A Visual History of the Rooney Cup
It started in 1998 with twelve guys, a rented van, and a scoring system where every single hole counted as a point. Team Rooney won 67–61. We never scored it that way again, but the trophy got bought, a captain got a tournament named after him, and somehow we've done it every year since — except 2020, which nobody gets credit for.
Twenty-six cups later there's a spreadsheet with every match ever played, a mandatory goat award, and a rule book that still gets argued over every winter. This is the whole thing, written down.
1998
Founding year in Myrtle Beach. Every hole counted as a point, Team Rooney beat Team Rymer 67–61, and Keith Hoffman bought the trophy and named himself MVP.
1999
The three-points-per-match system arrives — the scoring model that still runs the Cup.
2000
Two-man scramble day is added and the Cup becomes a three-day event. Nemec ends the Rooney dynasty.
2005
Alternate shot joins the rotation as a fourth round — the format nobody asks for and the one cups keep turning on.
2006
Best Ball and Singles are handicapped for the first time. The Cup heads west to Scottsdale in 103° heat.
2010
All five formats become fully handicapped, everyone plays from the same tees, and Meily posts the first 15–0 weekend.
2018
Gamblepalooza. No cup is awarded; Meade wins the low-net singles and the retroactive MVP.
Tournament Snapshot
A quick look at the numbers behind the rivalry.
26
Cups Played
60
Total Players
5
Formats in Rotation
1
Historic Tie (2025)
27
Largest Margin (2007)
1
Closest Cup (2009)
Stubborn Rivalry, Eternal Brotherhood
The Rooney Cup is defined by more than swings and scorecards. It’s late-night drafts, rain delays, broken wrists, 35-foot walk-off putts and the same 60 men showing up year after year. The trash talk is loud, the handicaps are argued over, and the friendships outlast every result.
Rooney Cup: Tradition Meets Tee Time
Dive into the full ledger of champions, formats, leaderboards and player histories — then pick a side and start planning your next run at the Cup.