Recommend a competition format

moycullen14

Hi,

I'm charged with organising a day out for about 16 golfers. Standard varies from 6-8 hcap up-to mid 20's. There would be a high bandit quotient among the group too. It will be mainly four-balls with some 3-balls if the numbers don't match.

It's not serious golf but I'd like to keep everyone interested.

I was thinking of a champagne scramble (all drive, pick the best, everyone finishes out from there, best score to count stableford, everyone uses their own handicap).

Does anyone have any idea about handicap adjustments between 3 & 4 balls? I was thinking that the 3 ball members could play to 4/3 their h/cap or the four-ball members play at 3/4 of theirs.

Does anyone have any other formats we might use?

TIA

mike12

Hi,
That format is normally played off full handicap and very hard to judge what effect moving the handicaps will have on the scoring. It is usually 2 to score on each hole as well.
Very hard to come up with a comp where you have a mix of 3 and 4 balls for it to be fair to all.

Tommo 76

Hi,
Having played in a few formats and competitions for various skill abilities, I think a champagne scramble would be the best way to go (just my opinion). Maybe play 3/4 Handicap, with all to score on the par3's and all to use 2 / 3 / 4 drives depending on if its a 3 man or 4 man. Another option is for all to score on last few finishing holes depending on the course (you can choose one of the last say 2 holes all scores count, or all scores count on the par 3's). This way you can try seperate the bandits out, and also the low handicappers and bandits may not be as useful as they will only contribute one score on each hole max. This format also helps the higher handicappers and newbie golfers as they are not worried about their drives and instead can enjoy playing out from the best drives position etc. I find champagne scrambles a very enjoyable format as people can enjoy it more as opposed to getting stressed and worried over tee shots etc. The main thing you want to achieve while on a fair playing field, is that everyone really enjoys it, so they want to play again and get more interested. also a scramble can reduce the time of a round so there is no slow play etc. you could also throw in some novelty things like closest to pin, longest putt, longest drive, (these may suit the lower handicap golfers, maybe a pizza voucher for a local take away, sleeve of balls, etc) so try come up with something which may suit the newbie or higher handicap players also.
Tom.

josie19

mike12 wrote: »

Hi,
That format is normally played off full handicap and very hard to judge what effect moving the handicaps will have on the scoring. It is usually 2 to score on each hole as well.
Very hard to come up with a comp where you have a mix of 3 and 4 balls for it to be fair to all.

+1

Not possible to be fair if the team numbers are different. Keep it simple - Singles

slave1

Waltz, 1 score to count on the first, 2 on the second, 3 on the third, back to 1 on the fourth etc, 1-2-3, 1-2- etc..

Norfolk Enchants_

mike12 wrote: »

Hi,
That format is normally played off full handicap and very hard to judge what effect moving the handicaps will have on the scoring. It is usually 2 to score on each hole as well.
Very hard to come up with a comp where you have a mix of 3 and 4 balls for it to be fair to all.

josie19 wrote: »

+1

Not possible to be fair if the team numbers are different. Keep it simple - Singles

Scrambles and fourballs are probably the best formats for "fun" days out, if playing fourball better ball, then use 3/4 the full handicap, if playing a scramble with teams of 3 and 4 players then use 15% of the combined handicaps for the 3 person team and 10% for the 4 person team, while it's not perfect it should be fair for all.

LinksLad

Whatever format you choose, try to make it one where you use 3/4 of full handicaps.

Pure frustration for the bandits!

mike12

Another option is to have a ghost player for the 3 man teams just pick a player at random don't tell him and insert his score onto the cards of the 3 person teams after the event, again not perfect but they have 4 chances to score on every hole.

GreeBo

We normally play a mexican scramble, everyone drives, pick the best and that player does play. Same for all subsequent shots.
1/10th combined handicap, each player has to have 3 drives taken.

The teams with less players have a bit of an advantage in this scenario as they only need to use up 9 drives rather than 12, so it balances out a bit with having one less shot each time.

You can be a ba$tard and make it 4 drives too

soundsham

Try to keep it simple 3 balls v 4 balls is difficult

Try to make it one or the other

3 man scramble or a 3 man rumble (1 to score1st 6,2 on 2nd 6, 3 on last 6,)

Or play in 4 ball or try scotch foursomes maybe

josie19

soundsham wrote: »

Try to keep it simple 3 balls v 4 balls is difficult

Try to make it one or the other

3 man scramble or a 3 man rumble (1 to score1st 6,2 on 2nd 6, 3 on last 6,)

Or play in 4 ball or try scotch foursomes maybe

Never popular with the masses. Also poor value for money

Ciaranra

LinksLad wrote: »

Whatever format you choose, try to make it one where you use 3/4 of full handicaps.

Pure frustration for the bandits!

This makes no dif a bandit still has the shots prob just playing his real handicap this format

josie19

Ciaranra wrote: »

This makes no dif a bandit still has the shots prob just playing his real handicap this format

In fairness it makes quite a difference. A 24 handicapper loses 6 shotS to 18 and a 6 handicapper loses 1 shot (4.5) 5