Ryder cup format help

[lukerguy]

We've planned a trip to Kimberley, BC, Canada in a few weeks and there's some dispute on which games we should play for an 8v8 tournament. Certainly there will be a round of match play, and four ball, but trying to see if anyone has successfully done this and what format was the best?

 

We have paired team up with most alike handicaps on each team (also match play opponent). Is it better or worse with handicaps? How can you avoid it?

 

Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

[baddomes]

If people aren't concerned about playing their own ball for 18 holes, play some modified alternate shot (both players hit a drive, pick one, and then alternate from there in).

 

I think you do 40% of handicaps in that situation. It's very fun.

[davep043]

I've been on a couple of golf trips (through an un-named golf website) where we did the real Ryder Cup format: two 36-hole days with foursome matches (alternate shot) and fourball matches, and a final day of individual match play. I loved it, but I knew going in that we were doing it that way. We essentially did a Nassau-type scoring, with one point per each 9, and a point for the 18, 3 possible points for each match. I think foursomes is fun, and really pressure-filled, but lots of guys want to play their own ball, especially if you're playing a number of different courses. baddomes suggestion for a modified alternate shot is good, or you could play a Chapman (or Pinehurst) format. For that each player hits a drive, they each play their partner's drive on their second, and then pick a ball to play alternate shot into the hole.

 

Unless all of your guys are pretty close in ability, I'd say using handicaps is the right thing to do. You can find the USGA's suggestions about allocating handicaps in Section 9 of the Handicap Manual:

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/handicap-manual.html#!rule-14387

[Shifty76]

Our club format for our Ryder Cup event is as follows:

 

Day 1

First 9: Alternating shot

Second 9: 2 man best ball (play your own ball, net low score on your team counts)

 

Day 2

First 9: Individual matchplay vs opposition player A

Second 9: Individual matchplay vs opposition player B

 

1 point per match on day 1, 2 points per match on day 2

[mikedejong]

We play a big one in Palm Springs every year. We play 4 rounds of team games (2 rounds of best ball, high low, scotch ball or modified alternate shot) then we finish with singles. Best ball is good so one guy can blow up and the hole is not lost. The modified scotch ball we play, we usually play the afternoon round of a 36 hole day. Most guys are tired anyway, so you don't have to grind out every shot as much. And we always finish with singles: either the captains pair guys up based on who is playing well, or simply just a random draw. We have done this for 10 years plus, and it is awesome. Points for front, back, overall. 3 points per match so anything can happen in the singles if the draw goes one way or the other. Almost every year our matches come down to final holes of the final couple of groups, its always close.

[lukerguy]

Thanks for the comments thus far.

 

Is there a game format that you feel is a "MUST"... Like the one you feel like you look forward to most every year?

[davep043]

Thanks for the comments thus far.

 

Is there a game format that you feel is a "MUST"... Like the one you feel like you look forward to most every year?

I think the Chapman format is really a lot of fun. You don't get to hit every shot, or every putt, but you get a semi-scramble start to each hole, followed by an alternate shot pressure to finish the hole.

[Roadking2003]

I've been on 2 - 4 golf trips per year for the past 25 years. My opinions;

 

1. Don't play foursomes. We all want to play every shot.

2. Don't play any scramble or shamble events.

3. Team matches are the most fun.

4. Use a "high ball tiebreaker" some days. That's where if the low ball is tied on a hole, the other ball is used to break the tie.

5. Play "hi - low" some days. That's where the team score for a hole is the high ball in the tens digit and the low ball in the ones digit. So Team A with a 4 and a 6 scores 64 and would lose to Team B with two 5s for a 55. This format puts a lot of stress on the high ball player.

6. Always use full handicaps.

[lukerguy]

I've been on 2 - 4 golf trips per year for the past 25 years. My opinions;

 

1. Don't play foursomes. We all want to play every shot.

2. Don't play any scramble or shamble events.

3. Team matches are the most fun.

4. Use a "high ball tiebreaker" some days. That's where if the low ball is tied on a hole, the other ball is used to break the tie.

5. Play "hi - low" some days. That's where the team score for a hole is the high ball in the tens digit and the low ball in the ones digit. So Team A with a 4 and a 6 scores 64 and would lose to Team B with two 5s for a 55. This format puts a lot of stress on the high ball player.

6. Always use full handicaps.

 

Awesome, thanks!

[teejaywhy]

Thanks for the comments thus far.

 

Is there a game format that you feel is a "MUST"... Like the one you feel like you look forward to most every year?

 

Fourball match is my favorite.

[seus777]

Don't do alternate shot. Unless everyone is a low single figure hdcp.