Match Play

[oregongolfnut]

Our men's club plays a couple of match play events a year where the participants are divided in half by age, younger ones vs older ones.

 

I have been involved in five of these events and the Seniors (older guys) have won every one of them even though they have been close. Usually they win by just a couple of points.

 

As most of the Seniors have high handicaps and go against Juniors with much lower handicaps, I was wondering if anyone out there has seen research on the probability of lower handicaps winning against higher handicaps? Seems like giving up 10 strokes is just too much of a hurdle in match play.

 

Any thoughts?

[hbear]

I think in match play % of handicap should be used to offset the difference.

I find match play with much higher handicaps (that are decent golfers but blow up on a number of holes) really hard to play against (e.g. a 14 handicap that can make pars and birdies). As I have to make birdies to tie a hole, or eagle a par 5 to tie as they make birdie....yes on certain holes where there are no strokes given, or the higher cap blows his brains out it's my hole to lose, but it's difficult going into a hole knowing you need a eagle or birdie to tie....

[charlesdupuy]

There is a similar tournament at the club where i'm a member, they have the junior section against the senior section; its played in three sets of six holes with 2 points for a win on each six and 1 point each for a half. 4BBB for the first six, greensomes the second and foursomes last. Its all done is good fun and the juniors are mixed up so younger high handicappers (who are genreally newish members) play with lower older ones, the result normally goes the way of the juniors, although the seniors have won on occasions. I think the main issue is that both sides play from the yellow tees as this is where the seniors play most of their golf from, and subsequently the course is is couple of shots easier for the juniors. I think it really benefits having a high and low handicappers together.

 

To answer your question, I think it dpeends a lot on the format and the situation. Genrally lower handicappers are better under pressure so in that situation I think they have an advantage, and playing 3/4 always helps the lower guy in most cases. Also singes and 4BBB i'd agree that the lower handicapper faces a challenge. But with foursomes and greensomes like our seniors match above, its really handy to have the low guy who can reach par 5s in two and take on more daring shots and genrally play more consistantly.

[cuan2002]

The biggest difference I see is where one player has an extra shot over the opponent.

 

In strokeplay, a 18 handicapper has an extra shot on the three easiest holes against a 15 handicapper.

 

In matchplay, the advantage is on the three hardest holes (since the lowest handicap plays of scratch and the higher handicap plays off the difference e.g. 3). For this reason alone, the lower handicapper should be able to make use of the advantage.

[hbear]

But when you play off a 1 or scratch and play against a 14 that makes pars/birdies it's tough to beat. (hard to give a guy a stroke on 13-14 of the holes)

A 14 cap like that will make like 6-8 pars, a birdie or 2, and the rest in bogeys/doubles/triples.

 

So for those 6-8 pars, I'm going to have to birdie to tie...and the birdie he makes, I'll normally have to eagle to tie.

Granted I have it easy on his "blow up holes" and easier on holes he doesn't get a stroke....but it's no cakewalk.

I'd much rather play sombody closer to me in cap than a streaky high capper that has a high cap due to blow up holes.