In 2025, the Alaska Golf Association (AGA) entered an alliance with Washington Golf, in which WA Golf would oversee the association’s USGA Core Services provided to every golfer in the state, such as Handicap Administration, GHIN profiles, USGA Qualifying and Course Rating.
In July 2026, WA Golf Senior Director of Championships & Golf Operations Nate Schroeder and Assistant Director of Course Rating & IT Collin Westwood made the first of what will most likely be several trips to the northernly state to administer their respective services.
“I had been looking forward to making the trip up to Anchorage since it was determined that WA Golf would be conducting these Qualifiers,” Schroeder said of the trip, referring to USGA Senior Amateur and Mid-Amateur Qualifiers that were conducted in Alaska two days apart in late July. “Of course, it was exciting to have the personal experience of visiting such a beautiful and unique part of the country, but more so I was excited with the opportunity to provide support to our industry partners at the Alaska Golf Association and deliver a qualifying experience to players in the region that is consistent with USGA standards across the country.”
The U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier was held first, on July 27, at Settlers Bay Golf Course in Wasilla, about 45 minutes north of Anchorage.
It was a relatively small field for this Qualifier, but Schroeder was as meticulous with his job as he is when there are dozens more entrants.
“These qualifiers were administered to the same standard and level of care that is consistent with all USGA Qualifiers conducted by WA Golf,” he said. “We did not treat these any differently than we would a qualifier held in Washington.”
Robert Bechtol made his way through, having made a 9,000-mile round-trip journey from Tallahassee, Florida to earn his place in a USGA national championship. Alaskan players Rob Nelson (Palmer) and Mark McMahan (Anchorage) secured the two alternate spots.
It was also at Settlers Bay where Westwood provided the first of his three course ratings carried out that same week, carefully analyzing the place’s distances and evaluating its obstacles to determine what scratch and bogey golfers could expect to score.
Given its location, in which it was carved out of an Alaskan forest, Settlers Bay offered plenty of native factors to negotiate.
“There are trees lining every hole,” Westwood said. “Every hole has underbrush. If you’re in there, you’ll be trudging around to find your ball.”
The trip was somewhat of a homecoming for Westwood, who spent some 10 years living further south in Ketchikan during his childhood. Knowing there’s plenty more where this came from in the coming years, he’s happy to lend his expertise to the game in Alaska.
“It’s the furthest I’ve had to do it for three ratings,” he said of his duties. "The courses were happy and excited for a proper rating, measuring and all that.”
Two days after the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier, the WA Golf duo made their way to Moose Run Golf Course, in the city of Anchorage. An expansive facility, Moose Run has two 18-hole courses, the Creek course and the Hill course. Westwood rated both, but it was the Creek which hosted the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier, with a field of 15 players from eight states.
During the week of the Qualifiers and the Course Ratings, the AGA was on hand to lend its support to Schroeder and Westwood.
Says Schroeder, “We were fortunate to have great support from the Alaska Golf Association staff and Board of Directors, as well as Tom Johnson, a member of the WA Golf Board of Directors and USGA National Committee Member who traveled to Alaska to help as a Rules Official.”
Travis Hunter was the medalist of that Mid-Am qualifier, having long-hauled from Coto de Caza, Calif. to get to it. Seven Mid-Amateur players were from Alaska.
Regarding Collin’s rating, he knew he was providing service to a high-traffic golf course.
Moose Run estimates it accommodates 20,000 rounds per month during the brief but cherished golf season, with tee times booked solid through 13-hour windows. With that much use, an accurate and up-to-date rating is a necessity.
“In the past 94 days they’ve had 90 events,” Westwood said. “It’s really amazing.”
It was on the 18th hole while rating the Hill course where Westwood had an only-in-Alaska encounter. Standing on a far back tee box, he saw a mother bear and cub rummaging through a trash can about 100 yards away.
That was a unique sight, but Westwood was careful not to be of any disturbance to the local wildlife.
“I need to turn around and get back in my cart,” he remembers thinking. “In that moment, there was no majesty to the bear at all.”
WA Golf and AGA plans for 2027 are already made. Alaska will be the site of another U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier next year as well as one for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.
Providing championship opportunities throughout the Northwest is a constant mission of the region’s golf associations.
“Earning a spot to compete in a national championship is one of the most meaningful accomplishments a player can achieve,” said Schroeder, who has been on the WA Golf staff since 2013. “We are proud to conduct qualifying on behalf of the USGA, whether it is in Washington or Alaska.”