The Carolina Cup II

Matters Frequently Raised

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at alex@carolinacupii.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is the Carolina Cup II?

The Carolina Cup II is a trophy. The reigning Carolina Cup II Champion holds the Carolina Cup II trophy in trust for the Carolina Cup II players. Trust custody of the trophy is determined by an annual golf match in which a “Challenger” seeks to defeat the current Cup holder, the “Champion.” Should the Challenger win, the Challenger takes custody of the Cup and becomes the reigning Champion until the next Carolina Cup II match.

Who has participated in the Carolina Cup II golf matches as a contestant?

Ben Tyson (of, at various times during Carolina Cup II history: Wisconsin U.S.A.; North Carolina, U.S.A.; Illinois, U.S.A.; Virginia, U.S.A.; Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; Maryland, U.S.A.; and Missouri, U.S.A.;

and

Alex Reinhart (of, at various times during Carolina Cup II history: Wisconsin, U.S.A.; North Carolina, U.S.A.; London, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; New York, U.S.A.; and Texas, U.S.A.).

Can I participate in the Carolina Cup II golf matches?

The Carolina Cup II golf matches are open to all who wish to participate as observers. Only those who have in the past been either a Carolina Cup II Champion or Carolina Cup II Challenger, however, can contend for custody of the Carolina Cup II.

Why is it called the Carolina Cup II? Was there a Carolina Cup I?

The original Carolina Cup was contested between Joe Tyson Jr. and Chuck Fogleman, students and roommates at the University of North Carolina. The Carolina Cup II carries on that tradition.

Who sets the rules for the Carolina Cup II?

The Carolina Cup II is run by the current Champion and Challenger, acting as trustees for the Carolina Cup II and associated events. The trustees maintain a set of bylaws setting the general rules for the Carolina Cup II. Certain sections of those bylaws cannot be amended, even by agreement of the trustees.

Are strokes given in Carolina Cup II matches?

Generally, no. The Carolina Cup II bylaws originally forbid any awarded of strokes. In 2022, the Carolina Cup II trustees amended the Carolina Cup II bylaws to the Champion two strokes for each consecutive successful defense of the Cup by a Champion (e.g., if a Champion holds the Cup for three consecutive years, he will have defended it twice during that time, and the Challenger will therefore get four strokes over 18 holes in the next Carolina Cup II golf match).

Are there other events surrounding the Carolina Cup II golf matches?

The Champion traditionally hosts a Carolina Cup II annual dinner on the night before the Carolina Cup II match. The Champion and the Challenger are encouraged to wear customary Carolina Cup II attire to the dinner, including custom Carolina Cup II sports jackets and ties. They are also encouraged to bring along their custom engraved Carolina Cup II “Challenger” and “Champion” tankards.

The Carolina Cup II is capped off each year by a trophy presentation.

Is Carolina Cup II merchandise available?

Carolina Cup II merchandise may be purchased at cost. Please contact the Champion or Challenger.

Are sponsorship opportunities available?

Just as with the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the World Series, the NBA Finals, the U.S. Opens, and other famous sporting events, sponsorship opportunities are available for the Carolina Cup II. Please contact the Champion or Challenger.

Does the Carolina Cup II accept donations?

Yes, the Carolina Cup II accepts donations. Well, technically, the Carolina Cup II does not accept them, but the Champion and the Challenger do. Donations are most certainly not tax deductible. Checks can be made out to Ben Tyson or Alex Reinhart. The donations will be considered “general, unrestricted.”

Executed & In Force

The Bylaws

Adopted by the Players and twice amended. Sections marked Entrenched may not be changed, even by mutual agreement.

Each year, in the spirit of good and just competition, Alex Reinhart and Ben Tyson (the “Players”) shall meet in opposition on the golf links to contest the ownership of a time-honored trophy (both the contest and the trophy, the “Carolina Cup [II]” or the “Cup”). The match (the “Defense”) shall be played by the current holder of the Cup (such player, the “Champion”) and the golfer seeking to gain title to the Cup (such player, the “Challenger”).

1 · Timing Entrenched

The Cup shall be contested no more than once each calendar year, on a date mutually agreed upon between Champion and Challenger.

2 · Play

(i) No strokes shall be awarded in any Defense, no matter how disparate the skill level of Champion and Challenger — except that for each successful consecutive Defense, the incumbent Champion shall award two strokes per successful consecutive Defense to the Challenger. Amended 20 June 2022
(ii) All Defenses shall be at least nine holes in length.
(iii) In the event of inclement weather, the Defense shall resume at the exact place where it left off, no matter the length of the lapse of time before it resumes.
(iv) The Defense shall be contested in match play format only.
(v) Others may join the Defense, golfing or watching, as non-scoring markers; only the Players’ shots count for Cup scoring. Entrenched

3 · Venue

The Cup shall be played at a venue mutually agreed upon by the Players. Preference shall be given to courses ranked in Golf Digest’s Top 100.
Each Player may assert the right to play the Cup at a “home” course of his choosing every three years.

4 · The Cup

The winner of the Defense is awarded the Cup. The loser pays to have it engraved — regardless of who actually carries it to the engraving shop.
Engraving shall include the name of the new Champion and the course played.
In the first year of a new Cup, the loser pays to have all previous Defenses engraved; should that exceed $50, the Players split all costs over $50 equally.

5 · A New Cup

The current Cup is used as long as space remains for engraving. When it does not, the Players purchase a mutually agreed cup, each paying half.
The winner in the year the last engraving fits gains permanent ownership of the retired Cup.

6 · The Carolina Cup Dinner

Host. Designated in order of hierarchy: the Player holding the club membership where the Defense occurs; failing that, the Player who gained entrance to that year’s private course; failing that, the Player whose state of residence contains — or is contiguous to — the Defense; failing all, the current Champion.
The Host picks the venue for the Dinner the night before the Defense and buys dinner for the other Player, drinks included. Should the bill exceed $100, the Players split all expenses over $100 equally.
Dress. Players are encouraged to wear customary attire, including the Carolina Cup Jackets and the Carolina Cup Ties.
Guests. Each Player may bring one guest.

7 · Amendments Entrenched

These Bylaws may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the Players — except that the Players may not, even by mutual agreement, change Section 1, Section 2(v), or this Section 7. Amended 20 June 2022

8 · Tiebreaker Amended 22 October 2012

In the event of a tie, a playoff determines the Champion. The format shall be “Post-1988 British Open Style” — a four-hole playoff continuing to sudden death — if reasonably possible.
If not, the playoff takes such format as the parties determine in good faith, but at minimum one golf hole on the same course.
Should even that prove impossible, the Champion retains the Cup, but both names are added to the Cup for that year.

Adopted by the Players — signed Ben Tyson and Alex Reinhart — with amendments executed 22 October 2012 and 20 June 2022. Condensed here for readers; the executed document governs.

The Carolina Cup II

The Record

Roll of Champions

A Map of the Matches