Welcome to the 3rd Annual Ruder Cup.
If the name sounds familiar, it should — it's the Ryder Cup with a twist. The "Ruder" part comes from a nickname Dan gave me about 30 years ago, and it stuck. When Dan and I decided to build our own version of the Ryder Cup, we named it after the nickname. So here we are.
A little history, for those who weren't there at the start.
The first Ruder Cup was a simple 2-on-2 match over 18 holes: Dan and I against two friends of ours, Joel and Gregg. Match play, one point to the side with the lowest individual score on each hole, half a point for a tie. That was it. No teams, no formats, no standings — just four guys and a scorecard.
Last year, the Cup grew to 10 players, and it came down to the very last hole. One of our players, Boyd, stood over a long putt with the Cup on the line. If you were there, you remember how it ended. If you weren't, ask him about it — he'll tell you.
This year, we're doing it properly. Here's how it works.
Two teams: County vs Village — the County side representing Sheboygan County at large, and the Village side representing Oostburg. Every player is assigned to one side. We play three formats — Four-Ball, Foursomes, and Singles — and every match is 9 holes, front side only.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, we don't play a fixed weekend. Each format has its own deadline. You and your opponent(s) schedule your match whenever it suits you, as long as it's played before that format's deadline.
— Rudy