How to Run a Captain's Draft for Your Friends Ryder Cup
Run a captain's draft for your friends Ryder Cup: picking captains, snake order, live or online drafts, trades and making it a show.
Published November 7, 2026
The draft is the best night of the trip. It is the moment two groups of friends become two teams. Do it right and the trash talk starts before anyone touches a club.
Here is how to run one.
Step 1: pick two captains
Captains matter. They pick teams, set pairings and give the speeches.
Common ways to choose:
- Last year's winning and losing captains. If you have history, use it.
- The two best players. Spreads the talent.
- The two loudest people. Honestly, it works.
- A vote. Everyone writes down two names.
Pick captains at least a week before the trip. It gives them time to scout.
Step 2: decide the draft order
The fairest system is a snake draft.
| Round | First pick | Second pick |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Captain A | Captain B |
| 2 | Captain B | Captain A |
| 3 | Captain A | Captain B |
| 4 | Captain B | Captain A |
So the order goes A, B, B, A, A, B, B, A. The captain who picks second in round one picks first in round two. It balances out.
Flip a coin, or chip for it, to decide who goes first.
Step 3: count your picks
Teams must be equal. Captains count as players.
| Group size | Team size | Picks per captain |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | 4 | 3 |
| 12 | 6 | 5 |
Step 4: choose live or online
Live draft
Do it at dinner on night one, or at a pre-trip get-together.
- Captains sit at the head of the table.
- Write every player's name on a card.
- Captains take turns picking a card and making a short speech.
- Pin the cards on a board by team.
This is the best way. It creates moments.
Online draft
If the group is spread out, draft over a video call or in the group chat a week before. Set a time limit per pick: two minutes is plenty.
Step 5: give captains a cheat sheet
Captains will want info. Share a simple sheet:
| Player | Handicap or usual score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Player 1 | 10 | Long hitter, streaky putter |
| Player 2 | 18 | Great in scrambles |
| Player 3 | 6 | Steady, hates early tee times |
Keep it friendly. Nobody wants to see "bad at golf" next to their name.
Step 6: make it a show
The draft is entertainment. Lean into it.
- Walk-up music for each pick.
- A podium made from a cooler.
- Jerseys or hats handed out as each player is picked.
- A "Mr. Irrelevant" award for the last pick, with honors.
Film it. You will want it next year.
Step 7: allow one trade (maybe)
Some groups allow one trade after the draft. Both captains must agree. It fixes mistakes and adds drama. Others ban trades completely. Decide before the draft, not after.
How to avoid hurt feelings
Being picked last can sting. A few tips:
- Remind everyone that order is about pairings, not friendship.
- Give the last pick a fun title and a small prize.
- Captains: say one nice thing about every pick.
- Do not draft partners or roommates against their will without warning them.
Alternatives to a draft
If your group does not want a draft:
- Random draw. Names out of a hat. Fast and fair.
- Seeded draw. Split players into tiers by skill, then draw one from each tier per team.
- Fixed rivalries. Old college vs new friends. Work vs home. One state vs another.
Read how to make fair golf teams for more balancing methods.
After the draft
Once teams are set:
- Share the rosters with the group.
- Captains start planning pairings. See the captain's playbook.
- Set up the teams in your scoring app before day one.
If your group is on iPhone and has 4, 8 or 12 players, MATCHUPS runs two equal teams over one to five rounds, with a live lock-screen scoreboard and end-of-trip awards. Hosting is free with 4 players and a one-time $49.99 for 8 or 12. It does not run on Android and does not support uneven teams. See other apps in our comparison.
A sample 8-player draft
Here is how a real 8-player snake draft might go. Captains A and B. Six players to pick.
| Pick | Captain | Player picked | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Player 1 | Lowest handicap in the group |
| 2 | B | Player 2 | Second best, great putter |
| 3 | B | Player 3 | Long hitter, perfect scramble partner |
| 4 | A | Player 4 | Steady, never makes a big number |
| 5 | A | Player 5 | Fun to play with, solid in four-ball |
| 6 | B | Player 6 | Mr. Irrelevant, and proud of it |
Notice the snake. Captain B gets picks 2 and 3 back to back, which makes up for not picking first.
The draft checklist
- Two captains named a week ahead
- Coin flip for first pick
- Snake order: A, B, B, A
- Player cards and a board
- Cheat sheet for captains
- Trade rule agreed
- Music, hats, a podium
- Last-pick award ready
Run it once and it becomes the night everyone looks forward to.
About the publisher: Captain's Pick is made by the MATCHUPS team. MATCHUPS runs friends Ryder Cups on iPhone and Apple Watch, with two equal teams of 4, 8 or 12. Free on the App Store · matchupsgolf.com
FAQ
How does a snake draft work for golf teams?
Captains alternate picks, and the order reverses each round: A, B, B, A, A, B and so on.
When should you hold the Ryder Cup draft?
At dinner the night before the first round, or online a week before if the group is spread out.
How many picks does each captain get with 8 players?
Three. Each team has four players including the captain.