Scotch Foursomes

Poker Face

Whats the handicap formula when playing matchplay in scotch foursomes.

Is it 3/8's of the difference? Some people say it is 1/2 the difference but I think that is for straight foursomes.

Thanks!!

antoobrien

Poker Face wrote: »

Whats the handicap formula when playing matchplay in scotch foursomes.

Is it 3/8's of the difference? Some people say it is 1/2 the difference but I think that is for straight foursomes.

Thanks!!

Allowances are at the discretion of competition organisers. The last time i played I think it was the average of the two.

It's a fun game, and a real pity it's not on more often

soundsham

whats the format in normal club competition scotch foursomes as far as i remember it is 1/2 the combined and played in stroke play......

just asking as i was playing yesterday and the guy i played with says their club played it a few times recently & use 1/4 the combined and played stroke......doesnt seem fair at all to me


can it be the same allowance and played in stableford ....

any thoughts,or what does your club do ?

PhilipMarlowe

Official way to do it (where it is a handicap event):
http://www.congu.com/template1.asp?pid=26

HANDICAP ALLOWANCES

The Council of National Golf Unions directs that the following handicap allowances be used for the undernoted forms of competition when played as handicap events and, where relevant, for the calculation of the Competition Scratch Score in scratch competitions. The reference to handicaps in all cases refers to Playing Handicaps. Strokes must be taken according to the Handicap Stroke Index.

Match Play Singles Full difference between the handicaps of the players
Foursomes 1/2 difference between aggregate handicaps of each side
Four-ball Back marker to concede strokes to the other 3 players
(better ball) based on 3/4 of the difference between the full handicaps

Stroke Play Singles Full handicap
Foursomes 1/2 aggregate handicap of partners
Four-ball Each partner receives 3/4 of full handicap
(better ball)

Par Singles Full handicap
Foursomes 1/2 aggregate handicap of partners
Four-ball Each partner receives 3/4 of full handicap
(better ball)

Stableford Singles Full handicap
Foursomes 1/2 aggregate handicap of partners
Four-ball Each partner receives 3/4 of full handicap
(better ball)

Note 1: Half Strokes. Half strokes or over to be counted as one; smaller fractions to be disregarded except in Foursomes Stroke Play when 1/2 strokes are counted as such.

Note 2: Handicap Allowances. In a handicap competition played in any of the above formats the allowances must be laid down by the Committee in the Conditions of the Competition (Rules of Golf 33-1) in accordance with the above direction.

Note 3: 36 Holes. In handicap competitions over 36 holes strokes should be given or taken on the basis of two 18 hole rounds in accordance with the 18 hole Handicap Stroke Index unless the Committee introduces a special Stroke Index.

Note 4: Hole-by-hole Play-off (sudden-death). When extra holes are played in handicap competitions, strokes should be taken in accordance with the Handicap Stroke Index.

Other Forms of Play

The Council of National Golf Unions recommends the following allowances:

Greensomes Lower handicap x 0.6 plus higher handicap x 0.4

If the handicaps of the partnerships are equal, the Greensome handicap is half the combined handicap.

Sometimes there is enough confusion about how exactly to play Scotch Foursomes, let alone the handicap system... I know in my club that we've played "it" a couple of times but it's actually Greensomes we played where both partners drive on every hole, the best drive is chosen and then it's alternate shot from there. I know of a few other clubs where this is what they play when they say Scotch Foursomes.

soundsham

Licksy wrote: »

Official way to do it (where it is a handicap event):
http://www.congu.com/template1.asp?pid=26


Sometimes there is enough confusion about how exactly to play Scotch Foursomes, let alone the handicap system... I know in my club that we've played "it" a couple of times but it's actually Greensomes we played where both partners drive on every hole, the best drive is chosen and then it's alternate shot from there. I know of a few other clubs where this is what they play when they say Scotch Foursomes.

thanks

ya thats what they call it locally(2 drive off alternate shot then fron there on)

so its the low handcapper X 0.6 + higher handicapper X 0.4 or 1/2 the combined if the players have the same handicap
thats not too far off 1/2 the combined in most cases anyway
was thinking that a 1/4 of the combined was very very unfair to high handicappers

so a 1 & 5 team would become 3 h'cap... (1 if it was 1/4 of total combined)...change of 2
a 5 & 10 team would become 7 h'cap... (4 if it was 1/4)...change of 3
a 10 & 20 team would become 14 h'cap... (8 if it was 1/4)...change of 6
an 18 & 18 team would become 18h'cap... (9 if it was 1/4)...change of 9

PhilipMarlowe

We played it as half the combined but it wasn't a qualifying competition so it wasn't an issue. The "Greensomes: Lower handicap x 0.6 plus higher handicap x 0.4" would make guys heads explode... hard enough to make them play anything other than singles stableford

PhilipMarlowe

How you handle the difference for the matchplay side of it I have no idea.