2012 Ryder Cup

As initiated in 2007, The Meadows Golf Club will conduct a Ryder Cup type competition. Club Members can earn points throughout the season to qualify for a Meadows Ryder Cup Team. In September, two Meadows teams will compete in the traditional Ryder Cup format.

Members can earn points toward qualifying for a Meadows Ryder Cup Team by participating in individual stroke play tournaments during the Club Season. Members get points for participation as well as for how they finish in a tournament. Updated qualification standings will be posted after every applicable tournament throughout the season; on the bulletin board, on the Club’s Website, and at each tournament check-in. Members will be able to track their progress during the season and determine what has to be done to stay in the hunt.

In September, the two leading Meadows Ryder Cup qualifiers will be named Team Captains, Red and Blue. The Captains will then draft their team members from the pool of qualifying Club members. To be in the pool, you must have met the minimum qualification requirements and earned enough Meadows Ryder Cup points to be one of the top 24 members who are available to play. Each Team Captain will be able to name two “at large” members. Each team will consist of 14 players.

The Meadows Ryder Cup Tournament will consist of three, 9-hole rounds: (1) 4-ball (2- man team best ball match play), (2) 2-man team alternate shot match play and (3) individual match play. One point will be awarded for each match. Ties split the point. The first two formats (4-ball and alternate shot) will be played as a continuous 18-hole round. After a lunch break and re-pairings, the 9-hole Individual Match Play Competition will be played. Pairings will be at the sole discretion of the Team Captains. Mark your calendar, the date for the Tournament is Saturday, September 29, 2012.

Similar to the Course Recognition Fund, this event is funded by an additional $1.00 fee per day of TMGC tournament play for each competitor. The Meadows Ryder Cup Tournament green fees will be paid by TMGC. Qualifying Team Members will also receive a cap, red or blue, and will be expected to dress for the Tournament in a shirt color that represents their team, red or blue. The winning team will receive logo shirts at the Fall Banquet, and have their team members’ names engraved on The Meadows Ryder Cup Trophy.

To qualify, a member must earn a minimum of seven (7) tournament credits prior to the scheduled date of the Meadows Ryder Cup event. The qualifying tournaments in which to earn Ryder Cup points are the: Hogback, Spring Classic, Presidents Cup, Gamblers Choice and Club Championship. During a qualifying tournament, the member must complete all 18 holes (or a stipulated round) each day of the tournament to qualify for the appropriate participation points. Please note that members must hole out on all 18 holes – members will not earn participation points if they skip or miss holes (for any reason), or if they “pick up” on a hole unless specifically allowed by the tournament format.

The performance points system is structured to award significant points to top finishers in multi-day tournaments. Also 5th and 6th place performance points may be available - BUT the awarding of performance points for each place within each flight will only be done if that place was a winning position within that flight for tournament prize money. This will make the overall Meadows Ryder Cup point system more equitable for larger sized flights.

You will notice that the performance points grid looks very peculiar. This has been done to eliminate the numerous ties that we experienced with the first year’s point system.

Points are awarded as follows (CF is Championship Flight):
Tournament Participation: 1-day 20 points, 2-day 40 points, 4-day 80 points.
Tournament Performance Points: 1-day 2-day 4-day
        1st place net (1st gross CF)    73    163    353
        2nd place net (1st net CF)       51    115    241
        3rd place net (2nd gross CF)   37     82    167
        4th place net (2nd net CF)       21     51    106
        5th place net (3rd gross CF)    10     25     50
        6th place net (3rd net CF)        5       13     25

The Championship Flight awards performance points based on a maximum of 3 gross and 3 net positions - all other flights are net only with regard to performance points. All ties are included, but remember performance points can only be awarded to prize money finish positions in each flight.