Convict Cup - How it Works
The Convict Cup is played in the third weekend of October between 12-member teams representing Team England and Team Southern. It consists of three match-play sessions played over three days.


TEAM SELECTION
FORMAT
ORDER OF PLAY
Players for each team are selected from members from the Happy Bandit Tour. The Convict Cup is a team match play event using full Happy Bandit Tour handicaps. The first two days includes one six-match session of four-balls and one six-match session of foursomes. The final day (Sunday) is reserved for 12 singles matches.

FOURSOMES
FOURBALLS
SINGLES
In foursomes, each two-man team plays one ball per hole with the players taking turns until each hole is complete. Players alternate hitting tee shots, with one leading off on odd-numbered holes, and the other hitting first on even-numbered holes. The team with the low score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved. Handicaps are half the difference between team aggregate handicaps. In four-balls, each member of a two-man team plays his own ball, so four balls are in play on every hole. Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole (the lowest handicap plays off scratch and gives the difference to the other 3 players), and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. If the low scores are tied, the hole is halved. In singles, each matches features one player from each team. The player with the lower score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved. The lowest handicapped golfer gives shots the full difference in shots to their opponent.

POINTS
CLAIMING THE CUP
CONCESSION
The three days of the event consist of 24 total matches, each of which is worth one point. There are no extra holes in Convict Cup matches. Should an individual match be tied after 18 holes, each team earns a half point (1/2 point). To win the Convict Cup outright, a team must collect 12 1/2 of the 24 points available. In the case of a 12-12 draw, the winning team from the previous Convict Cup retains the trophy. Unlike stroke play, players don't have to complete each hole in match play. If a player concedes a stroke – almost always a putt – to his opponent, the opponent picks up his ball, takes the score he would have made on the next stroke and moves on to the next hole.