The
Matches
The matches take place over five 'days' of action, which of course will extend over several weeks of real time. The singles matches will not start until the pairs are complete, so please try to organise those pairs games as quickly as possible. Each team is made up of 12 players, 2 of which are wild cards selected by the team captain and the other 10 made up of the top finishers on the money list, regardless of swing type. All players will use their current level on the tour for the matches.
Day One & Two - FourSomes
There are six of these matches, the Captains will decide how the players are paired. There are no swing type limits here, so the captain is free to pair any players he wishes. The 'Alternate Shot (Ryder Cup)' style matchplay MOP is used here, and because players alternate hitting shots (though you both get an opening tee shot on the 1st hole), these games usually progress quite quickly, normally completed inside of 2 hours. As usual, one team wins when the holes they are "Up" is greater than the number of holes remaining, with that team winning a full point. A maximum of 18 holes are played and NO sudden death is played if the match ends in a tie; in this case, both teams receive a half-point. Day Three & Four - FourBalls
Captains will again decide how the teams match up with all twelve players participating. The 'Best Ball' matchplay MOP is used here, and the team score on each hole is the best score from either of the players on that team. Scoring is as normal, with the match ending if one team is more holes up than remain. Again, no sudden death is required for matches ending all square. Because each player uses their own ball throughout the match, these games take longer, upwards of 3 hours is the norm.
Day Five Singles
The final round of singles (twelve in total) involve the players who qualified directly for their teams, and are somewhat 'seeded'. That means that you are guaranteed a match against someone playing the same level of ability since the matches have been split into the "top" six players and the "bottom" six players to ensure even games. Mode of play, scoring and rules are as per the normal 2 player matchplay rules within Links.
Course
The Course to be used is the K Club, Ireland.
It's an extremely accurate recreation of the course and provide the same risk/reward opportunities as the real life course. I think it will provide for a lot of excitement and drama and matches will swing one way and the other as the tight tree lined fairways and rolling greens take their toll on players from both teams. I suggest a few practice rounds will be well worth your time and may give you just enough advantage to secure victory in your matches!
Conditions &Pin Positions
These are the conditions and pin positions for each of the three 'Days' of Ryder Cup play.
MOPs
Please use the BLT Ryder Cup MOPS - download them here
Scoring
One player from each team needs to make sure they report the final score by reporting to their own captain, so that both captains are informed for every single match. The captains will email me for the site to be updated. I do ask that you don't post your results on the Forum for the simple reason that it's more fun to read the updates at the site as they come in. Please be patient, as I am only at home from Friday night through Sunday night, so updates are most likely to occur then unless I can arrange upload from work. I know it will be hard to contain your excitement about winning, but I am sure you'll agree that reading the website for match by match updates is much better than having it on the forum beforehand. You'll be asked to vote on the MVP for both your team and your opponents team at the end of it all, so do keep an eye on the action as it proceeds.
Reports
While you only need to report to your captain the players involved in the match and the score (e.g World Team wins 3 & 2, Players X & Y beat A & B), it will be a lot more fun if one or more of you take the time to make a few notes either during or after the match that can be then included as a match report with your score. You needn't be distracted from playing, or go into huge length, but try to be a little creative. How did you feel before the match? How did you expect things to go, what were the main highlights of the round, who hit the crucial shot at the killer moment, who made a mess in just the wrong spot - how much fun was the match, how much fun were your opponents, what was your overall impression of the game. Something to make it all a bit more human and add that extra bit of flavour. Believe me, this is one of the great things about this event, reading the reports of the players involved.
Mulligans
Mulligans shall not be used at all, except for the special circumstances that a network disconnection or computer crash causes a break in the game. In that case, the team whose shot got lost should try to get as close as possible (within reason) to the original shot, with the opposing team agreeing before play continues.
