Any games that help you improve during weekly round of golf?

[toys4tots16]

I've got a regular Thursday foursome where we are all actively trying to improve our games to compete and hopefully win at the state level. We're all right around scratch right now.

 

I'm wondering what games we could play during our Thursday rounds that would actually help us get better. We usually play two-man best balls, but I don't think that is helping us improve and actually might be hindering us.

 

So, what games can we play to improve?

[Imp]

May seem funny and usually played with people new to the game, but I don't see why experienced players can't - Bingo Bango Bongo. Helps me get ready for match play and thinking strategically.

 

Bingo - 1st on.

How it can help: On par 3s, if you're 1st off the tee, you're trying to knock it close to try and prevent others from getting it inside, or, you're working on going inside if you're not 1st off the tee. Other holes... Do you have what it takes to go for the long ball to get it to stick on the green? CAN you keep it on? Or are you going to lay up (gets you thinking for strategic landing areas). Remember, you have to play honors, and farthest 1st (or if playing ready golf, know that the person behind can be 1st on if they get it on in their shot).

 

Bango - Closest to the pin once everyone is on.

How it can help: If you went for the long ball, did you have good control to put it close? Or, from your layup or drive that put you close to the green, are you inside everyone else?

 

Bongo - 1st putt in the hole (not closer to the putter grip). So you didn't get Bongo, you're farther from some of the other players... can you put it in 1st? If you miss, and you're within the grip of the putter, you're out of the hole for this point. There are no layups. :)

 

--kC

[Divot License]

May seem funny and usually played with people new to the game, but I don't see why experienced players can't - Bingo Bango Bongo. Helps me get ready for match play and thinking strategically.

 

Bingo - 1st on.

How it can help: On par 3s, if you're 1st off the tee, you're trying to knock it close to try and prevent others from getting it inside, or, you're working on going inside if you're not 1st off the tee. Other holes... Do you have what it takes to go for the long ball to get it to stick on the green? CAN you keep it on? Or are you going to lay up (gets you thinking for strategic landing areas). Remember, you have to play honors, and farthest 1st (or if playing ready golf, know that the person behind can be 1st on if they get it on in their shot).

 

Bango - Closest to the pin once everyone is on.

How it can help: If you went for the long ball, did you have good control to put it close? Or, from your layup or drive that put you close to the green, are you inside everyone else?

 

Bongo - 1st putt in the hole (not closer to the putter grip). So you didn't get Bongo, you're farther from some of the other players... can you put it in 1st? If you miss, and you're within the grip of the putter, you're out of the hole for this point. There are no layups. :)

 

--kC

 

This is how my Dad taught me to play competition

[mn_golf]

We have used a 2 vs 2 game called 5 point.

 

1 pt proxie, 1 pt low ball, 1 pt low total, 1 pt birdie. If you get all 4 pts on the hole you get a bonus 5th pt. If you get the bonus 5th and your partner birdies as well you get 10 pts.

 

Team who won points last hole tees of first nextra hOle.

 

Then each team has 2 optional presses each nine only when they're down that doubles the points for the rest of the nine.

 

An added variation that only puts more pressure and fun is roll and re-roll. So after seeing their opponents (call them team #1) tee balls, before they tee off (team #2) thet can "roll". What this does it double the points for only that hole. Then team #2 hits their tee balls, but then team #1 has the option to re-roll and again double the pts for that hole. So you can start a hole at 1pt value and quickly increase to 2pt or 4pt values depending on tee balls. So if only a roll occurred and no presses were on, each proxie/low ball/etc would now be worth 2 pts. These rolls/re-rolls are only done based on teeing order. Also if team #1 wants to roll before they hit their tee shots that is allowed (blind roll kinda). This helps if someone has a good feeling about a hole, is trying to make up points or is feeling confident.

 

We play for $1 points and it stays under $100 aND usually $15-40 range. Can easily make up ground but also risk of losing big when they make birdie out of the trees.

 

The game puts pressure on you all round. From shots that should be easy, like a wedge into the green but then everyone else has missed it already so all you need to do is hit the green to win 8 pts (because there was a press aND then both a roll and re-roll) or stuff it for birdie with partner helping win low total, get bonus 5 pts and just won 40 pts. To a 5 ft slider to halve low total and save your team from losing big points on the lat hole. It will force you to keep focused and keep grinding all round no matter how you're playing. You'll find you're so focused on the game you won't realize you're going low. Just trying to win more $.

 

Played this in college against two members with another guy from the proshop after we closed up. Can play 7 holes until dark or all 18. Often we'd get 9 in with the last two holes being an almost driveable part 4 with trouble and a reachable par 5 with water short. These made for possible big points to be won or lost. Felt same pressure during these rounds as big college tourneys but every shot even if I was a few over.