To play for the trophy and the prize money, you will need a USGA Handicap. To clarify, you must have a current USGA Handicap Index to participate in the “stroke play” competition. Your USGA Handicap Index will be entered into the USGA course handicap calculator - to determine your particular course handicap that year (at that year’s course). If you choose not to obtain a USGA Handicap Index, you may play in the tournament as a “non-competing marker”, which means you can play (but, you will not be eligible to win the trophy or the prize money). See below for more info on obtaining a USGA Handicap. With the new world handicap system, to get your USGA Handicap Index going, you only need to post a minimum of 3 scores!
To Establish a USGA Handicap:
1) go to https://www.mngolf.org/Home
2) click on "Join Online"
3) click on "Adult Membership Sign up"
4) Click on one of the club names to join.
5) Click "Register as a new member"
6) Fill out your appropriate info and pay the appropriate fee.
Per the USGA,
https://www.usga.org/handicapping/getting-a-usga-handicap-index.html