The Path to Nationals!
Golden Ticket Tournaments provide a path for amateur and junior players to play in the USA Pickleball National Championships, the premier tournament in the sport of pickleball. Whether you’re chasing championship glory, seeking the ultimate competitive challenge, or simply looking for unforgettable moments on the court, Golden Ticket Tournaments are where your Nationals journey begins.
Golden Ticket Tournaments offer participants an unrivaled player experience including an exclusive gift at USA Pickleball-operated events and the opportunity to compete at some of the best pickleball venues across the country. Only at these tournaments will gold medal winners receive a “Golden Ticket,” granting them priority registration for the USA Pickleball National Championships. Players who compete but do not win gold will still have a pathway to Nationals through the Tiered Point System (TPS).
PLAYER REQUIREMENTS
As a player It is your responsibility to understand the details of your registration. Please review the following information in its entirety.
All players must have a USA Pickleball membership at the Challenger or Champion level.
Join or renew at: https://usapickleball.org/
This tournament is sanctioned by USA Pickleball at the MMP level. Referees will be present for all pre-medal and medal matches. In 2025, USA Pickleball successfully refereed all matches at all USA Pickleball-operated Golden Ticket tournaments!
Related upcoming events
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May 30, 2026 All dayThe future of pickleball is NOW: The Dink Minor League Pickleball is sweeping the nation with its innovative, fun and social amateur MLPlay™ Team Event.
v3 is an innovative expansion of Minor League Pickleball in which teams of 3 players compete against one another. Matches consist of 3 sub-games, each to 21 points. See the rules section for additional guidelines.
Rules
V3 FORMAT: The Dink Minor League Pickleball v3 is a round-robin team competition with guaranteed matches. Gendered teams of 3 players are broken into divisions (based on their combined DUPR rating) to compete against each other in three 21-point games. Top teams will face off in a bracket playoff.
v3 Match Format: 3 games constitute a match. An example of the format is as follows:
Player 1 and Player 2 from each team play the first game
Player 2 and Player 3 play the second game
Player 1 and Player 3 play the third game
*Players will pick their lineups before the match starts.The Minor League Pickleball Guarantee:
Predictable playing times and reduced waiting periods between matches.
Guaranteed 6 played games with at least 3 matches each.
A fair, level-based competitive experience - whatever your level of playMiLP v3 DUPR Divisions:
DUPR 15 (The team’s aggregate DUPR must not exceed 15.30)
***No maximum individual player DUPRDUPR 13 (The team’s aggregate DUPR must not exceed 13.30)
**Maximum individual player DUPR cannot exceed 4.600 to play in DUPR 13DUPR 11 (The team’s aggregate DUPR must not exceed 11.30)
**Maximum individual player DUPR cannot exceed 4.100 to play in DUPR 11DUPR 9 (The team’s aggregate DUPR must not exceed 9.30)
**Maximum individual player DUPR cannot exceed 3.600 to play in DUPR 9 -
May 30, 2026 10:00 AM - May 30, 2026 4:00 PMGrab your partner, your beverage of choice, and your best sense of balance as you battle it out on the courts. Whether you’re here for fierce competition or just the laughs, this tournament is all about fun, friends, and unforgettable rallies. Expect creative shots, unintentional spins, and plenty of good-natured chaos.
We’ll have music, prizes, refreshments, and bragging rights for the most skilled (or lucky!) players who can sip, serve, and smash their way to victory. Cheers to great play, great company, and great memories—one can at a time!
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June 5, 2026 All day
Pickleball and Cornhole tournament benefiting Senior Services of Wichita and Wichita Cancer Foundation.
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June 6, 2026 10:00 AM - June 6, 2026 4:00 PM
Pickleball Tournament Quick Look
- $120 Registration Fee per Team.
- Scores will not be recorded on DUPR.
- Players must sign a waiver upon playing.
- Players provide their own equipment, balls will be provided.
- Standard scoring & rules.
- Please bring your own water or refreshments.
- Ages 18+ only.
Prizes for 1st and 2nd Place Teams in both Competitive and Recreational
- Winning Team: $200
- 2nd Place Team: $150
Other Awards
- Best Team Name
- Most Spirited Duo
- Riverfest Rally Champs
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June 12, 2026 - June 14, 2026 All dayEvents:
- Friday after 4 PM - 50/50 and Heroes Divisions
- Saturday - Men's and Women's Doubles
- Sunday - Mixed Doubles
Format:
- All divisions will be round robin format with either one group of players or multiple pools. You will play everyone in your group or pool. The combined skill divisions will have an upper and lower playoff bracket (min. 8 teams) depending on how you finish in your pool or round robin event. Playoff brackets will be 2 out of 3 matches time permitting.
Registration Cost:
- $65 for the first event
- $20 each for 2nd and 3rd events
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June 13, 2026 All dayThe DRC will host a coed pickleball tournament during the Smoke on the Plains BBQ Festival. This is a mixed doubles recreational tournament. All games will be self-officiated. The $30 fee is for a 2-person team ($27 for seniors). Registration deadline is June 10, 2026.
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June 19, 2026 - June 21, 2026 All dayThe 5th Annual Queen City Open hosted by Ozarks Pickleball Club & Springfield-Greene County Park Board at the beautiful Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Missouri! All proceeds to benefit the improvements of Meador Park pickleball courts by Springfield-Greene County Park Board and pickleball programming by Ozarks Pickleball Club.
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June 20, 2026 All day
Round Robin to Single Elimination - Call 620-794-5562 for more info.
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June 20, 2026 All day$30 for YMCA members and $50 for non-members
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July 11, 2026 All day