Chelsea Novak
Rossland News
The twelfth annual Border Cup Invitational took place Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, wrapping up Saturday at Redstone Resort.
If you’ve never heard of the golf tournament before, that might be because it’s a private event — invite only. It first started when a group of Americans who bought condos in Rossland for the ski season started visiting in the summer too. They loved Rossland in the summer as much as they loved it in the winter, and the Border Cup was born.
The original golfers had all gone to high school together in Michigan, and though they now live all over, they still get together regularly. The original five now act as captains for the Border Cup teams.
The cup itself is a replica of the Ryder Cup, and the tournament follows the same rules as the event of the same name, which pits Team USA against Team Europe. Only the Border Cup is Team USA and Team Canada.
The first day of the tournament two Canadians play against two Americans. Each pair uses the lowest score between them, and a pair counts a point if they have the lowest score for the hole. Ties earn each team half a point. Whichever pair wins the match earns a point for their team.
The second day of the tournament is match play, where each Canadian plays against an American. Each golfer scores a point when they have the lowest score on a hole, and ties earn half points. If a golfer wins their match, they win a point for their team.
This year the Border Cup had 24 golfers and 30 matches, and Team USA claimed the cup with 17 points.
But there were no hurt feelings. Golfers, both Canadian and American, palled around at hole 18 while they waited for everyone to finish, taking drinks from the Border Cup.
“It’s about fun, and it’s about friendship,” said Dave Roberts, a captain for Team Canada.
The end of the tournament was followed by dinner outside next to the course, and a band in the clubhouse.
