Classic or Four ball Format

'scorthy

Whit weekend has been reserved by my home club for an event to raise funds for the teams such as the Barton, Mixed etc...It was generally accepted that it would take the form of a Classic (no food) with €80 for a team of members and €100 for a team of visitors.
At the first meeting of a group set up to organise and promote the event it was decided, after much thought, and with the input of fellow members that were present in the bar on the day, that a Ladies Fourball and a Gents Fourball open to GUI & non-GUI would be a better option taking all things into consideration.
Now some within the club feel that this is not the right decision and I agree totally with their right to voice concerns that it won't make as must dough. Reading other threads I see some disgruntled golfer in a classic who received, what he thought, was a poor 2nd prize and the debate about four-ball format and the high handicapper being at a disadvantage. The prizes, I'm informed are good and plentiful and at 25E each is not bad considering the course green fee is normally around 40E the weekend. I'm meeting tonight to decide and I'd appreciate other golfers opinions.
Thanking you in advance

scout353

'scorthy wrote: »

Whit weekend has been reserved by my home club for an event to raise funds for the teams such as the Barton, Mixed etc...It was generally accepted that it would take the form of a Classic (no food) with €80 for a team of members and €100 for a team of visitors.
At the first meeting of a group set up to organise and promote the event it was decided, after much thought, and with the input of fellow members that were present in the bar on the day, that a Ladies Fourball and a Gents Fourball open to GUI & non-GUI would be a better option taking all things into consideration.
Now some within the club feel that this is not the right decision and I agree totally with their right to voice concerns that it won't make as must dough. Reading other threads I see some disgruntled golfer in a classic who received, what he thought, was a poor 2nd prize and the debate about four-ball format and the high handicapper being at a disadvantage. The prizes, I'm informed are good and plentiful and at 25E each is not bad considering the course green fee is normally around 40E the weekend. I'm meeting tonight to decide and I'd appreciate other golfers opinions.
Thanking you in advance

If you are a GUI club then there should not be anybody playing in the classic that does not have a GUI handicap. However, in practice this is not always the case. However, a team with a non GUI handicap player should not win a prize!

As for the format then a four person team event is the usual format with stableford scoring. In general it is two to score on each hole though you can introduce some extras such as everyone to score on the last hole or on the par three's etc. This is entirely up to the organiser but it would obviously have to be clearly indicated on the card or instructions beforehand.

As for seperate womens and mens competitions, again this is entirely up to the organisers - you could have it all one competition and let the handicaps take care of things or have two seperate prize sections. Though from experience, you would normally have more men only teams than lady only teams in these events.

Hope this helps!

Best of luck with it!

'scorthy

Thanks Scout353, what you've written makes sense. The team of four appears to be the sensible option an call it a Monster Open Team of 4 Event with a first prize for men and a first prize for ladies. The rest of the myriad of prizes can be listed and 2nd can have their choice or pick of the remaining prizes. Also a prize for gross and a non-gui section. I think that would please everybody (right!). Keep it cheap and cheerful so the members don't feel screwed for playing their own course, say 60E and 80E for visitors per team. Working out the logistics of member/visitor mixed team...well, I'd leave that to the experts.
Thanks again for your time...nice being part of an Irish forum for a change...I hope I can help others.

WHIP IT!

I always feel you can't go wrong with a Scramble!

The thing about Scotch Foursomes etc is you only get to hit half or slightly more than half the normal amount of shots - it's annoying!

But with a Scramble, even the highest handicapper gets to feel the thrill of (hopefully) helping bring in a card that looks like a Pro's!

Just my two cents...

'scorthy

Thanks WHIP IT!

I do like the scramble format as well...fun, yet competitive. The Captains Drive In was a scramble 9 holes and I think it's the case in most clubs generally as it's more of a social event.

'scorthy

The event now appears to have changed to a Four Person Team Event; any combination. So went from Classic to Fourball to Mens Team & Ladies Team to 4 Person. The club having suffered several big tournament loses might not be in need of so much funding as first envisaged .
Question: Is it true that 4 person team events can be dodgy as when 4 golfers of low handicap combine to make a 'super team' and this makes it difficult for mid to high hc teams to get a look in?

OilBeefHooked2

'scorthy wrote: »

The event now appears to have changed to a Four Person Team Event; any combination. So went from Classic to Fourball to Mens Team & Ladies Team to 4 Person. The club having suffered several big tournament loses might not be in need of so much funding as first envisaged .
Question: Is it true that 4 person team events can be dodgy as when 4 golfers of low handicap combine to make a 'super team' and this makes it difficult for mid to high hc teams to get a look in?

Quick answer is no.
Imo it's looks more dodgy that your allowing non gui golfers to play, i.e. Who decides and how is it decided what handicapp they will play off?.

'scorthy

david-k wrote: »

Imo it's looks more dodgy that your allowing non gui golfers to play, i.e. Who decides and how is it decided what handicapp they will play off?.

Point taken; like most classics I've played in, the non-GUI section played off either their society hc or max 18 (some classics had 16). Of course, not all non-gui are society members. As the time sheet is out I had a quick peep and see it noted "Open 4 person team Handicap limit Men 20 Ladies 20. Members €60 per team. Visitors €80 per team."