The wait is officially over, and the local golf calendar's crown jewel has arrived. The opening salvos of the 2026 Long Beach Golf Festival have been fired at the iconic El Dorado Park Golf Course.
After a grueling 18 holes of stroke-play qualifying, the field has been cut, the bracket is set, and the tournament shifts into a completely different gear. Out of a massive field of hopefuls, only the top 64 players have officially punched their tickets to the next round: the high-stakes world of Match Play.
Battling the Parkland: The Qualifying Grind
Earning a spot in the top 64 at El Dorado Park is never an easy task. Designed by Ted Robinson, Sr., this 6,921-yard championship layout is famous for its tree-lined fairways, subtle water hazards, and gently rolling greens that demand strict strategic precision.
During the qualifying round, players had to balance aggression with caution. One bad bounce or a misread putt could mean the difference between making the weekend or watching from the gallery. The golfers who survived didn't just play great golf—they showed the mental toughness required to handle the pressure of one of Southern California's most prestigious amateur events.
Enter Match Play: A Completely Different Beast
While stroke play is a quiet war against the course itself, Match Play is head-to-head combat. Starting Saturday, May 23, the stroke tallies are wiped clean. Seeds no longer guarantee safety.
In this format, every match is a clean slate, and every single hole is a standalone battle. A player can card a triple-bogey on one hole, lose it, and completely erase the damage by winning the very next box. It invites aggressive risk-taking, dramatic comebacks, and intense psychological pressure. There are no safe leads, and there is nowhere to hide.
What's Next?
The tournament schedule unfolds over two action-packed weekends of knockout rounds:
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Saturday, May 23: The Round of 64 kicks off head-to-head competition.
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The Gauntlet: Players will have to survive consecutive single-elimination matches to keep their championship dreams alive.
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The Goal: Surviving the bracket to hoist the historic Long Beach Match Play Championship trophy.
Don't Miss a Single Shot
Whether you are a local regular who knows every blade of grass at El Dorado, or a casual sports fan looking for thrilling weekend drama, we have you covered.
GreenSide News is on the scene live, bringing you comprehensive, front-row coverage of the Long Beach Golf Festival. From the opening tee shots of qualifying all the way to the final putt of championship Sunday, we will be delivering the stories behind the scores.