What is The Hank Invitational?
The Hank Invitational is an annual Ryder Cup-style match play golf tournament. Participants play 4 matches of 18 holes each over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in a very slightly modified Ryder Cup format. Each participant covers his own expenses for all green fees, travel, meals, lodging, alcohol (which may also count as a "meal"), strippers, non-English-speaking prostitutes, etc. and also pays a $20 entry fee. Everyone will be on one of two Sides (normal people call these "Teams"), which will be chosen based on player handicap index and/or known skill level. The Sides will compete head-to-head in Ryder Cup match play format. New players must provide written proof or a website showing your handicap index using a minimum of 2-3 rounds of golf from the calendar year prior to the tournament. The Sides play one another for the entry fees. It is friendly AND competitive, but not so serious that it takes the fun out of it. It is a fun, friendly, while also competitive event.
This event begins on Friday, July 23, 2021 at around 7:30AM. Total cost will be around $200 for greens fees (not including your $20 entry fee).
Before you quickly decide not to play in this tournament because it sounds like "too much golf" or like it will cost an arm and a leg, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page. You are more than welcome to invite any friend(s) not on the guest list that you think might be interested in playing and would also be a great fit with the group.
The legend of "The Hank"
Created in 2009 and named "The Missouri Ryder Cup," the original tournament was just a few guys who did not all know each other that got together to have a good time playing golf for a weekend. Largely a success in its inaugural year, the tournament was renamed "The Hank Invitational" based on the conduct of one player who took the weekend a little too seriously. This particular player was very skilled and very well-versed in the USGA Rules of golf and, according to one tournament participant, bore a striking resemblance to golf coach Hank Haney.
By the end of the first day of competition there were rumblings of Hank's douchebag behavior coming from a few players, and he was thereafter referred to as "Hank" by the remaining participants for the rest of the weekend. This ranged from acting like an idiot and being overly competitive to giving his playing partners swing tips in between Every. Single. Shot. Hank's antics wore on the tournament participants as the event progressed, but he was tolerated in the spirit of the event. On the last day of the tournament, Hank was locked in a tight singles match against an equally skilled golfer and could not handle the mental strain. He made several attempts to refer to obscure rules in the USGA rulebook regarding courtesy and etiquette, convincing himself that his opponent had made several violations which should have resulted in disqualification, yet continued to play his match.
On the 18th green, with the rest of the participants watching, he furiously pulled the flag out of the hole too quickly so that he also managed to pull the cup out of the green on the end of the flag stick. After replacing the cup and just pulling the flag, he proceeded to throw the flag across the green Happy Gilmore-style and then stormed off the course upon his defeat. Unknown to Hank was that his match was meaningless since the tournament result had already been decided by a previously completed match that had put the win out of reach for Hank's Side. He then refused to come into the clubhouse to accept his winnings for individual hole prizes.
Some who were there speculated that part of Hank's brain may have melted in the excessive heat. Regardless, he was, and always will be, an inspiration to all who were there that glorious day. It was only right that the tournament be named after him going forward.
(Props to Jayson Parker for designing a tournament logo within a few days of Hank's inspirational behavior. The "new one" and any updated logo in the future will always honor Hank's mustache.)
Since the first year, dooshbaggery has not been a problem so there was nobody to ridicule for their behavior. However, Mark Berns DID entertain everyone in 2010 with a breathtaking fireworks display on the #11 green at Shamrock Hills Golf Course during Round 4.
This event begins on Friday, July 23, 2021 at around 7:30AM. Total cost will be around $200 for greens fees (not including your $20 entry fee).
Before you quickly decide not to play in this tournament because it sounds like "too much golf" or like it will cost an arm and a leg, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page. You are more than welcome to invite any friend(s) not on the guest list that you think might be interested in playing and would also be a great fit with the group.
The legend of "The Hank"
Created in 2009 and named "The Missouri Ryder Cup," the original tournament was just a few guys who did not all know each other that got together to have a good time playing golf for a weekend. Largely a success in its inaugural year, the tournament was renamed "The Hank Invitational" based on the conduct of one player who took the weekend a little too seriously. This particular player was very skilled and very well-versed in the USGA Rules of golf and, according to one tournament participant, bore a striking resemblance to golf coach Hank Haney.
By the end of the first day of competition there were rumblings of Hank's douchebag behavior coming from a few players, and he was thereafter referred to as "Hank" by the remaining participants for the rest of the weekend. This ranged from acting like an idiot and being overly competitive to giving his playing partners swing tips in between Every. Single. Shot. Hank's antics wore on the tournament participants as the event progressed, but he was tolerated in the spirit of the event. On the last day of the tournament, Hank was locked in a tight singles match against an equally skilled golfer and could not handle the mental strain. He made several attempts to refer to obscure rules in the USGA rulebook regarding courtesy and etiquette, convincing himself that his opponent had made several violations which should have resulted in disqualification, yet continued to play his match.
On the 18th green, with the rest of the participants watching, he furiously pulled the flag out of the hole too quickly so that he also managed to pull the cup out of the green on the end of the flag stick. After replacing the cup and just pulling the flag, he proceeded to throw the flag across the green Happy Gilmore-style and then stormed off the course upon his defeat. Unknown to Hank was that his match was meaningless since the tournament result had already been decided by a previously completed match that had put the win out of reach for Hank's Side. He then refused to come into the clubhouse to accept his winnings for individual hole prizes.
Some who were there speculated that part of Hank's brain may have melted in the excessive heat. Regardless, he was, and always will be, an inspiration to all who were there that glorious day. It was only right that the tournament be named after him going forward.
(Props to Jayson Parker for designing a tournament logo within a few days of Hank's inspirational behavior. The "new one" and any updated logo in the future will always honor Hank's mustache.)
Since the first year, dooshbaggery has not been a problem so there was nobody to ridicule for their behavior. However, Mark Berns DID entertain everyone in 2010 with a breathtaking fireworks display on the #11 green at Shamrock Hills Golf Course during Round 4.