ATHENS, AL – (April 28, 2026) – The Alabama Golf Association’s 44th Alabama State Four-Ball Championship will be held at the Canebrake Club in Athens, AL from April 29 - May 2, 2026. 61 teams will compete for the coveted Championship title.
Championship Links: Starting Times (Round 1) | Scoring & Results | Club Website | Championship Website
This year marks the second time Canebrake Club has hosted the State Four-Ball Championship. The Championship was first played in 1983 with Benjamin Dowdy & Joe Terrell winning the inaugural event. Blair Hamm of Helena and Ethan Hagood of Vestavia Hills won the Championship in 2025 at RTJ Cambrian Ridge (Sherling/Canyon).
Entries are open to sides of male amateur golfers who are legal residents of Alabama and have an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at an AGA member club. Maximum allowable combined team handicap is 11.9 under the USGA Handicap System™. Two players who play as partners comprise a side. Partners are not required to be from the same club. College Student Eligibility: A college student is considered a resident of their parent(s)/guardian(s) “Legal Residency Criteria” as stated in the AGA Tournament Manual unless said student (a) has no dependency on his/her parents; and (b) lives full time in Alabama.
Championship Facts:
Yardage: 7207 yards, par 36-36–72
Course & Slope Rating: 74.7/142
Championship Format:
36 holes of gross four-ball stroke play to determine 16 sides for match play. A tie for the last qualifier’s place (16th seed) will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off. Players are responsible for making themselves available at the scoreboard for play-off instructions. Play-off holes and their order of play will be determined by the Committee.
• Match Play Seeding: General numerical draw will be used. For purposes of determining places in the draw, ties in qualifying rounds will be decided by lot.
• Match Play round is 18 holes. If a match is tied after the final hole, the match is extended one hole at a time until there is a winner.
Championship Schedule:
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tee times available for practice.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
7:30 a.m. - First round of four-ball stroke play qualifying.
12:00 p.m. - First round of four-ball stroke play qualifying.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
7:30 a.m. - Second round of four-ball stroke play qualifying.
12:00 P.m. - Second round of four-ball stroke play qualifying.
Field cut to low 16 sides for match play.
Friday, May 1, 2026
7:30 a.m. - Round of 16 Matches (AM)
12:00 p.m. - Quarterfinal Matches (PM)
Saturday, May 2, 2026
7:30 a.m. - Semifinal Matches
12:00 p.m. - Final Match
Awards Ceremony immediately following play.
This Championship is conducted by the Alabama Golf Association.
About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA)
The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of 123 member clubs represented by over 33,500 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. A full-time professional staff of seven individuals handles day-to-day activities.
Based in Hoover, the AGA is the USGA's Allied Golf Association in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the World Handicap System including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating, and Rules of Golf & Handicapping education. The AGA annually conducts 24 championships; and team match competitions for men, women, junior and seniors. The AGA manages the Junior Golf Alabama program that is a joint venture between the AGA and Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section.
In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Scholarship Fund through the Alabama Golf Foundation that is dedicated to assisting young golfers in higher education. Additionally, the Alabama Golf Foundation supports the Youth on Course Alabama program providing facility access to junior golfers and provides funding for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. In 2016, the AGA earned the Gold Tee Award for “Outstanding Tournament Operations – Small Association” by the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).
Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the historic Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Southern Golf Association.
For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org.
Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-979-1234
alison@alabamagolf.org
