Starting a golf league

sjcollins724 · April 10, 2014

Hello all,

I am looking at possibly trying to start a summer golf league at the local course which I am a member off. The course offers member tournaments now and then, but there isn't an actual golf league. I was hoping that I could find out what is the best format for starting a golf league, your league details, etc. ?

I was leaning towards trying just to start a 2-person team league, where each weekend, you could schedule a match with another team, would play a certain format, and send the results to me, which I would update regularly. Truthfully, I have never been involved in a golf league, so I have no idea where to start.

Any advice?

Fellaheen51 · April 10, 2014

Every league I've participated in has been a two man team league. Have done it two ways: match high/low hdcp. and bring your own team to the league. Prefer the latter. Have had the same partner going into our ninth year. Nine hole league, which is pretty much standard.

Stroke play with hdcp. If no prior hdcp. established after four weeks. We play winter rules year round (i.e. roll your ball). Any o.b./ lost ball includes distance with a stroke penalty. Keeps things moving. League fees always include golf expenses, small fee for the secretary to cover time and materials for keeping track of everything, simple awards banquet and prize money. We payout 10 positions (it is a pretty big league, 28 teams). Separate treasurer to handle the funds. This year its $70 over and above the cost of golf.

We have a set schedule that is established at the beginning of the year. Two position nights, mid and end. Always been in a weekday (Tue. evening) league. We have a blocked tee time from 4:30 till 6:00 p.m. This helps those still working have a chance to arrive. Soon as all four people show up, you go. I would think that a weekend league might be difficult to coordinate with everyone's busy summer schedules and obligations. If a team is unable to play on league night, makeups are scheduled with the league secretary or president and must be played up to one week prior to the missing night or two days before the next scheduled league night after the absence.

Thoroughly enjoy my league. Lots of good guys, most of us live in the same small town area so everyone pretty much knows each other, like the competition. Laughs, golf, maybe a cold beer or two....what's not to like. Can hardly wait until 4/22 to get it going.

larrybud · April 10, 2014

I run two leagues and write software for golf leagues since 2007. There's a ton of different formats. Probably 80% of the leagues are a type of match play/net score combo, such as 2 pts / hole, 2 points for the net score, but some are stableford. Few are pure stroke play.

You can run 2 man teams or individual. In 2 man teams, the two players are flighed based on handicap, where the "A" player is matched against the other "A", and B vs. B. Generally members of a league are going to be playing all in the same block of times. The course gets prepaid for that block. The whole idea is that the league gets together on a regular basis, rather than just a couple of guys going out whenever.

Hanidcaps are usually different then USGA, because most leagues are comprised of less than serious golfers, and many don't even play any golf outside of the league. So it's nearly impossible to use the USGA formula to establish a handicap... it would take 10 weeks just to get 5 18-hole scores required. The system we've refined takes the last 5 or 6 scores, and takes the average score - par, then 90% of that. We also establish an equitable stroke control to keep things in check.

Let me know if you want more info, feel free to PM me. Not sure on golfwrx policy about talking about my site since I'm not a sponsor.

FGBrian · April 13, 2014

My league does individual points scoring in a "fedex cup" style. For each round played, players are given points for the place they finish for the day. So something like 100 for 1st, 75 for 2nd, 60 for 3rd, etc. Then we just track cumulative points for the season. We'll do a couple "majors" where points are doubled. It's a lot of fun if you're considering an individual format.

GTA SOL · April 13, 2014

We found the easiest format to accommodate people's varying schedules was:
Singles stableford
Log one sat or sun round per week
Each league runs for c.12 weeks and best 4 scores count

We found this meant people who could not play every week could still take part and be competitive across the 12 week duration. The 12 week duration also allows for several 'washout weekends', especially in the winter ( this is Northern England after all).