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2026 Red Hoffman Cup Matches

The Red Hoffman Cup Matches were created in 2005 to foster interaction and friendly competition among northern New Jersey golf clubs. These annual matches have been named in honor of Arthur K. Red Hoffman, the legendary New Jersey golf writer. Each spring the matches feature roughly 500 leading New Jersey amateurs and professionals playing a total of 968 rounds in a no-handicap, four-ball competition designed to effectively identify the strongest cohort of players in one club in Northern New Jersey.

Terms of Competition:

The following rules and guidelines apply to the various parts of the Hoffman Cup Matches.

Format: With a total of 36 clubs, the event will comprise nine groups, each with four clubs.

• For all matches and the Finals, USGA Rules are in effect, except as modified by Local Rules.
• Intragroup. Each club will field four sides. Matches should be played to the degree possible as noted in the matches schedule will be played as two-man, four-ball matches on a three-point (Nassau) basis; e.g., one point for the front side, one point for the back side and one point for the full 18. Ties on the nines and the eighteen result in 1/2 point for each team. The point total after competition with another club will be 12 points (i.e., four matches x three points). Within each of the eight groups, the team that compiles the most total points will be the group winner, and will advance to the semifinals. There is no tie-breaker in head-to-head intragroup play; ties will stand as ties. In the event of a tie between two clubs at the end of intragroup play, the first tie-breaker would be the result of their head-to-head match. The second tie-breaker would be the cumulative points won in the first matches to tee off (both home and away) in the head-to-head match. The third tie breaker will be the higher cumulative point total in the 2022 Hoffman Cup Matches. The team with the most points advances.
• The Bye Club. Eight intragroup winners will compete in the semifinals. The ninth group winner will draw a bye to compete in the Finals. This Bye Club will be the group winner with the most points earned in 2023 intragroup play. However, this Bye Club will be afforded the option of competing in the Semifinals. If the Bye Club chooses to compete in the Semifinals, that title will go to the club with the second highest intragroup point total. If the new Bye Club chooses to compete in the Semifinals, the same process will continue down the points list until a final Bye Club is identified.
• Entry to the Semifinals. The eight teams that enter the Semifinals will be the eight group winners, not counting the Bye Club. The eight clubs will be seeded based on their intragroup point total (highest total first, lowest total last) with the #1 vs #8, #2 vs #7, #3 vs #6, and #4 vs. #5, with the Bye Club factored out. Ties in point totals will be broken by comparing the tied clubs' third scheduled round point total; highest total wins.
• The Semifinals. The semifinals will be competed under the same point system as the intragroup matches with the exception that there will be a tie breaker, as follows: a tie in a semifinals match will be resolved through a sudden death playoff commencing at the higher-seeded club. The playoff host club will be identified ahead of the semifinal match. If the two teams have the same number of intragroup points, the club that earned the most points in the tied clubs' third scheduled round will serve as the playoff host. Both captains will choose their two-man playoff team, consisting of two of the four players (amateur or professional) who played on-site at the playoff host team's course. The sudden death playoff will be played using the same four-ball match rules used in the earlier matches. The winner of the sudden death playoff will advance to the Finals.
• Finals. The four winners of the semifinals matches will advance to the Finals, which will be played as a two-man, four-ball medal play competition counting all four sides' scores. The team with the low total score in the Finals will be the Champion team. A tie at the end of regulation play in the Finals will be broken by sudden death playoff, as coordinated by the Hoffman Cup Director and the host head professional, with two competitors from each team who also played during the stipulated round.
• Champion Club. The Finals winner will be the 2023 Hoffman Cup champion club.

Eligibility

• Within a given club, eligible participants include amateur members with a verifiable handicap from that club.
• Each club is encouraged, but not required, to include not more than one representative from the club’s professional shop for each intragroup and playoff round.
• Each club is encouraged, but not required, to include not more than one member younger than 23 years of age for each intragroup and playoff round.
• Breach of this rule will result in forfeiture of any points won by the ineligible team member(s).
• In intragroup matches, players may compete for more than one club of which they are a member. However, a player may compete in only one match on a given day. Participants may play for only one club in the playoffs.
• There is no requirement for any one player to participate in more than one match.

