The idea for this blog post came after playing in a 2-person scramble Sunday morning at Timberlane Golf & Recreation. This is an event they do monthly and includes food after the round. There was a gross and net division to keep it fun for everyone. My partner and I shot 10 under par (62) and won the gross division. It got me thinking, if there was no net division would this event still be fun for mid to high handicap golfers?
Many formats favor better players, while others are great for equaling the playing field so all golfers, regardless of their skill level, can not only enjoy themselves but also have a chance at winning. Any format that has both a gross and net division is the best for everyone. The better players are playing for the best overall score without using their handicaps and the other golfers are all competing for the best overall net score using their handicaps.
Here I will break down the formats based on handicap groups of 6 or better, 7 - 20, and 21+. If a format is in blue it is linked to the rules of that format.
6 and below / Professionals -
Individual stroke play
Better Ball (Each golfer hits his own ball throughout the round but after each hole, only the best score amongst the team members is recorded and counts as the score for the team for that hole.)
Match Play
Scramble
7 to 20 Handicap -
Quota (similar to Stableford format. See sample scorecard below)
Individual Stroke Play using handicap - (This could be an overall net competition or when you play your overall gross score only against golfers of a similar handicap. This is usually for a "tour" like the Golfweek Am Tour.)
Match Play based on handicap
Scramble (these players are usually good enough in a group to shoot a low score that is required to win a scramble format)
21+ Handicaps -
Individual Stroke Play using handicap - (This could be an overall net competition or when you play your overall gross score only against golfers of a similar handicap. This is usually for a "tour" like the Golfweek Am Tour.)
Niners - (This is a great game to play between three players. On each hole, there are nine points to play for: 5 points for the hole winner, three points for second place, one point for the loser. Ties are broken up like so: 3-way tie, three points each. Tie on top, 4 points for each, a point for the loser. Tie on the bottom, two points each and five points to the winner.)
All of these formats can be played no matter what a golfer's handicap is. This list above is a gauge as to what certain handicap golfers would enjoy more and have a chance to compete in. Let's face it, the normal charity 4-person scramble favors low-handicap players. As fun as they are and worth playing, especially when raising money for a cause, if a group consists of all mid to high handicaps they will have no chance of competing against all scratch golfers.
If you are looking for a way to play some of these formats and have a system keep score for you I recommend downloading The Grint golf app. Check out this link to see all the games they have available. CLICK HERE. The Grint is available on both Android and iPhone. CLICK HERE
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