The 2025 Ryder Cup is just around the corner – but where did it all start? Our team at gimmeballs have done the research and put together a complete guide to the Ryder Cup’s history. This event has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1927, to become the huge celebration we know today.

Read on to learn the fascinating history of the Ryder Cup, as well as what we know about this year’s edition of the tournament.

What is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s biggest golfing events. It is played every other year, and features 24 of the best golfers from Europe and the United States.

Unlike many other big golfing events, the Ryder Cup is played in teams – so instead of a single individual claiming victory, each tournament is won by either Team Europe or Team USA.

What is the history of the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup was started by Samuel Ryder, an English businessman with a passion for golf. He first held a golf tournament between Great Britain and America in 1926. However, this isn’t considered an official Ryder Cup game, as no cup was awarded. The Ryder Cup officially began in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, where the USA won by a score of 9.5 to 2.5.

The Ryder Cup continued like this, with a tournament every other year for a decade. Unfortunately, this tradition was halted by World War II, and with the death of Samuel Ryder it seemed unlikely to return. This could have been the end of one of the world’s most celebrated golfing traditions.

In an unexpected twist of fate, though, the game was revived by Rober A. Hudson – an Oregon fruit grower who decided to follow in Samuel Ryder’s footsteps. With the spark reignited, the Ryder Cup continued as it was always meant to. There were a handful of format changes over the years, with the most significant arriving in 1979. This was the year that the British team expanded to become a European team. This allowed more top golfers to participate and allowed the USA’s rivals to draw from a larger talent pool – which was becoming necessary as America hadn’t lost for well over a decade by this point.

DID YOU KNOW? From the tournament’s inception until the end of the 20th century, the Ryder Cup was only played in odd-numbered years. Then the 2001 tournament was delayed until 2002 due to the 9/11 attacks, and for a while after that, the Ryder Cup took place only in even-numbered years. But then the coronavirus pandemic struck and the 2020 edition had to be postponed until 2021, so now the Ryder Cup is back to happening in odd-numbered years again.

That brings us to today! After several changes, and two unlikely benefactors, the Ryder Cup is still going strong. Two teams of twelve, from America and Europe, go up against each other every other year to demonstrate the very best of their golfing talents.

Why is it called the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is named after the event’s original founder, Samuel Ryder. He made his fortune by selling seeds much more cheaply than his competitors at the time, at only a penny per packet. When his friend suggested he take up golf for his health, he couldn’t have known that it would eventually lead to one of the world’s biggest golfing events.

Do Ryder Cup players get paid?

Generally, Ryder Cup players are not paid, though this has varied somewhat over the years. In 1999, when Tiger Woods began to question where all the profits of the event were going, Team USA players were given some say over which charities the profits were donated to.

For the 2025 Ryder Cup, the American PGA has announced that each American player will receive $500,000 (with $300,000 of that going to a charity selected by the player). The remaining money is a stipend, though some players have reportedly said that this will also be donated to charity.

As for Team Europe, there are no plans for them to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup.

Who won the Ryder Cup in 2023?

The last Ryder Cup, held in Italy in 2023, was won by the European team. Captain Luke Donald (who will be returning this year) led the team to a decisive victory with a score of 16.5 to 11.5. The team included Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and several other well-known golfers.

Can women play in the Ryder Cup?

Unlike The Open, which has allowed women since 2006, the Ryder Cup does not allow women to play. Female golfers play in the Solheim Cup instead, which is held on alternate years with the Ryder Cup. The last Solheim cup was held in Virginia in 2024, and the next will be in the Netherlands in 2026.

When is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black Course in New York on 23rd – 28th September 2025. If you’ve had enough of history and are ready to look to the future, you can watch live or follow along with this year’s event at home.

Get ready for the Ryder Cup!

The Ryder Cup is fast approaching! If you’re excited about golf, then why not hold your own mini Ryder Cup with our Ryder Cup golf balls? We’ve got a selection of the best golf balls used by the pros who will be playing at Bethpage this September.

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Golfing in the rain can be challenging, but with the right approach, it's still a fun and rewarding experience. The game can be just as enjoyable in wet conditions – but only if you do it right!

To make the most of your round, here are 12 smart things to do when golfing in the rain...

You should change your golf ball very often - many professional golfers change their ball every hole or every few holes. Change your ball when you notice a change in performance.

Let’s say you get lucky and manage to go a full round of golf without losing your golf ball. And then, miracle of miracles, you get through another one. And another one…

If you’re good at keeping your golf balls like this then you’ll eventually have to ask yourself the question: should I change my golf ball?

We’re here to help. If you aren’t sure how often to switch an old golf ball for a new one, then join us as we discuss the most important factors of golf ball integrity. Do scuffs and dirt matter? Let’s find out.

Signs that you should change your golf ball

When trying to figure out if you should change your golf ball, a golf towel is your best friend. As a general rule of thumb, if any damage or dirt can be wiped away by a towel, then it shouldn’t cause you too much trouble. Small scuffs that can be mostly wiped away probably won’t impact your ball too badly.

You’ll probably want to swap out your golf ball if the ball’s surface is significantly damaged or particularly scratched. This isn’t always necessary – quickly test if the ball rolls as-expected when hit. If the scratch is causing the golf ball to lean in any particular direction, then it’s time to change it.

Inspect your golf balls whenever you get the chance to. As long as the ball isn’t badly misshapen or performing strangely, then you should be able to continue using it. The only real exception is professional or competitive games of golf. In these cases, you may wish to swap out your ball just in case - you wouldn't want any damage ruining your win!

Do balls perform worse the longer you use them?

In a theoretical scenario where your ball survives with no dents or scratches, can you keep using it forever? This really depends on the ball itself. Most modern golf balls have great durability, but golf balls that are constructed from cheaper or softer materials may not be able to last as long as premium balls.

Golf balls may also lose compression over time and can deteriorate due to different factors like heat or moisture. However, this is usually only a problem if you store golf balls incorrectly.

This is why pro golfers change their golf ball every hole, or every few holes. They can't afford the risk of failing a shot over a broken or damaged golf ball. However, swapping balls this often can seem expensive and wasteful for a beginner golfer. If you are confident in the durability of your golf ball then you can probably keep using it without any issue for a good while. If you can feel it getting worse as you play, then swap it out.

Is it time to change your golf ball?

Whether you want to change your golf ball every hole or not, you’re going to have to change it eventually. It’s best to keep a few high-quality spares in your bag just in case. At gimmeballs, we offer a range of great golf balls at low prices so you won’t have to worry as much about losing or damaging a couple of balls.

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FURTHER READING: How Many Golf Balls Should I Carry in My Bag?

If you’re looking for the ultimate golf gadget to gift your dad this Father’s Day then you’re in the right place! At gimmeballs, we stock the perfect piece of tech for dads that love golf and gadgets – the Shot Scope Pro X Rangefinder! In this blog we will explore what a Shot Scope Rangefinder is and why it makes an ideal present for your golf-loving dad this Father’s Day!

At gimmeballs, we know that getting into a new sport can be daunting, especially a sport that is as complex as golf. We are also firm believers that golf is for everyone, which is why we have made this quick and easy guide with some of our best golf tips for beginners. Let’s get started!