Tournament Format

Big Cedar Lodge 2026 Golf Trip

The main competition will be a Ryder Cup-style team event featuring two teams of six players. The official team competition will begin Friday morning and will be played across the three main 18-hole courses: Payne’s Valley, Buffalo Ridge, and Ozarks National.

Format Snapshot

Players

12

Two teams of six

Main Event

Ryder Cup

Team match play

Total Points

12

First to 6.5 wins

Scoring

Match Play

Win = 1, Tie = 0.5

Teams & Captains

How Teams Will Be Created

Teams will be created using a handicap-balanced snake format to keep the competition as fair and even as possible.

Instead of a live captain draft, all 12 players will be ranked by handicap from lowest to highest and then split into two balanced teams of six.

Team A: Handicap ranks 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12

Team B: Handicap ranks 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11

This setup should help avoid awkward draft moments, keep both teams competitive, and make the tournament easier to organize inside Golf Genius.

Captains may still be assigned after teams are finalized. Captains can help with pairings, matchups, team decisions, and keeping the competitive energy going throughout the trip.

Pairings: Once teams are finalized, pairings may be set by the organizer, by captains, or through a blind lineup process depending on what works best for the group.

Official Ryder Cup Rounds

Friday Morning — Payne’s Valley

Format: Four-Ball / Better Ball Match Play

Matches: 3 two-man team matches

Points Available: 3

Each player plays their own ball. Each two-man side uses its best net score on each hole.

Saturday Morning — Buffalo Ridge

Format: Four-Ball / Better Ball Match Play

Matches: 3 two-man team matches

Points Available: 3

Another team match-play round with each side using its best net score on each hole.

Saturday Afternoon — Ozarks National

Format: Singles Match Play

Matches: 6 head-to-head matches

Points Available: 6

The final round will decide the team competition, with each player matched up against one player from the opposing team.

Opening / Side Game Rounds

Thursday and the par-3 style rounds will not count toward the official Ryder Cup team score. These rounds are meant to be more relaxed and will be used for side games, closest-to-the-pin contests, optional action, and getting the group settled into the trip.

Side-game details and payouts will be listed on the Golf Pool / Side Games page once finalized.

Points System

Round Course Format Points
Friday AM Payne’s Valley Four-Ball / Better Ball 3
Saturday AM Buffalo Ridge Four-Ball / Better Ball 3
Saturday PM Ozarks National Singles Match Play 6
Total 3 Main Rounds Team + Singles 12

Winning the Ryder Cup

Match Win

1 Point

Match Tie

0.5 Points

Winning Team

6.5 Points

Tiebreaker: If the competition ends 6–6, the tiebreaker will be the best total team net score from the Ozarks National singles round.

Notes

  • Handicaps will be used to keep matches fair.
  • Teams and pairings will be announced closer to the trip.
  • Pairings may be adjusted based on final handicaps, flights, and overall group balance.
  • Overs pool and side-game payouts will be handled separately from the main Ryder Cup format.
  • Final rules may be updated before the trip begins.

Friday Starts the Cup

Thursday is for settling in, side games, and getting loose. The official Ryder Cup-style team competition begins Friday morning at Payne’s Valley.

H
E
L
P