Conducting Play

• The objective of the Matches is to hold a golf competition. All competitions will be conducted as scheduled unless the course has been closed to all play, a player feels there is danger from lightning, or the captains mutually agree to move the match date.
• Both team captains in intragroup and semifinals matches are responsible for ensuring their scheduled match is played, even on an alternate date. Any club not fielding a side at the agreed upon time and place is considered to have lost three points. Otherwise, if a match is not completed, no points will be awarded to either team.

Responsibilities:

Hoffman Cup Matches Club Captain:

• Selects and fields his club’s team for each Hoffman Cup competition.
• Coordinates his club’s matches with each opposing captain, and ensures that his club is fully prepared to receive its Hoffman Cup guests / opponents.
• Ensures that each of his team’s players is fully aware of the tee time, format and responsibilities for the day’s matches.
• Before start of play, establishes the local Tournament Committee.
• If not available himself, ensures that one player from his team serves as his on-site representative.
• Reports the results of his match immediately after completion, first to his pro shop, and then ensures the information gets to the Hoffman Cup Director within one hour of the end of his team’s last match of the day.
• In the case of a semifinals match, coordinates with the opposing team captain to ensure that the tie breaker process will be in effect if needed.

Tournament Committee:

In the event of disputes or Rules discussions, there will be an on-site Tournament Committee consisting of the two local Hoffman Cup captains or their representatives and a nonparticipating member of the host professional staff. This committee will settle issues before reporting the match, if possible. If not resolved locally, the issue must be reported to the Hoffman Cup Matches Director for resolution.

Host Club:

• Each club needs to set aside two tee times each of the three match days.
• The host clubs are respectfully requested to absorb green fees, range balls and a post-round meal for the participating guests and members.
• The host club in the semifinals matches and the Finals must be prepared to facilitate a sudden death playoff to commence shortly after the end of the scheduled Hoffman Cup play.

Contestants:

• Each contestant will know his tee time, format and expectations in the Hoffman Cup.
• Each contestant is expected to pay for caddies, carts and other incidental expenses such as tips.
• Each contestant will understand that he is a representative of his club.

Champion Club:

The winning club each year is responsible for the safekeeping of the Red Hoffman Cup, returning it to the Hoffman Cup Matches Director before the Finals the following year.

Hoffman Cup Matches Director:

• Ensures that overall event scheduling and grouping is provided to all captains and other interested parties with plenty of time to allow successful coordination.
• Arranges for and coordinates all aspects of the Finals with the host club.
• Assists, as necessary, to ensure each captain has the information necessary to perform his job.
• Serves as final decision-maker or arbitrator on Hoffman Cup-related issues or disputes that cannot be satisfactorily settled by the captains involved.
• Communicates relevant information on intragroup matches, Semifinals and the Finals.
• Facilitates external media coverage of the Hoffman Cup Matches.
• Ensures that the Hoffman Cup is properly engraved between events, and is presented at the Finals event.

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Red Hoffman Cup Background

How The Hoffman Cup Came to Exist

When the Red Hoffman Cup Matches started in 2005 as the Northern New Jersey “A” Team Matches, there were no multiclub, men’s, scratch interclub competitions in northern New Jersey. Members from the Rock Spring Club, notably Kevin Casey and Bill Frese, asked other clubs in the immediate vicinity if they would be interested in participating in such a competition.

By late winter of 2005, Montclair Golf Club, Spring Brook Country Club and Fairmount Country Club had joined Rock Spring as charter members of the competition.

The first competition among these four clubs was held in spring 2005 and was ultimately won by Fairmount.

Montclair held the Hoffman Cup from 2006 to 2010. In 2011, Baltusrol Golf Club won the Cup and repeated in 2012.

Within a few years of the first matches, the Hoffman Cup grew steadily by four clubs a year. In 2014, the event reached 32 clubs.

Black Oak won in 2013 and 2014. Arcola captured the 2015 Hoffman Cup, Baltusrol won again in 2016, and Arcola won again in 2017 and 2018.

