VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — The sixth annual Green Cup, an international golf tournament consisting of teams from sister clubs in England, New England and Colorado, gets underway Thursday at Eagle Springs Golf Club in Wolcott.

Featuring golfers from host Eagle Springs Golf Club, Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey, England, and Nantucket Golf Club on Nantucket, Mass., the tournament follows a Ryder Cup format with 12-man teams headed by the clubs' golf professionals: Mike Steiner from Eagle Springs, Mark Roberts from Queenwood and Mike Demakos from Nantucket.

Matches consist of four-ball (better ball) on Thursday and Friday mornings, foursomes (or alternate shot) in the afternoons and singles matches on Saturday.

The winning team receives the Green Cup Trophy.

“As part of the event, we highlight our western heritage and enjoy showing off our valley at what we consider to be the most magnificent season — summer,” says Fred Green, president of Eagle Springs and builder of all three clubs.

The event will feature a performance by Two Shields American Indian tribe, who will perform music and dance for the event's participants and their guests. Two Shields performed in the opening ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Green is currently preparing to open a second European private club — the Tom Weiskopf-designed Dorago Golf Club in Montalcino, Italy.