2009 JAMES CUP CHALLENGE

After a very successful and enjoyable 2004 JCC at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino we are planning to return for the 2009 JCC Matches. The proposed dates are January 18 - 21 (Sun. - Weds). Sunday will be the Player Registration and Welcome Reception. Monday is the MLK Holiday. Since our visit the Resort the Barona Creek Golf Club has hosted the Nationwide Tour Championship. They are scheduled to host the Championship again in 2009. The Resort's luxury hotel has gourmet dinning, fitness center, day spa and gaming. To check out their web site Click Here. The 2009 Package includes a Hospitality Suite, which was a VERY POPULAR LOCATION in 2004. Two runs were made to Costco in Lakeside to restock the adult beverages. With the emphasis on gaming most of the Resorts Rooms are set aside for guest who visit Barona for that purpose. That will also explain why the JCC is not on a weekend. Invitations will be limited. This will be a slam dunk 5 Star Event.

QUALIFYING FOR JAMES CUP INTERNATIONAL

For those wishing to qualify for the 2009 U.S. James Cup Team the JCC Matches will also serve as the qualifying event. The selection process is outlined below. The 2009 U.S. Team will be defending the Cup June 18-20 at the Torreby Golf Club in Munkedal, Sweden. If the 2009 U.S. Team is successful, each player will receive an invitation for a spot on the 2010 U.S. Team for the International Matches in September at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Selection Process:
To maintain parity between both teams the following criteria will be considered in selecting players for the 2009 U.S. Team:
1. Individual handicaps.
2. Points accumulated in 2009 JCC Matches. Each player in team matches will receive the total points won by their team.
3. Order in which entries are received.
4. The maximum player handicap is 16 for the 2009 JCI. A player may be selected with a handicap higher than 16 but, will compete as a 16 handicap.

2008 JAMES CUP INTERNATIONAL

The 2008 U.S. James Cup Team continued their domination of the Championship by defeating the International Team 65 to 44. The U.S. holds a 5-0 record in the series.

The Matches were played at the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch, New Zealand. Clearwater is the home of the New Zealand PGA Championship.

The Matches followed the pattern of the past Championships. The U.S. Team built up a large lead after the Four-Ball and Alternate Shot Matches and the International Team made their charge on the final day's Singles Matches. Due to inclement weather conditions on the final day the Singles Matches were concluded when the U.S.Team had compiled the 19 points needed to retain the Cup.

The International Team was represented by players from Australia, Canada, England, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland.

Pictured above are the 2008 James Cup International Captains.
Terry Harrison of New Zealand on the left congratulating winning
Captain Ted McGraw of the United States.

~ Recap of the 2008 JCI day by day scoring ~

The 2009 James Cup International will be played June 18 - 20
at the Torreby Golf Club in Munkedal, Sweden.

The Championship was founded in 1973 by Tom James and the Northern California Left Handed Golfer's Association. Originally it was known as the North / South Lefty State Championship. It was first played at the Avila Beach G.C. as a 36-hole stroke play event, matching lefty teams from Northern and Southern California. It soon became an intense rivalry that was played solely for the bragging rights. The Championship was held annually over Memorial Day Weekend in the San Luis Obispo - Paso Robles area of California. Courses played included Avila Beach, Black Lake, Hunter Ranch, La Purisima and the Paso Robles Country Club. In 1997 the format was changed to match play.

Tom James or "TJ" as his friends knew him passed away in 1997 at the age of 80 while attending the World Left-Handed Golf Championship in Otsu, Japan. He spent many of his years supporting and promoting lefty golf in the U.S. and abroad. In 1946 he co-founded the Northern California Left Handed Golfer's Association. He later served for many years on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Left Handed Golfers (NALG) and was instrumental in the formation of the World Association of Left-handed Golfers (WALG). In 1998 the Board of Directors of the Northern California Left Handed Golfer's Association voted to rename the tournament the "James Cup Championship" in the honor and memory of the ambassador of lefty golf "TJ". As a further tribute to TJ's many achievements the first James Cup International Championship was played in 2002 in Marbella, Spain. To date countries represented on the International Teams have been Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Switzerland, Sweden and Taiwan.

The James Cup is recognized as one of the major events of Lefty Golf Worldwide. The Annual James Cup Challenge is played on Presidents' Day Weekend in the U.S. The Challenge serves as the qualifying tournament for players to represent the United States in the James Cup International that follows.

Our appreciation is extended to Doug Crosby, Peter Read and the Board of the WALG for their many years of dedication, commitment and success that has brought "Lefty Golf" to the worldwide stage. Without their efforts and support the James Cup International Championship would not have been possible.

The goal of the James Cup Committee is to make each Championship a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. The purposes of the matches is to promote and support the spirit of lefty golf; keen competition, sportsmanship, camaraderie and the opportunity to renew and develop new friendships.

Wally Mattson, Chairman                                                      Wally Coffman, President