SCORE
Each stop on the Dual Cup circuit takes place over one or two days and must include:
- A golf leg — 2-ball Best Ball doubles with Golf Canada handicap
- A pickleball leg — Doubles tournament (both team players)
- Each team consists of exactly 2 players
- One player is designated Captain (responsible for registration and communications)
- Both players must take part in both disciplines at each stop
- Changing partners is not allowed during the season, except for a documented injury
The golf leg of the Dual Cup is played in a 2-Ball — Best Ball format:
- Both teammates each play their own ball over the 18 holes
- On each hole, only the better net score of the two players counts for the team
- The best scores from each hole add up to form the team's total score
- Every hole counts directly toward the overall ranking — the total score over 18 holes determines the team's rank
- Full 18-hole round
- An official Golf Canada handicap is required to participate
- The index used is the one in effect at the time of the stop
- In the Best Ball format, each player receives their own handicap strokes based on their individual index, applied to holes according to the course's stroke index
- Players without an official handicap may participate in the Quebec 2026 Preview Event only — a handicap will be required for the 2027 season
- Local rules of each host club apply and are communicated on the morning of the stop
- Pace of play is essential — a team may be penalized for playing too slowly
- Attire must comply with the host club's dress code
- Use of a GPS / rangefinder is permitted
- Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in disqualification
In golf, the team with the best net score (the lowest) is ranked highest. Their rank then determines their points via the official Dual Cup scale — a table of fixed points from 1st to 60th place, identical for golf and pickleball.
Example for a stop with 20 teams:
| Rank (best net score) | Points (scale) |
|---|---|
| 1st — best score | 100 pts |
| 2nd | 91 pts |
| 5th | 70 pts |
| 10th | 47 pts |
| 15th | 32 pts |
| 20th (last) | 23 pts |
- Doubles-only format — both team players play together in every match
- 4 championship matches per team, in pools (round-robin) — no elimination phase
- Pools are adjusted based on the number of registered teams so that every team plays exactly 4 matches, regardless of the stop's size
- Matches are best of 3 games to 11 points, with a tiebreak to 15 if needed
- Official USA Pickleball / Pickleball Canada rules apply
- A DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is welcome but not required
- Teams are ranked by skill level at registration and distributed evenly across pools
- Accepted levels: Beginner · Intermediate · Advanced · Elite
- Being honest about your skill level is essential to keep matches balanced and enjoyable for everyone
- Personal paddles are allowed — must comply with USA Pickleball standards
- Official balls provided by the organization at each stop
- Athletic shoes with non-marking soles are required
- Casual attire is acceptable — no strict dress code
In pickleball, pool standings work just like a league table: first by number of wins across the 4 matches, then by goal average (points scored minus points conceded) as a tiebreaker. This pool ranking (1st, 2nd, 3rd…) then determines points via the same official scale used for golf.
Goal average = sum, across the 4 matches, of (points scored − points conceded)
Example — pool of 5 teams, each plays 4 matches:
| Team | Wins | Goal Average | Rank | Points (scale) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team A | 4 | +22 | 1st | 100 pts |
| Team B | 3 | +9 | 2nd | 91 pts |
| Team C | 2 | +3 | 3rd | 84 pts |
| Team D | 1 | −11 | 4th | 77 pts |
| Team E | 0 | −23 | 5th | 70 pts |
If a stop has multiple pools, all teams play the same number of matches (4) and are then compared using their respective pool rank on the shared scale.
The Dual Cup uses a single, shared points scale, from 1st to 60th place, for both golf and pickleball. Each team earns a rank in each leg — that rank directly determines its points via this table. The gaps are larger at the top ranks (like on professional golf tours) and narrow progressively down to a floor of 10 guaranteed points at 60th place.
At each stop, a team's Dual Cup score is the sum of its golf and pickleball points, each obtained via the official scale above:
Golf rewards rank by best net score, and pickleball rewards pool rank (wins, then goal average). Since both legs use the same scale, a team that excels in both disciplines takes a clear lead in the standings.
If a team takes part in multiple qualifying stops during the season, only its best score from a single stop counts toward the qualifying phase — scores are not added up across local stops.
This lets you play multiple stops risk-free: only your best performance counts for qualification.
Since golf and pickleball use the same scale, two teams can end up with an identical Dual Cup score through different rank combinations. In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker order is as follows:
- 1. Priority goes to the team with the best golf rank (the winner of the golf leg) at the stop in question
- 2. If still tied, priority goes to the best pickleball rank (pool standing)
- 3. If still tied, priority goes to the best pickleball goal average
- 4. If still tied, a random draw determines the winning team
The Dual Cup runs in two phases:
The season's final ranking is obtained by adding together the qualifying points (best local score) and the points earned at the Grand Final in Mexico:
Simple example:
| Team | Best Local Score | Mexico Score | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team A | 80 pts (Quebec) | 70 pts | 150 pts |
| Team B | 55 pts | 95 pts | 150 pts |
The team with the highest total wins the Dual Cup. A team that hasn't played any qualifying stop can still register directly for Mexico — its qualifying points will then be 0.
To give more weight to the Grand Final, a multiplier could be applied to points earned in Mexico (e.g. × 1.5):
Total Score = Qualifying Points + (Mexico Points × 1.5)
With this multiplier, the example above would give: Team A = 80 + 105 = 185 pts · Team B = 55 + 142.5 = 197.5 pts. This multiplier is still to be confirmed before the 2027 season.
- The Grand Final is open to all qualified teams, with no distinctions
- All teams compete together in a single ranking
- There is only one winner of the Grand Final, determined by the highest total score (qualifying + Mexico)
- The champion team wins a trip (destination and details to be confirmed)
- Same format as local stops: golf leg + pickleball leg over 2 days
- All-inclusive stay — accommodation, meals, activities included
- All players must be 18 years or older at the time of registration
- Registration is per team — both players register together
- An active Golf Canada handicap is required for the golf leg (starting in 2027)
- A team can register for one or more stops — each stop is billed separately
- Registration fees are non-refundable for cancellations made less than 14 days out
- A partner change is allowed only in the case of a documented injury or medical impossibility
- The request must be submitted to Eagle Experience at least 7 days before the stop
- Accumulated points remain tied to the team's Captain
- A player cannot take part on two different teams during the same season
The Dual Cup is, above all, a friendly and inclusive competition. Our core values:
- Fair Play — respect your opponents, officials, and host clubs
- Inclusivity — all skill levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced
- Camaraderie — competition happens in good spirits
- Honesty — follow the rules and report your scores accurately
- These rules are preliminary and subject to change before the 2027 season launch
- Eagle Experience reserves the right to modify the format and rules to improve the experience
- Any change will be communicated to registered teams with a minimum 30-day notice
- Questions and suggestions can be sent to contact@dualcup.ca