It all started back in 2011.  As I recall, Cory “Carl” Lanman initially had the idea to get a group of guys to go on a weekend golf trip to Sequim, WA where we could stay at his family’s beach house.  Carl brought this idea up with me (Paul Desilet, Jr.) and Matt Shumate.  We obviously thought this was a great idea and we quickly assembled a list of eight guys to go on this two-day, three-night golf trip playing 36 holes on Friday and again on Saturday. 

During this inaugural journey, we really didn’t have any formal golf competition.   We had some relatively small wagers and played the last round as a four-man scramble but otherwise, we mostly just played golf and enjoyed a few delicious Coors Lights.  It’s also important to note that prior to this maiden trip, there had not been any discussion about the future.  As far as we were all concerned, this was just a randomly planned golf weekend…

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Shortly after that first trip, discussions about having this trip become a yearly event began.  Those discussions ended quickly as it was unanimously agreed that henceforth, it would become an annual tradition.  Then we decided the trip needed name and that’s how we wound up with The Hops Classic.  It seemed perfect thanks to our loyal and frequent patronage of the beer industry throughout the weekend, plus it just has a nice ring to it.  And most importantly, it’s a much easier to sell your wife on the fact that you’re going to be gone for “The Hops Classic” rather than “You know, it’s that one weekend where I go and golf with a bunch of my friends.” 

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The next important event in the evolution of The Hops Classic was when we learned that Carl’s “Whore of An Aunt” was in fact being completely unreasonable to their entire family.  Her whorish behavior resulted in her buying the family beach house and not sharing it with the family.  Due to Carl’s “Whore of An Aunt” acting like such a whore (I sincerely hope she reads this because I’m still mad at her.  That cabin was amazing and Carl’s grandpa built it himself and their family loved the place), it was decided that The Hops Classic would move to…the Tri Cities!  This decision was made for three reasons: 1.) the weather is nice in the spring, 2.) they have fun golf courses with good greens who welcome us with open arms and 3.) it’s only a 3-hour drive. 

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The Hops Classic continued to thrive in that same basic format for another two years.  That’s when the next, and most significant, evolution took place.  As Chairman of The Hops Classic, I had an extremely deep yearning to improve the format, so that we could have some sort of competition while also keeping it easy for everyone to understand and follow.  Then, thanks to the 2014 Ryder Cup, I came up with a similar format that’s lasted, with only a few minor tweaks, to this day.  This is how The Hops Cup came to be. 

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The Hops Classic now is held in Ryder Cup-style format.  Each year, two Captains are vetted and selected by a committee composed of former Captains and The Chairman.  Once the Captains are selected and the field of competitors is finalized, then The Draft takes place.  Typically, the first pick of The Draft is decided with some type of competition (putting contest, beer pong, bar game Olympics, etc.) as agreed upon by that year’s Captains.  The Draft is then held in a non-snake fashion until both teams are complete. 

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All Hops Classic competitors are required to maintain either a USGA Handicap or at minimum a handicap with an online app such as The Grint.  Handicaps are used in the two-man best ball that is Round One, the singles matches that are Round Two and the two-man best ball that is Round Three.  Handicaps are not used in the Two-Man Scramble that is Round Four.  The format is/was designed to that competitors of all skill levels to participate and succeed if they play well. 

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One specific detail that needs to be mentioned is that during competition, we play by The Rules of Golf (using winter rules) with one amazing exception:  The Shotgun Mulligan.  The concept of the Shotgun Mulligan originally started with Sean Shoemaker.   Then, with some minor collaboration it became a competitive trademark of The Hops Classic.  It’s simple; each competitor is eligible for one mulligan on each nine holes.  In order to earn that mulligan, the competitor must shotgun or pound a full beer as quickly as possible.  Upon finishing the beer, the competitor has 10 seconds to hit their Shotgun Mulligan during which their competition may scream and yell as much as they want.  This Shotgun Mulligan remains intact exactly as it was originally conceived to this day. 

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The Hops Classic is a lot like the Ryder Cup in that, unless you’ve been involved, you have no clue how much it means to compete and to try to play your best for your teammates.  There’s nothing quite as enjoyable as drinking from The Hops Cup alongside your teammates after you’ve won.  It’s truly special. 

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I can’t tell you how proud I am to simply participate in this event, let alone to be one of the founders, and now The Chairman.  It has grown from a small idea and evolved into something much bigger and much more fun than any of us could’ve imagined. 

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Written by The Chairman Paul Desilet Jr.