Started in 2019 as opposite season outings to the Swamp Guinea Open (SGO), four DC-area friends head to the Eastern Shore for long weekends of golf. In September 2019, Steve Clinger played the three rounds the best and was the inaugural Mini-Guinea Champion. About a year later, in October 2020 (amid a pandemic), the host, Jeff Paniati overcame the competition in three rounds (fourth was rained out) to claim the coveted prize. In May 2021, Jeff Lindley led wire-to-wire through the three scheduled rounds to become the third different champion in three years. Returning to its fall schedule in October 2022 (and without an injured Bob Rupert), Jeff Paniati regained the championship, playing solidly over the 4 rounds. The entire foursome returned in October 2023 with the threat of rain for Saturday's round never materializing. Jeff Lindley again prevailed over the 4 rounds with the championship exchanging hands from Jeff to Jeff on the victor's birthday. The 2024 Mini-Guinea was held in October 2024, with Jeff Paniati taking the lead early with a +3 score for the opening round and never looking back, despite a valiant effort from Jeff Lindley in the following rounds that including holing out from 100 yards for birdie. The most-recent Mini-Guinea took place in October 2025, with rain shortening the event to 3 rounds. Jeff Paniati again took an early lead but an outstanding round by Steve Clinger on the last day nearly took down the defending champ but fell a half-point short. Bob Rupert remains the only participant to have not won the Mini-Guinea title.

Following the model from the SGO, the competition consists of 9-hole rounds (2 rounds per course), with points awarded based on net score position: 1 point for first, 2 points for second, 3 points for third, 4 points for fourth; hence, ten points per round, 20 points per course.

What is the Mini-Guinea?

Paniati Defends His Mini-Guinea Title!

The 7th Mini-Guinea was held October 10-13, 2025, under threatening weather conditions. The scheduled courses were the "traditional" order of Hog Neck Golf Course, The Rookery Golf Club, Ocean Pines Golf Club, and Bear Trap Dunes. The Friday and Saturday rounds were conducted (albeit with a brief rain shower for one hole at The Rookery), however the Sunday round was washed out as a nor'easter bore down on the Eastern Shore. The last round was questionable but the rains stopped, the course was open (cart paths only), and the participants were dumb enough to venture out in the 20+ mph winds. Defending champ Jeff Paniati took an early lead but Steve Clinger kept pace and with an outstanding last round nearly caught Paniati. But the champ held on by half of a point to retain the title, the first one to successfully defend the Mini-Guinea championship. Congratulations Jeff!