The TWGTour.com is officially announcing its version of the Ryder Cup. We will be calling our version of this tournament:

THE TWGT CUP

Last year, TWGTour.com enjoyed a successful season, and after changing ownership, I want to kickoff the 2009 season with a tournament that will be a sneak-preview of how the tour will run in 2009.

Our league places emphasis on both team and individual contributions in order to win. So while the final details of the 2009 season are being worked out, we would like to present to you The TWGT Cup Tournament.

We will be holding single elimination rounds consisting of Alternative Shot matches, with a target of 24 teams maximum. Each team must have at least 6 players on it, with a 15 member maximum roster size. Clubs with more than 12 members are allowed to split themselves into multiple teams. However, no player may play on more than one team, and no trades between teams will be allowed after the tournament starts.

Single players who have signed up with no team affiliation may be available for recruitment. If there are enough single players to create a team, the tour director may ask them to all play as one. Otherwise, they will not be able to play in the Tournament. Some players might have signed up to be picked up for a team in the 2009 season, and their wishes will be honored if they choose not to play in the Tournament.

The last two teams after the elimination process will play for The TWGTs Cup The winner will receive a plaque which will be a camera-ready full-sized file. So if a team desires, they may take it to any trophy company and have it made into a real plaque. Or they can print it out and frame it. A smaller copy will be placed in the TWGTours Trophy Room. The runner up will also receive a camera-ready plaque, and all players will receive a certificate of participation, if they so desire.

Unfortunately, due to limited funds after the development of the site and offering a free-play tournament prevents us from offering a real trophy. Next year we hope to offer all who play a REAL certificate and the winner and runner-up REAL trophies.

After much thought and talking with many players, to make this Tournament attractive to all playing levels, all play will be conducted in INTERMEDIATE level. This is to be fair to the Advanced player, who will only have to play one level down, and it is an easier transition for the NOVICE player to play one level higher.

Only Trueswing or 3-Click swing-types will be allowed. INTERMEDIATE level allows more shotmaking skills than NOVICE offers, and can be learned quickly by any good NOVICE player. (Looking over players records of those who do play NOVICE, many play in EASOs Ranked ADVANCED play or shoot in the low 60s). This will equalize the field and no handicaps will be needed. It is up to the captains to select his pairings wisely.

All matches will be set up with be no fee charged, and the conditions must match the round that you are playing. The captains or players of the match will get together and decide on a password for each match to keep other non-tournament players from joining. The website has a chatroom where captains and team members can meet prior to a match.

All elimination rounds will be played on the Lords Valley Country Club course, available at Course Downloads at www.coursedownloads.com. If you do not have this or the Valhalla Golf Club course (where the TWGT CUP finals will be played), just click on the name in the Schedule page and it will take you to the download page. Each elimination round will consist of 6 Foursomes (Alternate Shot Matches), with a provision to play one extra match in the case of a tie.

This years TWGT Cup finals will be played on the Valhalla Golf Club, the same course the Ryder Cup will be played on. And each round will consist of the same playing format of the Ryder Cup: 6 Foursomes (Alternate Shot Matches), 6 Fourball (Best Score Matches), and 6 Singles Match Play. There is also a provision that in the case of tie, one extra match will be played. There can be no ties. This applies to both the elimination rounds and the final rounds.

This means that the captain may have some players play twice, or with the 15 member roster, have options so all players have an opportunity to play. However, no player may play more than twice in any round no exceptions.

In the Schedule page of the Web site, there is a link to the course, which is available at www.coursedownloads.com. When downloading the course, please make a donation to them, as their members were kind enough to design and allow access to the courses.

All elimination rounds will be played on the Lords Valley Golf Course, also available at www.coursedownloads.com.

All matches will be played on the EASO Server in on of their Lobbies, and once the captains of each team finalizes the order of play for their golfers, it is the responsibility of both captains and players alike to make the time to play all matches within the time frames given.

Any matches not completed or any teams that do not show up will be considered a forfeit, and the point awarded to the other side. Please make sure that you do not quit on your fellow teammates.

The captain will report to the tournament director anyone who quits a round. At the discretion of the tour director, he may allow a replay or replay with penalty points assessed, or he may be ban the player from further play. The decision to ban a player shall also be up to the captain.

The tournament director reserves the right to declare a forfeit, and award the other team a victory and a point. Please, to be fair to everyone, play all matches. Your opponents and teammates made time to play, do waste it.

Anyone who is suspected of cheating shall be brought to the attention of the tournament director, who will investigate the complaint. All decisions made by the tournament director will be final and no appeal process exists.

The only format that everyone must play is the Singles Match Play. Here, everyone will be matched up by their captains. The only exception is teams with 15 members. If both captains wants to play the 15, then they must declare in their schedule which 6 matches count.

I wish everyone good luck, and remember, this is only a game. Competition is good, but we are here in the spirit of having fun.

As soon as teams sign up, I will have additional information for the captains of the teams. The captains also make up the Tournaments Board of Directors. This is done so that any changes or issues will be discussed openly, and each captain has a vote if such issues require voting.

Round 1 Foursomes (Alternate Shot) Play
A foursomes match is a competition between two teams of two golfers. The golfers on the same team take alternate shots throughout the match, using the same ball. Each hole is won by the team that completes the hole in the fewest shots. Each team will play 6 Alternative Shot matches.

Round 2 4-ball best score (Six 2 man teams)

A fourball match is also a competition between two teams of two golfers, but all four golfers play their own ball throughout the round rather than alternating shots, and the match is won by the team whose individual golfer has the lowest score. Each team will play 6 four-ball best score matches.

An example of play: Team 1s player A shoots a 60, and player B shoots a 58. Team 2s player A shoots a 60, and player B shoots a 59. Team 1 uses the 58 and Team 2 uses the 59, because thats their lowest score for that hole. Team 1 wins the match and one point. In the case of ties, each team will receive one point.

Round 3 Match Play Single (6 single matches)

A singles match is a standard Match Play competition between two golfers. The player who wins the most holes wins a point. In the case of ties, each team will receive one point. Each team will play 6 singles matches.

For team play only, the captain of each team will order his players, 1 through 12. Here, the captain may use some strategy, as it may not be wise to place your top players in 1-12 order. Since this is team play, the captain is responsible for creating his 6 2-man teams. He will have reports from Course Downloads at www.coursedownloads.com, Tiger Woods Leader Boards at www.twleaderboards.net, and knowledge of his players to help him decide how to set his play up and to see how the team stacks up against their competitor.

Also available to them are the rosters of all the teams in the tournament, but the list of teams and the order in which they will play its golfers will not be known until the tournament starts. And once the tournaments starts, there will be no changes allowed unless agreed to by both captains and the tour director.

For the Singles Match Play, each captain will order is team as to who plays first, second, third, and so on all the way to the twelfth player. Again, all the tools above will be available. 

George McGinn
Tournament Director
TWGTour.com & TWG CUP
gmcginn@twgtour.com

 (Original: August 16, 2008 02:30 PM (EST))
(Updated: October 8, 2008 11:10 AM (EST))