Founders Cup

The governing document

The Charter.

Articles I through VII, summarized. Article VIII in full.

  1. I

    The Competition

    The Founders Cup is a match-play competition between two banners, the Aces and the Jokers. Each match is worth one point; a halved match is worth a half point to each side. The banner with the most points when the final match closes holds the Cup.

  2. II

    Formats & Sessions

    Play is contested across Four-Ball, Alternate Shot, and Singles sessions. Pairings for team sessions are submitted by the captains before each session. Singles close the event.

  3. III

    Rules of Play

    USGA Rules of Golf govern, with match-play conventions. Handicap strokes are allocated off the low man in each match. Concessions are final. Out of bounds and lost balls play stroke and distance unless a local rule says otherwise.

  4. IV

    Captains

    Each banner is led by a captain who sets pairings, manages substitutions, and speaks for the banner in any dispute. A captain's pairing card, once submitted, may not be changed.

  5. V

    Conduct

    Chirping is encouraged; sportsmanship is required. Respect the course, the staff, and the other banner. The Commissioner may assess point penalties or suspensions for conduct unbecoming of a Founder.

  6. VI

    The Commissioner

    The Commissioner administers the league, keeps the official record, runs The Book, and holds final authority over rulings, schedules, and the interpretation of this Charter.

  7. VII

    Weather & Contingency

    A match that completes 12 holes is final as it stands. A match stopped before 12 holes is recorded as halved. There are no co-champions. The Cup proceeds rain or shine.

Article VIII · In full

The Two-Event Season & the Banner Model.

§1. Two events.
The league plays two events each year. The Commissioner's Classic is held in the spring and is a full redraft with its own trophy. The Founders Cup is held in the fall.
§2. Permanent banners.
The Aces and the Jokers are permanent banners. Their names, crests, engravings, and series record endure forever.
§3. Redrafted rosters.
Rosters are redrafted onto the banners every fall. No player belongs to a banner; he wears it for a season.
§4. Career records.
A player's career record travels with the player, not the banner.
§5. Fall captains.
The fall captains are the top two individual point-earners of that spring's Classic. A coin flip assigns them to banners.
§6. New members.
New members enter the league through the Commissioner's Classic.
§7. Founder of the Year.
Founder of the Year goes to the player with the most combined season match points and skins money.

The banner endures. The men change.