Buthlay Cup 2026

Buthlay Cup rules of Competition.

The  Buthlay Cup is a four ball better ball competition played off handicap in two stages;  firstly a league stage with the winners and runners up from the four leagues  then going forward to the quarter final knockout stage.

This is a Male only competition, 8 players in a team.

Each match consists of four 4BBB games, 1 point for a win, zero points for a loss, half a point for a halved game.

Each game to be played over 18 holes and holes up/down recorded.

Two bonus points are awarded per match, one to the team that wins the match and another to the team with the greater aggregate holes up, if the match is halved or the aggregate holes up/down are level then the bonus point is shared.

The league stages of the competition 6 points per match are being played for.

Only Handicap Index 5.0 to 25.0 are eligible to play in the competition.

Shot allowance is 100% of Course Handicap & then 90% of the difference taken from the lowest handicap player in the four ball (18 shots maximum allowed).

If a match in the league stages cannot be completed it should be replayed prior to the 9th August 2026. If it cannot be replayed each team will receive 3 points.

The league stage of the competition must be completed by the 9th August 2026.

Quarter Final Knockout.

Winner of Red League will play the runner up of Yellow League.

Winner of Yellow League will play the runner up of Red League.

Winner of Green League will play the runner up of Blue League.

Winner of Blue League will play the runner up of Green League.

The four league winners get home advantage in hosting the quarter final matches.

Quarter final matches must be played by 6th September 2026.

Semi Final Knockout.

The four quarter final winners go into a random draw to determine their opponents.

Both semi finals and the final will be played at a neutral venue. The matches must be played prior to the 4th October 2026.

Separate rules for the knockout stages.

Bonus points are not applicable.

If the match points finish level at 2 – 2 then aggregate holes up/down is used to determine the winners. If aggregate holes up/down is level then a pairing nominated by each team captain before the start of the match will play extra holes to determine the winners. 

Final

PLEASE NOTE - The Final will be played on the Weekend 10th/11th of October 2026, this was a new rule for 2024 and the venue has already been selected for 2026. Should, after the finalists have been identified, this not be a neutral venue, and alternative date MAY be chosen.

League Tables for 2026 are below:

Red League

Blue League

Green League

Yellow League