09/02/2026
Members!
Something to think about for the new season, Senior Division or Veteran Division, which starts September 1st 2026.
iii. Members eligible to play in the Senior Division must elect to play in the Senior Division or their default Division before they complete their 4th event at the start of each new VGA season (September 1st, each year). Members are NOT permitted to change their division once the election is locked for the season.
📝 The "Senior Box" Clarification
Even if you didn’t check the "Senior" box on your profile, you are still eligible for senior qualifier tournaments if you meet the age requirement.
🤔 Decision Time: Senior or Open Division?
Choosing your division is a personal choice based on how you want to play the game this year. Here is the "pro vs. con" list to help you decide:
✅ The Pros: Why Go Senior?
Yardage Management: Seniors (50+) typically play from forward tees, commonly between 5,600–6,100 yards.
Reachability: Shorter yardage often makes par-4s easier to reach and par-5s more manageable in two or three shots.
Net Flight Format: All Senior flights (A, B, and C) compete as Net Flights.
Peer Competition: You’ll compete directly against others in your specific age bracket (50-69, or 70+).
⚠️ The Cons: The Trade-offs
The Yardage Jump: There are no senior tees at either State, Regional, or Nationals, and moving back to longer yardages after a season of playing forward can be a major disadvantage.
If you prefer playing "straight up" without handicap adjustments, the Senior division may not be for you.
📉 The Technical Side: WHS Math
When you move to the Senior tees, the Handicap math shifts.
Course Rating: A lower rating means the course is technically "easier" for a golfer, resulting in fewer strokes received.
Since moving up a tee box reduces the overall difficulty and yardage of the course, the handicap system scales your strokes back to align with the lower Slope Rating. Essentially you’re getting fewer “cushion” strokes because the course is more manageable.
