Three's Company

[Paul Jones]

I was reading an article from Links Magazine - http://www.linksmagazine.com/best_of_golf/viewpoint-three-s-company and wanted to know how others feel about playing Three.

I think it is a great idea until another group goes out as a slow foursome.  However, I think all the early tee times should be threesomes that get around in 3 and half hours or less.

I find myself always looking for a 4th in the afternoon since we allow Fivesomes except on Saturday morning.

Paul

[Mark Pearce]

All three of the clubs I belong to play all their competitive singles competitions (other, obviously, than match play ones) in threes.  We play medal rounds at each in 3 1/2 hours or so.

[GLawson]

I'd be interested to know how many other private clubs amongst the members here allow fivesomes.  Paul, I'm sure you all play fast but they allow it in the afternoon at my club and it drives me nuts.

[John Kavanaugh]

We here on social media love looking for ways to limit our actual human interaction.  Golf has become the only real time I spend with people who are not on their phones.  We should be looking for ways to expand that time, not limit it.   A human partner you can see, smell and occasionally touch, oh the tragedy.

[John Kavanaugh]

Can you imagine the frequency of thought we will register from our grandchildren when we think them about the time we spent 4 and a half hours outside with three other people attempting to prove we were the best in the group.

[Greg Tallman]

Five? Head down to Mexico City and it's not terribly unusual to find and 8 or 10 ball rolling off on any given day. No rules, just right.

We struggle to explain to such groups why this is not possible in Cabo. The concept of inconveniencing the following groups is met with very perplexed looks.

[BCowan]

I'd be interested to know how many other private clubs amongst the members here allow fivesomes.  Paul, I'm sure you all play fast but they allow it in the afternoon at my club and it drives me nuts.

G,

  I agree with you completely on 5 somes.  I just this year lifted my boycott of playing courses that allow 5 somes as it had been 10 years since i played the course i grew up on.

I was reading an article from Links Magazine - http://www.linksmagazine.com/best_of_golf/viewpoint-three-s-company and wanted to know how others feel about playing Three.

I think it is a great idea until another group goes out as a slow foursome.  However, I think all the early tee times should be threesomes that get around in 3 and half hours or less.

I find myself always looking for a 4th in the afternoon since we allow Fivesomes except on Saturday morning.

Paul

Paul,

     My Saturday morning group plays in 3.25-3.5 hrs every week.  We play from 6600-6950 yards (gasp) and some in the group shoot 90, some around par.  Pace of play has nothing to do with how many are in the group imo, it has to do with humility and having the mindset that golf is a privilege to play thus I shouldn't hold up my fellow golfer.

[John Kavanaugh]

We played a group of 7 last night and we all had our own carts.  Play went quickly because you had to make birdie to win the hole.  There are a million ways to play and every single method is more fun with other people.

We started with 4 and when some good golfers heard we were playing $5 birdie ball they poured out of the clubhouse like hungry roaches.

[Will Spivey]

I enjoy playing in a threesome.  When so paired, we often play "baseball" - 5 points for winning the hole, 3 for second, one for third.  Played with strokes it's a fun game.

Also, my home club allows 5-somes (or even 6-somes) any time.  The only rule is "don't hold other groups up."  In fact, we had a shotgun start on Memorial Day morning and the club sent out several 5-somes to fill out games members had pre-arranged.  No problems at all.

[Carl Nichols]

I enjoy playing in a threesome.  When so paired, we often play "baseball" - 5 points for winning the hole, 3 for second, one for third.  Played with strokes it's a fun game.

We call it "nines."  Every hole is worth nine points, and you divide the points based on how you finish.  If everyone has the same score, it's 3/3/3; if one player has low score and the others tie, it's 5/2/2; if two players have low score it's 4/4/1; etc.

[John Kavanaugh]

When we play threesomes, because of a death in the family, we play the fourth player as "mamma".  He gets par every hole while we play to full handicaps.  Problem is that mamma got no money so you have to cover his bets.  We switch partners every six holes so mamma sounds like a good partner except that he also makes no birdies.  Birdies is where the money is at.

[Jeff Fortson]

"baseball" or "nines" is called "nine point" in these parts.  Probably my favorite game.  Threesome playing 9-pt with all three players playing an individual Nassau against each other is a perfect day IMO.  One rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole by two strokes he sweeps all 9 pts.

***edited to reflect what I left out when I originally posted***

[Will Spivey]

"baseball" or "nines" is called "nine point" in these parts.  Probably my favorite game.  Threesome playing 9-pt with all three players playing an individual Nassau against each other is a perfect day IMO.  One rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole he sweeps all 9 pts.

