Social golf format

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I played 9 holes on Sunday with my son. He hits the ball 100 yards or more further off the tee. As it was quiet yesterday we both teed off and then he played my ball and I played his, continuing in alternation even on the putting green. It was great fun. Of course there were no winners or losers, but we both enjoyed the challenge of playing from unfamiliar positions on each hole. It also ensured that I wasn't playing as back marker on every shot. Some thought was required to ensure that he didn't leave me with an impossible carry over a tree to the green - he can hit it very high, I cannot. We'll do it again.

[Sean_A]

Mark

That sounds an interesting way to cope with a wide ability gap especially if there is no competitive juices flowing. 

I really like playing Sunningdale Rules matches.  One never knows if he will receive or give shots or how many 

Ciao

[Paul Gray]

Mark,

What a nice idea, essentially playing foursomes with just the two of you. I might have to suggest that to my dad. 

[Bill_McBride]

That reminds me of the time I played foursomes with Philip Gawith (aka "The African Animal") at Muirfield. We both hit second shots from unfamiliar places.  I loved it, not so sure about Philip!   On 8 he hit a howling long iron over all those fairway and green side bunkers onto the green.  That's a three shot hole for me.

When I play matches with my son, he gives me four a side and hits from a tee behind me.  That results in a good match.  He's a good sport!

[Mike_Trenham]

When handicaps are 8-10 stokes different 18 1/2 shots is fun as you play gross score but no holes are halfed.

[Jud_T]

Sean,

What are Sunningdale rules?

[Brent Hutto]

I believe "Sunningdale rules" means playing straight up, no strokes, even when handicaps differ. But for any hole where a player is 2-down or worse he gets a stroke.

I almost always suggest that game in lieu of normal stroke assignment. If the handicaps are within 4-5 strokes of each other it almost guarantees a match that comes down to the last couple holes even if one player or the other is having a very good or very bad round.

It also tends to assure that the better player will win the majority of the time when there is, say, an eight or ten stroke difference. Which I think is eminently fair. But it will let the weaker player in the case at least hang around and not get beaten seven and five or some such.

My long-hitting buddy Mark and I play "Sunningdale rules" when we get together. He plays two sets of tee farther back than I do because he drives the ball about 260-280 versus my 200-210. But since his handicap is about ten strokes better than mine, even with me playing forward so far his gross score will be lower. We have an uncanny knack for every match coming down to a putt on the final hole under that arrangement.

[BCrosby]

Brent -

Thanks. I had not heard of Sunningdale Rules. Sounds interesting.

If a player who was 2-down recovers to go 2-up, are his strokes given back?

Bob

[Brent Hutto]

It is hole by hole. When we tee off on a given hole, if he is 2-down or worse he gets a stroke. Later on if the same guy or the other guy becomes 2-down they will get a stroke then.

[Carl Nichols]

Our parent-child tournament is similar to what you played this weekend, Mark--and I think is a traditional Pinehurst format.  Both players hit tee shots, and then both players hit a second shot with the other player's ball.  After those two shots, the team selects the ball in better position and plays alternate shot the rest of the way with that one ball.  It's a great format, especially with players of very different abillities. 

[Thomas Dai]

Father and son, in fact any combination of relative-relative golf, is terrific, if you get along! Grandparent-grandchild and three-generation play is great too, so many smiles on faces. Four-generation play would be just wonderful.

The format Mark mentions sounds very nice when youngsters and big differences in the distances players hit the ball are involved - as long as one player doesn't deliberately hit poor shots to get the other in trouble that is. I can see cheeky wee kids figuring this out pretty quick. Rascals!

atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

Instead of giving my buddy strokes, I give him mulligans.  Depending on the day and the course, I will give him anywhere from four to five a nine.  He just can't use them on the green, and on lone on a hole.  Makes it fun and we tie much of the time.

[Brian Colbert]

Interesting that you bring this up. I had the pleasure of hosting a European Tour player at my club a couple weeks ago alongside his agent and Jack Crisham. Later, Jack would go on to claim that there was no way the tour pro could have shot as well as he did (E -- 71 on a very difficult venue that hosted a PGA Tour event for ~20 years) if they had switched drives on every hole.

So, how many strokes do you think it would have cost your son to play out your drives, given that you watched the difference between his shots that day and his regular shots into the green?