Gimmies
Gimmies can and should be used to speed up play. They can be set to any distance allowed that is agreed upon by all players involved in a match. Where a difference of opinion exists, the distance used shall be the shortest distance involved. E.g. If three players want 4 ft. gimmies, but the fourth player only wants 2 ft. gimmies, then 2 ft. is the distance used. If any player involved in the game does not want to use gimmies, then they shall not be used. It is advisable, especially in matches of four players, that gimmies are used and are set to at least 2 feet. 4 feet gimmies are recommended to speed up play and avoid MOP related trauma!
Drops
Links 2003 is somewhat improved in this regard, so players are free to drop anywhere allowed within the dotted yellow rectangle that Links gives to you.
Schedules
The match schedules will be posted on the site ('Matches' in the menu at the top), along with dates where possible. It is your responsibility, and yours alone, to email your partner and your opponents to quickly arrange potential dates and times for your match(es). The sooner you do that, the better for everyone as you can see potential problems early and try to find solutions. Keep your captain informed at all times and keep in constant touch with him so that he knows the situations of each and every match scheduled. Let him know the date of any arranged matches, and please do try to keep to your arrangements, giving plenty of notice if possible of any potential cancellations.
The Forum
It's really up to you guys to make this exciting and fun. Sure, you can just arrange and play your matches, report your scores and then all go home, but it is a lot more fun if you take the time to jot some notes about your matches, but as well as that, if you get stuck into the forum and post, post, post. If you want to talk a little smack before the matches, go ahead, you want to say how excited you are about the games, please, post away. If you want to congratulate a partner or opponent for a great game (but not until the result is posted on the site!), then go for it. If you had a lot of fun in a particular game, let's hear about it. Are you really looking forward to your next match, or someone else's match - post away. It's all down to you to make it happen, and keep things buzzing. I'm not around in the week but will keep my dibs in the forum and post when I can. This truly is a great competition, so make the most of it - it's another year before you'll have the chance for the next one!
The matches take place over five 'days' of action, which of course will extend over several weeks of real time. The singles matches will not start until the pairs are complete, so please try to organise those pairs games as quickly as possible. Each team is made up of 12 players, 2 of which are wild cards selected by the team captain and the other 10 made up of the top finishers on the money list, regardless of swing type. All players will use their current level on the tour for the matches.
Day One & Two - FourSomes
There are six of these matches, the Captains will decide how the players are paired. There are no swing type limits here, so the captain is free to pair any players he wishes. The 'Alternate Shot (Ryder Cup)' style matchplay MOP is used here, and because players alternate hitting shots (though you both get an opening tee shot on the 1st hole), these games usually progress quite quickly, normally completed inside of 2 hours. As usual, one team wins when the holes they are "Up" is greater than the number of holes remaining, with that team winning a full point. A maximum of 18 holes are played and NO sudden death is played if the match ends in a tie; in this case, both teams receive a half-point. Day Three & Four - FourBalls
Captains will again decide how the teams match up with all twelve players participating. The 'Best Ball' matchplay MOP is used here, and the team score on each hole is the best score from either of the players on that team. Scoring is as normal, with the match ending if one team is more holes up than remain. Again, no sudden death is required for matches ending all square. Because each player uses their own ball throughout the match, these games take longer, upwards of 3 hours is the norm.
Day Five Singles
The final round of singles (twelve in total) involve the players who qualified directly for their teams, and are somewhat 'seeded'. That means that you are guaranteed a match against someone playing the same level of ability since the matches have been split into the "top" six players and the "bottom" six players to ensure even games. Mode of play, scoring and rules are as per the normal 2 player matchplay rules within Links.
Course
The Course to be used is the K Club, Ireland.
It's an extremely accurate recreation of the course and provide the same risk/reward opportunities as the real life course. I think it will provide for a lot of excitement and drama and matches will swing one way and the other as the tight tree lined fairways and rolling greens take their toll on players from both teams. I suggest a few practice rounds will be well worth your time and may give you just enough advantage to secure victory in your matches!
Conditions &Pin Positions
These are the conditions and pin positions for each of the three 'Days' of Ryder Cup play.
