3 Ball Club comps only

MarkGilmore · 19-05-2021 9:41am #1

Hi

Do most Clubs play fourballs or three balls in comps. My club plays fourballs all the time and im going to leave as its taking too long to play comps. Just wondering what clubs in Dublin play three balls the majority of the time for club comps.

blue note · 19-05-2021 10:14am

As far as I can see it's pretty much all 4balls. Our monthly medal is a threeball, but that's the exception for us.

I completely agree with you though that threeballs are just better. They're considerably faster and more sociable as the three players tend to chat for the round rather than a fourball where it tends to be split into two one on one conversations most of the time.

gypsy79 · 19-05-2021 10:16am

blue note wrote: »

As far as I can see it's pretty much all 4balls. Our monthly medal is a threeball, but that's the exception for us.

I completely agree with you though that threeballs are just better. They're considerably faster and more sociable as the three players tend to chat for the round rather than a fourball where it tends to be split into two one on one conversations most of the time.

I too rather 3 balls but I think you will struggle find anywhere these days

Grange Castle had it for ages but not possible with member numbers there now

blue note · 19-05-2021 10:36am

If a club does 4balls at 10 minute intervals they'll have space for 144 players if they run a comp from 7am until 1pm. 3balls at 9 minute intervals they'll have space for 120 players.

As long as I'm not one of the 24 missing out I think this is a great idea.

Jimmy Two Times · 19-05-2021 10:38am

blue note wrote: »

If a club does 4balls at 10 minute intervals they'll have space for 144 players if they run a comp from 7am until 1pm. 3balls at 9 minute intervals they'll have space for 120 players.

As long as I'm not one of the 24 missing out I think this is a great idea.

Can't agree. Having a fourball match with your mates within the competition makes the day much more enjoyable.

blue note · 19-05-2021 10:40am

I imagine a lot of people agree with you. I wonder what the majority would prefer? My gut tells me 3balls but I wonder.

Frisbee · 19-05-2021 10:53am

All Comps are 3 balls in my club, much prefer it, four balls are fine if you get out early in the day. But I find if you are going out in a 4ball in the back half of the timesheet the rounds just seem to take forever.

thewobbler · 19-05-2021 11:23am

My inclination is that it’s not the size of the boat but the awareness of the passengers that matters.

Put a couple of slow, methodical players out in sequential groups, and it matters little if they play in a 3 or a 4, the rest of us will be waiting.

blue note · 19-05-2021 11:39am

Of course the size of the group matters. If you have an extra player your group might take 90 extra shots. If they take an average of 15 seconds a shot that's an extra 23 minutes. If the average player spends 5 minutes looking for balls in a round that's an another 5 minutes. And you can't always get ready for your shot while the others are hitting. If they're 50 yards short of you you'll have to wait for them to hit before going to your ball and deciding what shot to play. In a fourball this will happen more.

Of course how fast / aware / deliberate the players are makes a difference, but if you add a player to a threeball there's a tiny percentage chance that he won't add time to the group.

mjsc1970 · 19-05-2021 11:55am

3 or 4 in 9 hole comps is grand

4 ball casual golf is great

4 ball in 18 hole singles comps is torture for anyone who likes to play at an acceptable pace

Mantis Toboggan · 19-05-2021 12:17pm

We got rid of 4 balls as they were just too slow. 3 balls have been far better, probably 40 mins quicker.

Grange Castle used to be 3 balls when I was a member there a few years ago maybe different now after corona.

[Deleted User] · 19-05-2021 12:40pm

We were usually been 3 balls, but mail sent out last weekend that people complaining they couldn't get out for comps so did a split last weekend before 11 3 ball after 11 4 ball. From this week on moving to 4 balls only for the time being. Hoping it goes back to 3 or morning afternoon split at some stage

DaveQuinn2020 · 19-05-2021 1:28pm

We only run Singles in 3-balls in Howth, regardless of whether its an informal singles or a Medal. 4-balls are far too slow.

spacecoyote · 19-05-2021 2:19pm

In normal circumstances we normally run 3 balls only in Castlewarden. They switched at the moment to 4s to cover major demand at the weekends

Wichita Lineman · 19-05-2021 3:06pm

We have always been 4 balls but last summer (and this) we have 3 balls from 7.30 - 9.30 on Saturday and Sunday with 4 balls the rest of the time. It's a compromise and it's working well - so far.

pinkdoubleeagle · 19-05-2021 3:37pm

3 balls - Hermitage

newport2 · 19-05-2021 4:45pm

3 balls for Saturday comp, 4 balls for Sunday comp - Powerscourt

fungie · 20-05-2021 8:08am

3 balls for singles in Donabate

MarkGilmore · 20-05-2021 9:54am

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

We got rid of 4 balls as they were just too slow. 3 balls have been far better, probably 40 mins quicker.

Grange Castle used to be 3 balls when I was a member there a few years ago maybe different now after corona.

where is your club??

3 Ball Club comps only

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