60 Days to go: Get Ready to Run your Ryder Cup Weekend

Save the late-night stress and focus on making memories.

There’s something undeniably special about staging your own version of the Ryder Cup as it provides organisers with a big opportunity to create camaraderie and memories for your members and visitors.

When done right, a Ryder Cup weekend makes a lot of sense. When done incorrectly, it can be an admin nightmare.

Here’s how to enhance your Ryder Cup-style golf event, increase revenue, and run it more efficiently.

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The Player Experience

Ryder Cup weekend tournaments typically occupy a full weekend of any club diary and over those two days, you’ll be combining different formats—foursomes, fourball, and singles matches—to determine overall team scores.

Unlike individual competitions, a Ryder Cup needs balanced, fair teams and thoughtful pairings that ensure all players feel they’ve got a shot to win.

The best ones also have a clear identity—branded materials, consistent communication, and a sense of occasion that elevates the experience above a normal competition.

1. Create Strong Team Identities

• Use team colours, logos, and apparel (polos, hats, bag tags).
• Host a draft night with team captains — a great social opener for the weekend.

2. Add On-Course Extras

• Include closest to the pin, longest drive and ‘Beat the Captain’ challenges to create side games and bets.
• Introduce power plays where team captains pick a player or pairing before each round to double their points.
• Introduce special holes with bonus points or team challenges.

3. Run your Ryder Cup using Golf Genius Tournament Management

• Assign teams and publish player pairings in a visually engaging format.
• Each group enters scores on their mobile phone or using team-branded scorecards.
• Live leaderboards show matches in real-time, giving players a tour-like experience.
• Display MVPs, match results, photos and player stats.

4. Celebrate With Style

• Host a post-round BBQ or awards ceremony with music, drinks, and team prizes.
• Organise team photo opportunities to share on social media and in a slideshow during the presentation. One of your members will have a camera you can use!

Increase Revenue From Your Ryder Cup Event

Your Ryder Cup weekend can also be a force for driving additional revenue. You want golfers to linger at the bar afterwards, purchase team shirts and caps, be motivated to enter other golf events, and make an extra contribution to the captain’s charity.

Special touches such as branded scorecards, live leaderboards, a pre-event player & partner dinner, team drafts and trophy presentations all create atmosphere and excitement that justifies entry fees and brings people back next time.

With a smooth, well-ran event—all of this is made possible.

1. Sponsorship Opportunities

• Sell hole sponsorships to local businesses, and promote them with mobile app adverts, leaderboards, event websites, scorecards and other printed materials from Golf Genius.
• Offer team sponsorship packages, allowing companies to brand team gear or contribute to prize pools.

2. F&B Revenue

• Coordinate with your clubhouse to offer pre-paid meal and drink packages throughout the weekend.
• Run a halfway hut with Ryder Cup themed food and drink (e.g. Team USA Hot Dogs + Bourbon; Team Europe Pizza + Gin)
• Send menu options in advance using Golf Genius’ communication tools.

3. Run a Raffle or Auction

• Offer prize raffles (balls, apparel, lessons) or silent auctions for foursomes.
• Use Golf Genius to promote auctions and raffle entries ahead of time.

Run Your Event More Efficiently with Golf Genius

Many clubs still try to run these tournaments the old-fashioned way: Excel spreadsheets, handwritten club scorecards, WhatsApp groups (although that is often an improvement for some!) and late-night data entry.

Without a dedicated tournament platform, staff are overwhelmed by the admin required to run the event successfully and work late into the night getting it right…or correcting things that have gone wrong!

Golf Genius Tournament Management is a platform designed precisely for these kinds of team-based, multi-day competitions. You can simplify everything, such as setting up pairings, tracking live scores and managing player communication. Combined, you can create a polished, Ryder Cup branded experience and stop those late finishes the night before a round.

1. Streamline Registration

• Collect player info, payments, shirt sizes, and more in one place.
• Eliminate paperwork and reduce admin hours.

2. Simplify Pairings and Automate Scoring

• Auto-generate pairings and publish draws online.

• Effortlessly handle any formats, including team betterball, pairs foursomes and singles matchplay.
• Display live scores and results on TV displays around the clubhouse, on noticeboards and online via the club website.

4. Gather Feedback

• After the event, send a follow-up survey through Golf Genius to gather insights on what players loved — and what could be improved.

Keep the Momentum Going All Year

• Share highlight reels, photos, and stats.
• Publish previous leaderboards and winning teams.
• Tease next year’s dates and open early registration to returning players.

Your Ryder Cup-style event can be more than just a fun weekend — it can become the highlight of your club’s calendar. With the right planning and creative ideas, you’ll deliver a memorable, professional-quality experience while boosting revenue and saving time.

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Next Steps: Run A Ryder Cup Package

Golf Genius is offering clubs and organisers a dedicated package with everything needed to run a world-class Ryder Cup event. The package includes use of our Tournament Management platform, marketing tools and event guidance every step of the way.

Click here to find out more.