- Day 1 FourSomes: Windy, Soft(chall), Slow(chall), Random Pins
- Day 2 FourSomes: Breezy, Moderate(chall), Slow(chall), Random Pins
- Day 3 FourBalls: Windy, Soft(chall), Fast(chall), Random Pins
- Day 4 FourBalls: Breezy, Moderate(chall), Slow(chall), Random Pins
- Day 5 Singles: Breezy, Moderate(chall), Medium(chall), Random Pins
MOPs
Please use the BLT Ryder Cup MOPS - download them here
Scoring
One player from each team needs to make sure they report the final score by reporting to their own captain, so that both captains are informed for every single match. The captains will email me for the site to be updated. I do ask that you don't post your results on the Forum for the simple reason that it's more fun to read the updates at the site as they come in. Please be patient, as I am only at home from Friday night through Sunday night, so updates are most likely to occur then unless I can arrange upload from work. I know it will be hard to contain your excitement about winning, but I am sure you'll agree that reading the website for match by match updates is much better than having it on the forum beforehand. You'll be asked to vote on the MVP for both your team and your opponents team at the end of it all, so do keep an eye on the action as it proceeds.
Reports
While you only need to report to your captain the players involved in the match and the score (e.g World Team wins 3 & 2, Players X & Y beat A & B), it will be a lot more fun if one or more of you take the time to make a few notes either during or after the match that can be then included as a match report with your score. You needn't be distracted from playing, or go into huge length, but try to be a little creative. How did you feel before the match? How did you expect things to go, what were the main highlights of the round, who hit the crucial shot at the killer moment, who made a mess in just the wrong spot - how much fun was the match, how much fun were your opponents, what was your overall impression of the game. Something to make it all a bit more human and add that extra bit of flavour. Believe me, this is one of the great things about this event, reading the reports of the players involved.
Mulligans
Mulligans shall not be used at all, except for the special circumstances that a network disconnection or computer crash causes a break in the game. In that case, the team whose shot got lost should try to get as close as possible (within reason) to the original shot, with the opposing team agreeing before play continues.
Gimmies
Gimmies can and should be used to speed up play. They can be set to any distance allowed that is agreed upon by all players involved in a match. Where a difference of opinion exists, the distance used shall be the shortest distance involved. E.g. If three players want 4 ft. gimmies, but the fourth player only wants 2 ft. gimmies, then 2 ft. is the distance used. If any player involved in the game does not want to use gimmies, then they shall not be used. It is advisable, especially in matches of four players, that gimmies are used and are set to at least 2 feet. 4 feet gimmies are recommended to speed up play and avoid MOP related trauma!
Drops
Links 2003 is somewhat improved in this regard, so players are free to drop anywhere allowed within the dotted yellow rectangle that Links gives to you.
Schedules
The match schedules will be posted on the site ('Matches' in the menu at the top), along with dates where possible. It is your responsibility, and yours alone, to email your partner and your opponents to quickly arrange potential dates and times for your match(es). The sooner you do that, the better for everyone as you can see potential problems early and try to find solutions. Keep your captain informed at all times and keep in constant touch with him so that he knows the situations of each and every match scheduled. Let him know the date of any arranged matches, and please do try to keep to your arrangements, giving plenty of notice if possible of any potential cancellations.
The Forum
It's really up to you guys to make this exciting and fun. Sure, you can just arrange and play your matches, report your scores and then all go home, but it is a lot more fun if you take the time to jot some notes about your matches, but as well as that, if you get stuck into the forum and post, post, post. If you want to talk a little smack before the matches, go ahead, you want to say how excited you are about the games, please, post away. If you want to congratulate a partner or opponent for a great game (but not until the result is posted on the site!), then go for it. If you had a lot of fun in a particular game, let's hear about it. Are you really looking forward to your next match, or someone else's match - post away. It's all down to you to make it happen, and keep things buzzing. I'm not around in the week but will keep my dibs in the forum and post when I can. This truly is a great competition, so make the most of it - it's another year before you'll have the chance for the next one!
