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International Competitions :: Palmer Cup :: About the Palmer Cup

The Palmer Cup, named in honor legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, is an international golf competition that annually pits the top eight collegiate golfers from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland.

The Palmer Cup is a four round match-play event. The first round of competition is a fourball (better ball) match format, followed by a round of foursomes (alternate shot) matches and two rounds of singles matches. Each match is worth one point.

Administered by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), the Palmer Cup alternates between sites in the United States and Great Britain.

The inaugural matches were held in 1997, at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida. Since then, the cup has traveled to the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, the Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, and Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.

Future host venues for the Palmer Cup include Doonbeg Golf Club in County Clare, Ireland (2002), Cassique at Kiawah Island, South Carolina (2003) and Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland (2004).

The U.S. representatives are nominated by GCAA coaches and selected by the association's All-America committee. GB&I golfers playing in the U.S. are also nominated by GCAA coaches. Additionally, the British University Sports Association nominates players in the U.K. and ultimately makes the decision on the eight roster spots.