The Kansas Cup is a team competition modeled after the popular Ryder Cup. Each team is comprised of sixteen players, (which includes two professionals) or at the option of either captain; the team size may be reduced to ten players. Matches are conducted on the home course of one of the teams, with home-and-home round robins within designated divisions. The winners of each division meet in semi-finals, with the two winners meeting in a final match.
SPIRIT OF THE COMPETITION: The Kansas Cup is a team competition open to any Kansas Golf Association member club (its members and bona fide golf professionals). It is designed to foster healthy competition among golfers of the state of Kansas in a team format. The rules of the Competition are designed to promote a fair playing field for all participating clubs and players.
ELIGIBILITY: The Kansas Cup is a team competition open to any Kansas Golf Association member club. (Note: member clubs in the greater Kansas City area may enter the Kansas Cup using the same team members as may have entered or played in the 2009 Kansas City Cup competition).
TEAM COMPOSITION: The team from each club is composed of sixteen (16) players, male or female (female team members may play from tees equivalent to 80% of the yardage used for their male opponent). Amateur team members are members of the golf club with an active GHIN handicap and must be at least age 25 or older. Golf professionals must be either a member of the club (not employed there, but a member) or a bona fide employee/contractor of the club. There is no age restriction for professional players.
The team will compete in match play, according to the following structure:
Amateurs:
4 players, individual matches (scratch, no handicap, one match must be played by a “senior” golfer, 50 or older)
4 players, two teams of foursome play (alternate shot)(scratch, no handicap, one match must be played by senior golfers, age 50 or older)
4 players, two teams of NET four-ball play
2 players, Seniors (50 or older), one team of NET four-ball
Professionals:
2 players, one team of four-ball (scratch) Note: if club has only one or no golf professional, an amateur may be substituted on this team and they will play scratch (There is no age minimum for the golf professionals, but amateurs must still be age 25 or older to participate in the professional four-ball match).
Total number of teams: 17 teams for 2010
The team members may change from one round to the next, as not every player may be available to play in each round. As long as the individual player is a member of the KGA member club and on the GHIN handicap system and age 25 or older, they may participate. No individual shall participate as a team member of more than one club in the Kansas Cup. Each club is advised to establish a fair method for team composition, whether by qualification tournament or other objective criteria.
Any team match may be modified in team size and match composition if either the home or visiting team elects to field a team of the following configuration: 2 singles matches (scratch), 2 four-ball matches (one gross, one net), 1 senior net four-ball match and 1 professional four-ball match (scratch). This involves 10 players and 6 matches. All other provision shall apply, except that sudden death play-off shall be contested by one singles match, the gross four-ball match and the senior net four-ball match.
Any team member participating in a NET four-ball match must have played and posted at least six (6) 18-hole scores within the ninety (90) days preceding the Kansas Cup match. These rounds may be played at any golf course with a USGA course rating. The use of an ineligible player will result in the forfeiture of the match point involved.
TEAM CAPTAIN: Each club team shall designate a TEAM CAPTAIN. The team captain shall be responsible for:
Communication with the KGA office regarding schedule and arrangements.
Submitting the team line-up for each round.
Reporting the results of each round to the KGA office.
Representing the club team in matters of disputes or claims.
Certifying the eligibility of each individual team member.
The team captain may be the club’s golf professional, but it is suggested that an amateur club member may be more appropriate so not to put the golf professional in a difficult position with his members concerning issues of team composition or match assignments.
COMPETITION: Match Play, 18 holes. Each match is contested for ONE POINT. When matches are tied after 18 holes, each team receives one-half point. The club team with 5.5 points or more wins the match, and advances to the next round. The following matches are played in each round:
4 singles matches, 18 holes, scratch, amateurs (one of these matches must be played between seniors, age 50 or older)
2 matches of modified Chapman play (alternate shot), 18 holes, scratch, amateurs (one of these matches must be played between teams composed of seniors, age 50 or older)
2 matches of NET four-ball, 18 holes, amateurs
1 match of senior (50 or older) NET four-ball, 18 holes, amateurs
1 match of professional four-ball, 18 holes
In the three net four-ball matches, the total team course handicap may not exceed 24 strokes, and no individual player’s course handicap may exceed 18 strokes. Reductions may be made in the manner determined by the team captain.
New for 2010: Only when both clubs agree in advance an 11th point (match) may be played. This point (match) will be a super senior net four-ball match where all players are age 65 or older. The same maximum handicap provisions applied to the other net four-ball matches shall apply to this super senior net four-ball match.
The following matches shall be played from the back or championship tees: professional four-ball, three scratch singles.
The following matches shall be played from the middle tees: modified Chapman, all net four-ball matches and senior singles match.
Modified Chapman match (alternate shot): Each team member plays a stroke from the tee of each hole. The partners then play a stroke at their partner’s ball. The team then selects the ball to be played out for the remainder of the hole, alternating the strokes made with the ball selected. Penalty strokes do not affect the order of play.
Teams may not mutually agree to modify the format of this competition, under penalty of disqualification (however, one team may change the team size and match composition if they are unable to field the normal team of 16 players with 10 matches). Captains should determine which team size and match composition will be used such time in advance as not to inconvenience any player.
Prior to the day of the match, the respective team captains will be notified which club will host the match on their home course. The team captains shall confer to select a mutually agreeable date for the match. Disputes concerning the day to play the match shall be resolved by the KGA. The tournament bracket will have target dates within which to complete each round of the tournament.
On the day of the competition, the team captain shall complete a team roster in the form contained herein, and exchange the roster with the opposing team captain. The listing of team members on the roster shall determine the pairings for the round.
In the event of a 5-point to 5-point tie at the conclusion of the ten matches, a playoff shall be conducted according to the following procedure: The team captains shall select one singles player, THE non-seniors foursome (alternate shot) team, and THE senior four-ball team. There will then be three matches played, each at sudden death starting from hole #1. This means there will be three points at stake in sudden death. The team that wins two points shall win the match. Note: the sudden death singles match could involve players that did not play each other in the regular match, but the other two sudden death matches would be against the same opponent.
New for 2010: Only when both clubs agree in advance an 11th point (match) may be played. This point (match) will be a super senior net four-ball match where all players are age 65 or older. The same maximum handicap provisions applied to the other net four-ball matches shall apply to this super senior net four-ball match.
CARTS AND GREEN FEES: During the round, players may walk or use carts (or caddies). If carts are requested, it is customary that the host club provides the carts at no cost to the visiting team. No green fee or guest fee is to be charged by the host club.
QUARTERFINAL ROUND: The top two clubs with the best record in its division will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be one match, hosted by the four divisional winners (note: this is a change from previous years. We will no longer use the neutral site format for the quarterfinals). The four quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals.
SEMIFINAL ROUND: The four quarterfinal winners will advance to the "final four weekend" championship matches at Shawnee Country Club on Friday, October 1, 2010.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: The two clubs advancing to the championship round of the Kansas Cup shall compete on at Shawnee Country Club on Saturday, October 2, 2010.
ADMINISTRATION AND RULES: USGA Rules of Golf apply. The local rules (which are not in conflict with USGA rules) of the host club apply. For all rounds prior to the semifinals and the finals, no KGA rules official will be in attendance unless one is conveniently available. Any dispute or claim which cannot be resolved by the team captains in applying the Rules of Golf shall be referred to the KGA rules committee (typically, call the KGA office first; it not available, then call a KGA rules committee member in your area; as a last resort, call the USGA).
QUESTIONS AS TO PROCEDURE: Referred to the KGA office at (785) 842-4833 ext. 202 or call (913) 568-6089 after office hours.
