About North America - Europe Golf Challenge

Cup history

The idea of a Europe-U.S. annual golf event was first raised in 2001 in discussions between Mr. Robert Grondine (former ACCJ President and Governor who sadly passed away in 2011), Mr. Richard Collasse (then EBC Chairman) and Mr. Erik Ullner (then EBC Vice-Chairman). The concept was to have an annual high-profile “Ryder Cup in Japan” to foster closer relations between US and European business leaders and companies in Japan.

In the spring of 2003 discussions were taken up again and a decision was made by the ACCJ and EBC to go ahead, and the first tournament held on 26 September 2003. The Cup in 2023 was the 19th tournament.

The European team won the first cup in 2003 and the again in 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The North American team has won in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019. Due to covid-19 pandemic, the cup was not played in 2020 and 2021, but we had a successful comeback in the years 2022 and 2023. 

Tournament in the year 2024 will mark the 20th one in the tournament history!

Title Sponsors and other Sponsors

DaimlerChrysler Japan was the Title Sponsor of the tournament since its inauguration until 2007. The company DaimlerChrysler was dissolved in 2007 but Daimler Japan and Chrysler Japan decided to co-sponsor the event in 2008 and 2009. When Chrysler Japan withdrew at the start of 2010, Daimler Japan agreed to be the single title sponsor under the brand Mercedes-Benz Japan.

In 2015 Cole Haan Japan LLC signed up as co-title sponsor and thus the title of the event was changed to Mercedes-Benz – Cole Haan Cup until year 2019. In 2022, we were happy to welcome our new title sponsor on the North-American side: Thomson Reuters. In 2024, we have the pleasure of welcoming Francis Ford Coppola Winery as our new joint title sponsor!

We also welcome other sponsors and advertisers. To find out more about how to support the event, click here.

  • (2024 Mercedes Benz – Francis Ford Coppola Winery Cup) 
  • (2023 Mercedes-Benz Japan Cup)
  • (2022 Mercedes-Benz – Thomson Reuters Cup)
  • (2020 & 2021 Not played due to COVID-19)
  • (2015 – 2019 Mercedes-Benz – Cole Haan Cup) 
  • (2010 – 2014 Mercedes-Benz Japan Cup) 
  • (2008 – 2009 Daimler & Chrysler Cup) 
  • (2003 – 2007 DaimlerChrysler Cup)

Who can participate?

The tournament is open to: 

1)  Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ) and their respective embassies (in combination representing Team North America).

2)  Members of the European Chambers and other business organizations that are affiliated with the EBC and their respective embassies (in combination representing Team Europe).

Sponsors are allowed to invite a reasonable number of guests, number depending on sponsor level. However, the member is responsible for payment of the registration fee. Guests (not invited by sponsors) will be accepted only if there are vacancies after the registration deadline, and then additional sponsors’ guests and members’ guests have priority. The Joint Chamber Task Force which organizes and conducts the event reserves the sole discretion to make all final decisions on applicant registration and participation in the event, regardless of Chamber affiliation.

What is there to play for?

Although this is a friendly tournament to be played in good spirit, it is also a serious competition. The winning team will hold the Mercedes-Benz – Cole Haan Cup until the next tournament. Note that the best 80% in each team will be counted in the team scores. 

Thanks to prize donations from the title sponsor, and from an expected number of other sponsors, we expect that no player will leave empty handed from this event. Top players by net and gross score, near pins and longest drive will receive prizes. Note that the most valuable prizes will be drawn among all participants to give everyone a chance to win some great products and services. The total value of the prizes exceeds 10 million yen!

What is the cost?

The participation fee is 25,500 yen, including play fee, caddie, lunch and drinks on the course and party after play, service and tax. Free bus for the first 40 to sign up. 3,000 yen (non-refundable) is collected by the organizers as the registration fee and remaining 22,500 yen is paid to the club after play. The only possible additional costs are for breakfast before the start of the tournament and extra drinks not included in the prepared lunch and party menu. 

Bus transportation (free for the first 40 players) to and back from the event is also provided. The bus will leave at 6:10 from a stop alongside Meiji-doori Avenue nearby Shibuya station, and return to Tokyo after the event, leaving Atsugi at 17:30. Same as last year, the bus is free for the first 40 to register for the service. To register for the bus, please check the appropriate box when you sign up. If you are unsure if you have signed-up for the bus, check last column at your name in the participants’ list.