership.

Personally, I have seen value being a member for the past few years. I have attended the Tee Off Brunches and played in the annual charity scramble. I have been a sub in a few of the golf leagues. I have volunteered for the LPGA Tournament locally and worked with a team of LPGA Amateurs members who were wonderful! While I’m not able to attend all events that my chapter offers, I like getting the newsletters, seeing the calendar and having the option to attend some of the various golf events. I have met a lot of amazing women through this group!

Consider that it’s an annual membership which starts at the calendar year. If you join in the middle of golf season of June/July, you may have already missed some events in the membership period.

I hope this helped you understand a little more about the LPGA Amateurs and inspired you to look into a chapter near you.

Do you have more questions? Comment or email me to let me know your thoughts.