Work Golf League Format

[BoomerVT]

Hi all,

 

I know there have been a few threads on this already, but I have a few questions that I haven't seen an answer to. I'm running my work golf league this year, first year I'm running it, though I've played several years in it. With the changing of guards, I'd like to try to address some of the issues that I've heard members complaining about in the past:

 

1) Handicapping - I was thinking use best 3 of last 5 weeks. Do you cap it or do anything to prevent it when a hacker puts together a 48 and beats the scratch golfer who just shot 1 under par (this has been a big complaint in the past)? Also, how do you handle hcap for the first week of play?

 

2) Tee boxes - Do you all play from the same tees? The course we play is 6800 or 6300. Can I split by age/hcap/driving distance? Curious of your thoughts.

 

3) Format - probably doing 2 man teams, round robin, high hcap on each team plays each other, low hcap on each team plays each other. Each hole match play is worth 1 point (net score), total score worth 1 pt (net score) (20 total points per team matchup). I was also thinking of throwing in 'majors', which would be played the same week as each major on the tour, maybe double the points those weeks?

 

4) Entry fee - We have a smaller group, ~20 guys. Was thinking of maybe $20 a person to buy small prizes for winners, weekly low net, etc. like a sleeve of ProV1s or something.

 

It's my first time running a league and I want to do it right (which I'm learning is tough). Any advice or insight you have is much appreciated, thanks!

[BoomerVT]

Oh also - what do you use to track everything? I'm torn between a spreadsheet that I update and email out weekly, or one of the paid apps/websites. Thanks again!

[nellycuz]

Couple thoughts:

 

Tees, you may just want to keep that by age to make it simple. 55 and over play the front tees if they like? I like the double points on major weeks. That's something I might suggest to my work league. Gives the teams at the bottom a chance to catch up if they play well on those weeks.

 

We do a weekly skins pot (gross). No handicaps involved, just straight up skins. That makes it fun for most and gets everyone involved. Also for those who don't win a skin very often if at all, we do a game each week. Closest to the pin, furthest from the pin (but on the green), longest drive, shortest drive, highest score on a hole, longest putt etc. Something where everyone will have a chance to win on some weeks.

[oldschoolrocker]

1 If the "season" is long enough I would play the first 2 events as a regular stroke play event and develop a league handicap from that. Granted there could be sandbaggers, but, let's think positive until proven otherwise. Adjust league handicaps after each event.

2. Tees determined by age.

3. +1 on Majors and double points.

4. I would keep the games simple and straightforward. skins/closest to pin (I think limiting the amount of extras will keep the rounds from becoming too long and make for a better pace of play.)

5. 20 an event sounds like a good number.

6. Make a league rule sheet, send it out and have it returned signed.

7. Go over the particulars (lift/clean/place, playing it down, any local rules) every event.

8. Have fun

[cardoustie]

I find Stableford points nights are most fun at our club. You can do 4 or 2 .... or 2 for 1

 

This way the guy that makes an 11 on 1 hole only loses 1 point and still has a shot

 

On major nights we do net stroke play

 

You can also do a year long where you divide into equal teams. We had 7 teams of 8 last year.

 

You could do 5 teams of 4. Count the two best scores (or stabie points) every week

 

We do gross and net skins

[Ironhead1530]

To piggy back off this post..... to keep the pace of play, do most leagues have a max score per hole? Double par? 10? Also, if you do, how to you account for this in handicaps? Is there a max handicap?

[Hateto3Putt]

With 20 guys you could probably do two flights A & B decided by handicaps. This way the worse golfer still has chances to win a skin.

 

We do $10 per man mandatory skins with $2 going to the league. This way the league has loot for outings and prizes. (it's a 50 guy league so we make about $100 per week plus dues).

 

For new guys without a handicap, we just flight them based on what they say they shoot. Most guys are pretty honest, but sandbaggers are discovered soon enough and shot.

 

Our format is you play guys within your flights, post scores, adjust strokes, winner gets 3 points, losers 1, no shows 0. If your match doesn't show your net score just needs to be lower than the highest net score in your flight. Ties go to the card.

 

We have four flight winners per half (ABCD) then the year end outing pits 1st half vs 2nd half flight winners. Low net score is league champion.

 

C&D Players over 60 can play whites.

 

Side bets and shootouts abound.