2006 RideHer Cup

The annual Rideher Cup golf competition is in its fifth year. This "friendly" golf competition pitches the cream of American golfers against Europe's finest players. At least, that's the theory! In practice, it is a fun golf event played in November for the coveted RideHer Cup trophy and a lot of national pride.

The 2006 competition will take place on Monday 6 th November 2006 at Burapha Golf Club. The event will start with the registration evening on Sunday 5 th November at FLB where the golfers sign up and the captains choose their pairings and the playing order. Then it is off to the golf course on Monday morning to do battle over 18 holes.

The 2005 competition was won by the USA . The score is now level with two wins apiece. 48 players competed in the 2005 event and it is likely that there will be at least same number of players again in 2006.

The matches

Each group will play 2 matches with a point available for each match.

The front nine will be played as a Texas Scramble/Ambrose. Both players in the team hit their drives and select which drive will be used. Thereafter, the players each hit a shot from the position of the best-placed ball until the team has holed out. The handicap allowance will be 1/4 the combined handicap of the 2 players in the team. Strokes will be according to the stroke index of the hole. So, a team comprising an 18 and a 36 handicapper will receive 13.5 (14) strokes and a team with a 14 and an 18 will receive 8 strokes. In this case, the first team will receive 6 strokes for 18 holes and this will be reduced to 3 strokes for the front 9 to be taken on the 3 holes with the lowest stroke index on the front nine. To add a bit of spice, the team will be required to select a minimum of 3 drives for each partner on the 9 holes. The holes will be played as straight match play and the match will be determined as a win (1 point) or a half (1/2 point) for the 9 holes.

The back nine will be played as four ball better ball. Each player in the team plays every shot at the hole and the best net score for the hole wins that hole. The handicaps for the four balls will be full handicap allowance stroking off the lowest handicap player. So, in the above example, the 14 handicapper will play off scratch, his partner will get 4 strokes and the players in the other team will get 4 and 22 strokes respectively for 18 holes. The number of strokes received will then be halved for the 9 holes that are being played. Strokes will be allowed according to the SI off the holes on the back nine. The four balls will also be match play with the lowest net winning the hole and the match determined as a win or a half.

The nineteenth hole

At the end of the round, each team should submit two cards signed by them and their opponents with the result of the Texas/Ambrose and the four balls on 2 separate cards. I will collect the cards and will score the matches in conjunction with the 2 captains. The overall result will remain a secret until the evening party. When the competition is finished and all players are refreshed, the bus will leave for Pattaya. Players will be returned to the departure point together with your golf clubs.

Bonus prizes

There will be a longest drive and nearest the pin competition on the back nine. The holes where these competitions are running will be identified on your cards. The longest drive must come to rest on the fairway and will be marked with a stake and marker card. The stakes will be carried by the first match out and should be placed by them after the respective best shots in their match. If none of the players hit the respective fairways or green, the stakes should be left on the tee for the next group. If you beat the previous best for longest drive or nearest the pin, move the stake forward to the position where the ball came to rest and add your name below the previous entry. We will also have some other "fun" competitions running during the matches - these will be announced the previous evening.

Registrations for the 2006 RideHer Cup

Golfers can register for the 2006 RideHer Cup on the FLB web site. Just look for the topic 2006 RideHer Cup and then post a reply giving us your handle, handicap and shirt size.

Last rule - have fun!!