The first nine national qualifying sites have been announced for the King's Cup, the international team matches for competitive and handicap amateurs between the United States and Ireland.

The King's Cup, named in honor of golf's ultimate ambassador Arnold Palmer, is entering its 6th year and allows two-man amateur teams the chance to represent their country.

There are two divisions – the Open Division and Senior Division. The Open Division is open to all ages. The Senior Division is for teams where both players are 55 years of age and above.

The road to the King's Cup is laid out in three stages:

(1) National Qualifying held at sites around the country for two-man amateur teams. Scoring at a national qualifier is 18 holes of best-ball NET, with each teammate receiving 85% of their course handicap. The low 30% of the field and ties will qualify for the USGC National Championship.

(2) The U.S. Golf Challenge (USGC) National Championship will be held September 10-12, 2020 at The Legends Golf Complex in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Two-man teams will compete on three different courses in three different formats, and the successful qualifiers will represent Team USA in the International King's Cup. Round 1 is a best-ball, round 2 is alternate shot, and round 3 is aggregate stroke play. There are four flights in each Division determined by Team Index: Championship flight = 4.9 and under, A-flight = 5.0 to 9.9, B-flight = 10.0 to 14.9, C-flight = 15.0 and above.

(3) The International King's Cup will be held in the spring of 2021 at Glasson Golf Club, one of the most challenging and scenic golf courses in Ireland. The divisions and flights will be the same as in the USGC National Championship.

The format for the International King's Cup is modified team match play. Each team in each flights plays every hole in that day’s format. Day 1 is a best-ball format, Day 2 is modified alternate shot, Day 3 is singles matches. Each hole is worth 2 points. Winning a hole is worth 2 points, a tie is worth 1 point and a loss of a hole is worth 0 points.

At the end of each match, each flight totals their points. When all the flights have finished their matches the total points from each flight are added together to form an overall total for the team that day. The team with the most overall total points after the 3 days of competition wins the International King’s Cup. In the event of a tie, the team currently holding the Cup retains the Cup.

To see what the King's Cup is all about, watch the video below:


In 2019, Team USA won the King's Cup for the first time at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida. Last year's qualifiers have determined the team for 2020, and Team USA will attempt to retain the Cup at Castlerock Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

This year's road to the King's Cup starts with the announcement of the first nine national qualifying sites. For more information and to register, follow the links below:

- April 17, 2020 at Diamante G&CC in Hot Springs Village, Ark. >> more info and to register
- May 16, 2020 at Golf Club of Indiana in Lebanon, Ind. >> more info and to register
- May 18, 2020 at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge in Snoqualmie, Wash. >> more info and to register
- May 24, 2020 at EagleSticks Golf Club in Zanesville, Ohio >> more info and to register
- June 11, 2020 at The Suburban Club in Pikesville, Md. >> more info and to register
- June 13, 2020 at Madison Country Club in Madison, Ohio >> more info and to register
- June 15, 2020 at Canyon Club at Four Hills in Albuquerque, N.M. >> more info and to register
- June 27, 2020 at Little Mountain CC in Painesville, Ohio >> more info and to register
- July 27, 2020 at Riverside Golf Club in North Riverside, Ill. >> more info and to register

Additional qualifying sites will be added across the country, and will be trackable at the USGC website (usgolfchallenge.com) and also by going to the AmateurGolf.com tournament search page and searching on USGC.

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