Interclub Foursomes - BYOP?

ShriekingSheet

Our club are looking at pairings putting themselves forward for club teams this year, rather than individuals being matched up by team management. Is this common practice in anyone's club?

There's provision for those who don't have a partner, ie: newer members, or people who don't know someone of the appropriate handicap to make a combo. They can sign up as individuals, and the team manager can match them up. And I'm sure initial pairings can/will be changed up later if needs be, so it's not hugely rigid.

I'm not sure what I make of it, but seems worth a try. Obviously self-selecting pairs have always been around - guys who are good buddies who play well together suggesting they pair up, but I've never seen it formally announced on the team notice board that people were to apply in twos.

Thoughts?

Norfolk Enchants_

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Our club are looking at pairings putting themselves forward for club teams this year, rather than individuals being matched up by team management. Is this common practice in anyone's club?

There's provision for those who don't have a partner, ie: newer members, or people who don't know someone of the appropriate handicap to make a combo. They can sign up as individuals, and the team manager can match them up. And I'm sure initial pairings can/will be changed up later if needs be, so it's not hugely rigid.

I'm not sure what I make of it, but seems worth a try. Obviously self-selecting pairs have always been around - guys who are good buddies who play well together suggesting they pair up, but I've never seen it formally announced on the team notice board that people were to apply in twos.

Thoughts?

Good idea by your club, it should be applauded and I suspect it will work very well, namely because how players actually get on with each other can and usually does have a great baring on the outcome in matchplay, you mention self selecting pairs, while they may seem obvious to you and perhaps some others, that doesn't mean they are obvious to everyone, I've seen multiple times when "obvious" pairings haven't been put together and worst still I've seen guys who clearly have a dislike for eachother been paired up.

DiegoWorst

This was suggested in my club, you wouldn't believe how many people objected to it.

Its hard work for a team manager to make 5 pairings for a match or strokes qualifier, its really difficult.
This would make life a lot easier.

ShriekingSheet

DiegoWorst wrote: »

This was suggested in my club, you wouldn't believe how many people objected to it.

Its hard work for a team manager to make 5 pairings for a match or strokes qualifier, its really difficult.
This would make life a lot easier.

Yeah, in fairness to our guy, he just mandated it and it's done now. No discussion, which is probably the only way to get things done.

What I like about it is that it looks as if it will generate real partnerships. As opposed to the usual way, where you start with one guy in trials, but could be switched to another partner, and another, for a variety of reasons in the run up to a match proper.

I'm assuming that by applying as a pair, there's more of a chance that you will either get in the team as a pair, or not. It should be less likely that one guy gets in and not the other, hence more of a partnership.