Arcola continued its success in later seasons, while increased parity among member clubs made the competition increasingly competitive.

Detailed results for each year are available under "Cup Archives," in the navigation above.

Red Hoffman

Also in 2005, the legendary dean of New Jersey golf writers, Arthur K. “Red” Hoffman, passed away in May at age 86. Mr. Hoffman had been a fixture of the state and national golf scene for over 60 years, starting with the Newark News.

From 1972 to the early ’80s, Mr. Hoffman was publicist for famed golf architect Robert Trent Jones and wrote stories for Dorf Features, which appeared in the Star-Ledger and GolfWorld magazine. Mr. Hoffman also worked as a publicist for the New Jersey State Golf Association.

It seemed that every serious golfer in the area had a Red Hoffman story, and he typically had several stories on each of them. More importantly, as the chronicler of the growth of the important New Jersey and regional golf scene, he was known throughout the golfing world.

Why the "Red Hoffman Cup Matches?" A dissatisfaction emerged with the name of matches its first year. Its “A-Team Matches” moniker did little to help people understand what the matches were or promote the growth of the event. By late 2005, Plainfield Country Club captain Bob Corbett suggested that the event be renamed to honor Red Hoffman, and the name was immediately adopted.

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Consistent Growth

From its start in 2005 to 2014, the Hoffman Cup grew at a rate of almost four clubs a year. Starting in 2019, the Hoffman Cup limited participation to 36 clubs.

2005 – Fairmount Country Club, Montclair Golf Club, Rock Spring Club*, Spring Brook Country Club
2006 – Echo Lake Country Club, Essex County Country Club, Mountain Ridge Country Club, Plainfield Country Club
2007 – Essex Fells Country Club, Morris County Golf Club, Metedeconk National Golf Club, Trump National Golf Club
2008 – Canoe Brook Country Club, Hackensack Golf Club, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Manasquan River Golf Club
2009 – No new clubs
2010 – Knickerbocker Country Club, Baltusrol Golf Club, Arcola Country Club, Ridgewood Country Club
2011 – No new clubs
2012 – The Bedens Brook Club, Black Oak Golf Club, Mendham Golf and Tennis Club, The Ridge at Back Brook***
2013 – Alpine Country Club, Navesink Country Club, Roxiticus Golf Club***, Upper Montclair Golf Club
2014 – Bayonne Golf Club, Liberty National Golf Club, Rockaway River Country Club, Spring Lake Golf Club
2016 – Rumson Country Club
2017 – Hollywood Golf Club
2018 – Somerset Hills Country Club
2019 – Deal Golf and Country Club, Forest Hills Field Club, Liberty National Golf Club**, North Jersey Country Club
2020 – Fiddlers Elbow Golf Club
2022 – Maplewood Country Club
2024 – The Ridge at Back Brook

* The Rock Spring Club and Montclair Golf Club merged in January 2016, taking the latter's name.
** Liberty National Golf Club left the Hoffman Cup in 2017, then returned in 2019 after an absence of two years.
*** The Ridge at Back Brook left the Hoffman Cup in the winter of 2018; Roxiticus left in 2022.

Red Hoffman Cup Champions

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To Participate:

The Hoffman Cup membership is at 36 clubs. New clubs will be considered for membership primarily when an existing member club leaves the event.

Clubs that are interested in participating in the Hoffman Cup should ensure that they meet the requirements below. Then, the club should contact the Hoffman Cup Director to discuss the competition. The club may then be placed on the Hoffman Cup waiting list in case an opening in the event occurs.

To participate in the Hoffman Cup, a prospective club should:

• Be a member in good standing of the Metropolitan Golf Association and the New Jersey State Golf Association
• Have 30 members with a handicap index of less than 8.0
• Have hosted or be scheduled to host at least one of the following events in the history of the club:
  • New Jersey State Golf Association Open or Men’s Amateur Championships
  • Metropolitan Golf Association Open, Men's Amateur or Ike Championships
  • Any USGA Championship, not including qualifiers
  • Any PGA Tour event

Contact:

For more information, contact Kevin Casey, Hoffman Cup Director, at kevincasey36@gmail.com, 973-886-5705.

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