[Niall C]

Down at Silloth we used to play that if you won a hole with a birdie that counted as 2 holes rather than 1, and that if you won with an eagle then that counted as 3 holes. Therefore, in theory, you could be 2 down on the 18th tee and still have a chance of a victory. Not come across that anywhere else.

Niall

[Adrian_Stiff]

I played 9 holes on Sunday with my son. He hits the ball 100 yards or more further off the tee. As it was quiet yesterday we both teed off and then he played my ball and I played his, continuing in alternation even on the putting green. It was great fun. Of course there were no winners or losers, but we both enjoyed the challenge of playing from unfamiliar positions on each hole. It also ensured that I wasn't playing as back marker on every shot. Some thought was required to ensure that he didn't leave me with an impossible carry over a tree to the green - he can hit it very high, I cannot. We'll do it again.

I have played Yellowsomes in a similar way.

Its played in pairs can only be Match Play:  All four tee off and your opponents chose which tee shot you play. From that point you play traditional foursomes...so its a reverse format of Greensomes, your opponents chose the worst/shortest tee shot.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Down at Silloth we used to play that if you won a hole with a birdie that counted as 2 holes rather than 1, and that if you won with an eagle then that counted as 3 holes.

The non-linearity makes it sound somewhat like the modified Stableford method as it was used in the old International tournament on the PGA Tour.

[Bob_Huntley]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the use of Bisques. A fun game when using strokes.

http://golf.about.com/od/golfterms/g/bisque-golf-game.htm

Bob

[John Mayhugh]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the use of Bisques. A fun game when using strokes.

http://golf.about.com/od/golfterms/g/bisque-golf-game.htm

Bob

Bob,
I've never heard of this one but will have to give it a try.  That adds some strategy and fun, but probably doesn't affect the outcome that much. 

Mark,
Assume your game with your son was just something you made up?  I like it.

[Sean_A]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the use of Bisques. A fun game when using strokes.

http://golf.about.com/od/golfterms/g/bisque-golf-game.htm

Bob

Yes, I have played this game, but the player gets 1 less shot for having the choice of where to use his shots.

I also quite like reversing the shots holes.  I often wonder if this isn't how the handicap system should work anyway. 

Ciao

[Adrian_Stiff]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the use of Bisques. A fun game when using strokes.

http://golf.about.com/od/golfterms/g/bisque-golf-game.htm

Bob

Yes, I have played this game, but the player gets 1 less shot for having the choice of where to use his shots.

I also quite like reversing the shots holes.  I often wonder if this isn't how the handicap system should work anyway. 

Ciao

The true bisque is an additional shot (to any other strokes given). A Bisque may be used at any stage but before a player tees off the next hole. It was sort thing played 30-100 years ago, I think I might have played against the County Ladies and gave something 4 shots and 2 bisques once. The bisques are sort of courtesy shots to address an imbalance.

[Adam Lawrence]

Bisques are how croquet is handicapped. Very strategic. I haven't tried them at golf.

[Bill_McBride]

A wrinkle on the bisque is "the flying press."   The player who is 2 down can say, usually with glee, "press" when the opponent's ball is in the air.  Starts a new bet just for that hole. 

[Mark_Rowlinson]

My brother-in-law used to play an infuriating game with me. He was allowed one loud bang per round. You never knew when he was going to do this and the tension mounted as the round progressed. He would wait until you were at the top of your backswing before bellowing a loud 'bang!'

[BCrosby]

I also quite like reversing the shots holes.  I often wonder if this isn't how the handicap system should work anyway. 

Not sure I understand. Do you treat the highest rated handicap hole as the lowest for purposes of giving strokes?

Bob

[Sean_A]

I also quite like reversing the shots holes.  I often wonder if this isn't how the handicap system should work anyway. 

Not sure I understand. Do you treat the highest rated handicap hole as the lowest for purposes of giving strokes?

Bob

Yes, if you get five shots for instance, they come at indexes 18 through 14 rather than 1 through 5.  The theory is that for most golfers will bogey (or worse) the lowest indexes.  Where shots are needed most is on the easy holes for good players.  You partly see this theory built into the current system with short 5s.  They are often rated lower than many single figure markers would expect because they hope to birdie the hole.  But most slash masters can't reach in three so a 5 is a very good score. 

I find that it doesn't make difference which way one plays the indexes so far as handicapping goes. 

I forgot to mention that stymies are fun to play in the winter.

Ciao