Golf is a unique sport.  It is a combination of precision and power, sportsmanship and etiquette, concentration and endurance.  It is a rare opportunity that you get to play this game in the setting of a world class resort such as Bandon Dunes.  It is in this backdrop that the ninth annual WRIDER (Whidbey Reno Invitational Dunes Excursion and Retreat) Cup will be contested at the number one golf resort in the country.  Play well gentlemen!

 

THE WRIDER CUP

 

1. Rosters: There are 20 participants for each team, and they all will play.

 

2. Schedule: Team Whidbey and Team Reno will both have 20 golfers who compete in two days of team competition and one day of singles matches for the Wrider Cup trophy. All golfers will play three matches (one team event on each of the first two days and a singles match on day 3).

 

3. Scoring -- match play: You earn one point for your match per winning hole, no matter your score on that hole.

For example, if you make a quadruple bogey on No. 7, it will not affect your aggregate score other than losing the point for that one hole. So let's say you hit a ball into the water on a par 3 and end up making a six, while the golfer you are facing makes a hole in one. The golfer who made the hole in one still just gets a single point for winning the hole even though he beat you by five strokes.  Best of all, he now owes you a drink!  If the match was all square after hole six he is now one up after hole 7.

 

4. Scoring -- team points: Once you lead a match (four-ball, foursome or single) by more holes than you have left to play (i.e. 4 up with three holes left), you win the match and your team gets a full point. If the match finishes tied, each team gets a half point. The most points at the end of the three days wins.

There are 40 total points to be won each year. Technically, the first one to 20.5 points wins. However, a tie at 20 is possible and would result in the trophy staying in the hands of the reigning champions.

 

5. Types of matches: The first two days consist of 20 team matches (10 on day 1, 10 on day 2). How does four-ball work?

 

Four-ball: Two-golfer teams representing each country square off. Each golfer plays his own ball all the way through to the end of the hole.

So let's say Reno sends John Smith and Ron Johnson, and Whidbey sends Greg Jackson and Rich Hack. If Smith, Johnson and Jackson all make par, while Hack makes birdie. Then Whidbey would be 1 up after the first hole. If Smith and Hack both make birdie, the match would be all square through the first hole even if Johnson makes bogey and Jackson makes par. Only the best score counts for each pair.

 

Singles: Day 3 consists of 20 singles matches (i.e. Bruce Miller vs David Phay) played out over the course of the day.

 

Wrider Cup Standings:

Whidbey   2                 Reno 7

 

2009:          Reno                   15.5 - 14.5

2010:          Whidbey            25.5 - 14.5

2011:          Whidbey            22.0 - 18.0

2012:          Reno                   24.5 - 15.5

2013:          Reno                   24.0 - 16.0

2014:           Reno                   23.5 - 16.5

2015:           Reno                   22.5 - 17.5

2016:           Reno                   23.0 - 17.0

2017:           Reno                   24.0 - 16.0

 

The Trophy:  The trophy, like the players that are competing for it, is a conglomeration of parts recycled from other uses.  There is a candlestick, a incense cup, two golf balls, a fine wood base, and a  classic persimmon club head. The golf balls, representing the competing teams are on opposite sides of the trophy with the classic golf club at the top/middle representing the both the classic format of the competition and the classic courses at the Bandon Dunes Resort.  The fine wood base represent the integrity of the competition and the men that compete in it.