From the trip
Why We Keep Planning Ryder Cup Trips
The evenings are a big part of why I look forward to our golf trips. We'll sit by the fire pit after the round, have a couple, and catch up. Some of the guys haven't seen each other in a while, so there's plenty to talk about once we've finished going through the golf.
I've been the commissioner of the same trip since 2019. I enjoy putting the competition together, and I like a Ryder Cup because it gives everyone a reason to follow the golf outside their own group. A friend can be having a rough round three tee times behind you, and you still want to know whether he found a way to get a half.
That changes the conversation afterward. If your side needed his match, the score alone doesn't tell you much. You want to hear how he got there. A match that looked comfortable can get away over the last few holes, or a pair can hang around all afternoon and win one they probably shouldn't have. Those are the rounds you want someone to explain when they get back.
I'd want somewhere we can all sit down afterward, which is why the place you stay deserves a proper look. A house that sleeps twelve can still have a living room where only six people can sit comfortably. If everyone ends up back in their bedrooms because there's nowhere to hang out, you've lost a good part of the evening. I'd look at the space around the table and outside as closely as the bedrooms. I'd also be willing to give up a little convenience elsewhere to keep the group in one place.
The pairings matter for a similar reason. It's easy to keep playing with the friends whose games you know best. On a trip, I'd use some of those rounds to spend time with someone I haven't seen much. You have a few hours together, and the conversation has room to wander while you're walking or riding between shots. If you're choosing partners, think about who would enjoy that time together as well as who might win.
For the golf itself, I'd plan at least four rounds and leave singles until the end. On a day when we're playing twice, the second 18 would be a two-man scramble. Everyone still gets another full round, with a different way to play together. The rounds and points guide covers the competition, and there's a separate piece on why the scramble belongs in that afternoon slot.
On that two-round day, I'd be careful with dinner plans. The first group back can be showered and hungry while the last group is still on the course. A reservation that looks reasonable from the first tee time can leave the last four rushing straight from golf to dinner. Work backward from when they'll be finished, including time to get back and get ready.
I'd be just as happy eating at the house that night. After 36 holes, I want to sit down with the guys and have a couple. We've made the time to get away together, and I want an evening where nobody has to keep checking when we need to leave.
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