Tag: Simpson Cup

Simpson Cup returns to Royal Lytham as injured veterans from the United States, Great Britain take centerstage

One of the best events in golf returns next week across the pond.

As golf continues to grow, inclusion has become the No. 1 mission across the sport — for good reason.

Take the U.S. Adaptive Open, for example. For the last two years, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina — one of golf’s premier destinations — has hosted a field of impaired golfers to compete in a 54-hole stroke-play event. It’s been a tremendous success since its inception and has brought together folks who have been able to find an outlet through the game. Truly an incredible week.

The Simpson Cup is another example of using golf for the better.

Created in 2012, the first Simpson Cup was played at TPC Sawgrass — home of the PGA Tour’s Players Championship — and has since visited venues like Congressional Country Club — a six-time major championship host — Royal St. George’s — 15-time host of the Open, most recently in 2021 — Royal Birkdale — 10-time host of the Open, most recently in 2017 — and St. Andrews, the home of golf.

The Simpson Cup pits two 13-man teams made up of injured veterans from the United States and Great Britain against each other in a Ryder Cup-style showdown. And thanks to the handicap system, any skill level is welcome.

All participants are members of the On Course Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing injured veterans into golf to rebuild confidence and regain a sense of purpose after the effects of service.

This year, the Simpson Cup returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the second time (2013).

The tournament gets underway Sept. 26 with six fourball matches and concludes Sept. 27 with 13 singles matches.

After Great Britain’s 13½-5½ victory at Baltusrol Golf Club’s Upper Course last year, the overall record is now tied at 5-5.

Donations to the On Course Foundation and the Simpson Cup can be made here.

Heroes from the United States, Great Britain gather this week for the Simpson Cup at Baltusrol

“The camaraderie is extraordinary, and we all feel deep military bonds with new friends and old when we’re together.”

Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, has hosted seven U.S. Opens, most recently in 2016, two PGA Championships and two U.S. Women’s Opens.

But this week is different. This week, it hosts heroes.

Veterans from the United States and Great Britain are gathering at the historic golf club for the Simpson Cup, with matches scheduled for August 30-31.

The Ryder Cup-style event was born in 2012 at TPC Sawgrass and has since traveled to some of the most historic courses in the world including Congressional, Royal St. George’s, Royal Birkdale and the Old Course.

The United States team won handily last year and now leads the all-time record, 5-4.

Simpson Cup: Scoring | Team USA | Team GB

The Great Hazard on No. 17 on Baltusrol’s Lower Course. The club will host the Simpson Cup this week. (Courtesy of Baltusrol/Evan Schiller)

John Simpson, the founder of the event, is the former Senior Vice President of International Management Group and managed several of golf’s legends including Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman. Simpson has just one fully-functioning leg due to polio as a child.

One of the players teeing it up for Team USA is Nick Kimmel, who lost both his legs and left arm during service when he jumped on an IED to protect his fellow soldiers.

“What also tortured me was the notion of never playing golf again,” Kimmel told the Pacific Northwest Golf Association in May 2022.  “The desire wasn’t there, and the primary thought was that missing limbs would cause me to sit on the sidelines forever.”

Kimmel loved golf from an early age and eventually became a scratch golfer. Years after his injury, he picked up a club again just to see what it was like. He struggled for a while but was introduced to the On Course Foundation in 2018 by a fellow Marine. From that point on, he re-established his passion for the game.

“Early on, it was difficult learning to play with one hand holding onto the club for a whole round,” he said. “I tried to figure out how to hit a ball with a lie below my feet. It’s like trying to hit a golf ball with all your weight on your heels.”

The Simpson Cup isn’t all about the golf. It’s about being part of something again.

“The Simpson Cup gave me a goal to strive for again,” he said. “I so much wanted to make the team and compete against my fellow veterans. The camaraderie is extraordinary, and we all feel deep military bonds with new friends and old when we’re together at Simpson Cups and between each event.”

Thanks to the handicap system, all players — regardless of disability and skill level — can play fairly against each other.

Tuesday will consist of six four-ball matches while Wednesday will feature 13 singles matches.

If you’re invested in making a donation to the On Course Foundation, click here.

On Course Foundation (OCF) is a 501(c)3 organization in the US (oncoursefoundationusa.org) and a registered charity in the UK (oncoursefoundation.com) that offers servicemen, women and veterans in both countries the opportunity to participate in golf, in order to help restore self-confidence and provide a sense of purpose after injury. OCF aims to help its members learn the game of golf and find employment in the golf industry.

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