The Bushranger Cup

Welcome to the home of The Bushranger Cup

History

The Bushranger Cup is a four-man team event for social golfers. It was founded in 2004 by Matthew Pitt in an effort to combat the diminishing quantity of golf being played by his mates. Since most of the original participants did not have official handicaps, the perennial challenge of managing Bushrangers became the guiding principle for the development of the handicapping system and format of the event. Although it ended up being the catalyst for the formation of Bushranger Golf, the Bushranger Cup remains a private invitational event. The first tournament was contested in March 2004 at the 36-hole Cobram-Barooga Golf Club. It has evolved a reputation for hosting remarkable moments, great drama and hilarious fun and is now, some people say, arguably the most sought after prize in the golfing universe.

The 2024 Bushranger Cup

The 21st Bushranger Cup will return to the Mornington Peninsula to stay on course at Moonah Links once again. The 2024 event is on the weekend of March 22 – 24. Go to the 2024 Bushranger Cup page for detailed info.
 

Bushranger Cup Champions

Bushranger Cup Net Scoring Records

The 2019 Bushranger Cup champions (Nick Honey, Roger Brown, Matthew Pitt & Michael David) setting things right after putting the band back together for and establishing themslevces as the greatest Bushranger Cup unit. Ever.
 

Bushranger Cup Net Scoring Averages (minimum five Cups)

* Arbeige missed the first 9 holes of the 1st Cup after an overnight visit to Shepparton hospital for some running repairs.

The Format

Each golfer plays 3 rounds: one of 9 holes and two of 18 holes from which each team will derive a 72-hole score. The team with the lowest total will be declared the winner.

The Rounds

Round One: In the first three years, this was on Saturday Morning. From 2007, this round has been moved to Friday afternoon. Each player shoots a solo 9-hole round of stroke play and so each team will have scored four 9-hole rounds. Handicaps are deducted to calculate the net score for each player. In the first three years, the highest and lowest 9-hole totals for each team were eliminated, leaving the 2nd and 3rd best 9-hole scores for each team as their 1st round 18-hole score. From 2007, the 2nd and 4th scores will be eliminated, leaving the 1st and 3rd best scores as each teams' 1st round 18-hole score. The 18-hole leader board will be posted on Friday evening.

Rounds Two & Three: Saturday Afternoon. The field embarks on 18 holes of 2-ball Ambrose (each pair is grouped with men from another team). Handicaps are deducted and these scores make up each team’s 2nd & 3rd round net scores for the tournament. At the conclusion of Saturday’s activities, the 54-hole leader board will be posted.

Round Four: Sunday morning. Teams will compete together as 4-ball Ambrose gangs for 18 holes to determine the team’s final 18-hole score. The four rounds for each team are totalled to determine the winning team. In the event of a tie, a sudden death playoff will be conducted with each team playing together as a foursome (taking alternate strokes playing one ball).

Trophies & Prizes

In addition to sharing a glamorous prize pool, the winning team members will each receive individual trophies and will share in holding the magnificent Bushranger Cup Perpetual Trophy until the next staging of the event.

Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin will be contested in each of the three rounds. In the interests of maximizing team gloating, team-mates will compete collectively for these honours. Hence, there will be four prizes for each contest and any individual who wins a LD or a NTP will win booty and glory for each of his team-mates.

Handicapping

Each entrant will be required to submit answers to a questionnaire prior to the tournament to assist the handicapper. Each player is assigned an individual handicap relative to the rest of the field which is used to calculate the team handicaps. At the conclusion of each round, the handicappers will consider each score and handicap and may make adjustments, however no wholesale changes will be made. Whilst remaining ever vigilant to the Bushranger, the handicapper will be governed by a commitment to rewarding good play according to a player’s ability.

The Rodeo Rule (minimum numbers of drives for Ambrose team members) will be invoked; however this will be incorporated into team handicapping; each ambrose team will have individual rodeo requirements to fulfil in each of the Ambrose rounds.
 

Bushranger Cup Golf Courses