Ryder Cup Tournament

The MGA will hold its Ryder Cup on September 26, 2020. The format will be as follows:

We will divide the field into two sides, Americans versus Europeans (you can request a preference). You can also pick your own partner, but the stroke differential will be limited to eight strokes (if your partner’s index is more than eight strokes higher than yours, his handicap will be adjusted downward).

There will be two nine-hole matches. The front nine will be Modified Scotch format. Both partners tee off. The best drive is selected and then shots are alternated until the ball is holed. You may not switch out balls (if you don’t like the ball your partner plays or if you are afraid that he is going to lose your Pro VI, too bad). The procedure is repeated on each hole. The gross score should be recorded on your scorecard. At the end of the nine holes, 40% of your combined nine-hole handicap will be deducted from your gross score to arrive at a net score. The match is worth two points based on the lower net score; if a match is halved (i.e., same net score), then each side is awarded one point.

The back nine will switch to a better ball of partner match. Strokes will be determined where they fall on the card based on players’ course handicaps off the low man in the foursome (e.g., if a player only gets one pop based on the relative course handicaps, then he gets no strokes on the back nine since the lowest handicap hole is 13, which is the number 2 rated hole on the course). This match is also worth two points; if a match is halved, then each side is awarded one point.

If we do not get an even number of foursomes signed up, then a few players may end up playing individual nine-hole matches.

The buy in is $20 per player. At the end of the match, we will total up all the points and determine if the Americans or the Europeans have won. The winning side gets all the buy-in money, which will in turn be distributed only to those that have earned points for the winning side (if you are on the winning side but did not earn any points, then you only get bragging rights). If both sides tie, then we will break the tie by determining which side had the lowest aggregate score for the Modified Scotch matches across the entire field.

There will also be an optional $10 buy-in for a net skins game on the back nine for those that want a chance to win some extra money.

We need at least six foursomes to make this work so that we will have a minimum field of at least 24 players. Sign up as soon as possible. We are working with the Pro Shop to block tee times.