Sorry Jeff, I don't understand "one rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole he sweeps all 9 pts."  So points are only divided in the case that no one player wins "first place" alone?  Sort of like validating in a skins game?  We often play with a broad spread of handicaps (e.g. a 3, a 9 and a 14).  Even with stokes (higher indexes have higher standard deviations) the better player would have a major advantage.  Am I understanding what you're saying?  If so, in your experience does the higher handicap player have a real chance to hang in that game?

[Jeff Fortson]

"baseball" or "nines" is called "nine point" in these parts.  Probably my favorite game.  Threesome playing 9-pt with all three players playing an individual Nassau against each other is a perfect day IMO.  One rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole he sweeps all 9 pts.

Sorry Jeff, I don't understand "one rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole he sweeps all 9 pts."  So points are only divided in the case that no one player wins "first place" alone?  Sort of like validating in a skins game?  We often play with a broad spread of handicaps (e.g. a 3, a 9 and a 14).  Even with stokes (higher indexes have higher standard deviations) the better player would have a major advantage.  Am I understanding what you're saying?  If so, in your experience does the higher handicap player have a real chance to hang in that game?

Here's an example of what I mean...

Player A, Player B, Player C play a game of nine point. They all take their normal handicaps and spin off the low handicap. So if A is a scratch and B is a 5 and C is a 10, B & C would take their strokes on the appropriate holes.

Hole 1 (net scores) - A makes 4, B makes 5, C makes 6.  A gets 5 pts, B gets 3pts, C gets 1pt.  Holes always add up to 9ts.

Hole 2 - B makes 2, A & C make 3.  B gets 5pts, A & C get 2pts each.

Hole 3 - A & B make 3, C makes 4. A & B get 4pts each, C gets 1pt.

Hole 4 - C makes 3, A & B make 5. Because C beat both A & B by two shots on the hole, C sweeps all 9pts and A & B get 0pts.


Does that make sense of it?  Sorry if I am not explaining it better.

[Tim Martin]

I enjoy playing in a threesome.  When so paired, we often play "baseball" - 5 points for winning the hole, 3 for second, one for third.  Played with strokes it's a fun game.

Also, my home club allows 5-somes (or even 6-somes) any time.  The only rule is "don't hold other groups up."  In fact, we had a shotgun start on Memorial Day morning and the club sent out several 5-somes to fill out games members had pre-arranged.  No problems at all.

Just another reason to love Old Town Club. 

[Jim Hoak]

I know a club in Scottsdale that only allows two players, two ball on Sunday mornings.  Rounds are well under 3 hours--in time to have a Sunday brunch.  Works well.

[Will Spivey]

"baseball" or "nines" is called "nine point" in these parts.  Probably my favorite game.  Threesome playing 9-pt with all three players playing an individual Nassau against each other is a perfect day IMO.  One rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole he sweeps all 9 pts.

Sorry Jeff, I don't understand "one rule we employ in 9-pt is that if a player beats the other two players on a hole he sweeps all 9 pts."  So points are only divided in the case that no one player wins "first place" alone?  Sort of like validating in a skins game?  We often play with a broad spread of handicaps (e.g. a 3, a 9 and a 14).  Even with stokes (higher indexes have higher standard deviations) the better player would have a major advantage.  Am I understanding what you're saying?  If so, in your experience does the higher handicap player have a real chance to hang in that game?

Here's an example of what I mean...

Player A, Player B, Player C play a game of nine point. They all take their normal handicaps and spin off the low handicap. So if A is a scratch and B is a 5 and C is a 10, B & C would take their strokes on the appropriate holes.

Hole 1 (net scores) - A makes 4, B makes 5, C makes 6.  A gets 5 pts, B gets 3pts, C gets 1pt.  Holes always add up to 9ts.

Hole 2 - B makes 2, A & C make 3.  B gets 5pts, A & C get 2pts each.

Hole 3 - A & B make 3, C makes 4. A & B get 4pts each, C gets 1pt.

Hole 4 - C makes 3, A & B make 5. Because C beat both A & B by two shots on the hole, C sweeps all 9pts and A & B get 0pts.


Does that make sense of it?  Sorry if I am not explaining it better.

Aha, yes, I now I understand.  Thanks for clarifying.

[Bill_McBride]

So the sweep only occurs if one players beats both opponents by two shots?  That would be painful!