Texas Cup
Three days, two teams, Ryder Cup rules — STROH's vs. Big Plex for Texas supremacy.
Overview
The Texas Cup is our marquee team event — a three-round, Ryder Cup–style throwdown for Texas bragging rights, and a new format this year: an 18-player STROH’s team against an 18-player Big Plex (DFW) team across a full weekend of match play.
For its first six years the Cup was a three-team affair — Austin/San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. After the 2026 event we moved to two teams, with the Dallas contingent now playing as Big Plex. Past winners are on the Roll of Honour.
The event enters its second year at The Hideout in Brownwood, TX, after four years at Pine Dunes.
Format
Three days, Ryder Cup style — every match is worth points, and the team with the most points lifts the Cup. Across the weekend we play all three classic team formats:
- Best Ball — two-player teams, each plays their own ball, and the better score counts.
- Scotch Foursomes — alternate shot, with a twist: partners must each hit a minimum of 3 drives per nine.
- Singles — head-to-head match play.
(Exact session lineup and points are finalized closer to the event.)
Handicap Allowances
Each format plays off a different allowance. Know your number before you tee off — these decide who gets shots and where.
| Format | Allowance | How the shots fall |
|---|---|---|
| Best Ball | 90% of course handicap | Shots come off the lowest handicap player in the group. The low player gets 0 shots; everyone else gets the difference between their handicap and his. |
| Scotch Foursomes | 40% of the higher partner’s handicap plus 60% of the lower, added together | That single number is the pair’s handicap, per USGA guidelines. Shots then come off the lower pair. |
| Singles | 100% — full handicaps | Standard 1:1 match play: the difference between the two players. |
Worked examples.
- Best Ball — a group of 10, 20, 14 and scratch play off 9, 18, 13 and 0. The scratch player gives nothing away and receives nothing; the 20 receives 18 shots.
- Scotch Foursomes — a 10 and a 20 play off 14 (60% of 10 is 6, plus 40% of 20 is 8). A 3 and an 11 play off 6.
- Singles — an 18 against a 4 receives 14 shots.
Shots fall on the stroke index of the tees each player is on, so split tees are fine — the count is still the plain difference in course handicaps.
The Teams
Two 18-player squads go to war: STROH’s vs. Big Plex. Rosters and captains come together in the run-up to the weekend.
When & Where
- Dates: Late March 2027 — a Friday-through-Sunday weekend (exact dates TBD).
- Venue: The Hideout, Brownwood, TX.
Cost
TBD. Cabin-style pricing (lodging plus green fees with carts and unlimited golf) will be announced as the event approaches — along with food and side games.
Who Can Play & Sign-Ups
You just need a tie to one of the three Texas metros — Austin/San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas. You do not have to be a STROH’s or Big Plex member to play.
Sign-ups run through the STROH’s / Big Plex Discord — DM @jdonelson (STROH’s) or @Insulin_And_Bogeys (Big Plex) for an invite and registration details.