OT - Golf Trip

Submitted by Kilgore Trout on

8 man golf trip, widely varying abilities (near scratch golfers to guys who will be lucky to break 120). Any ideas for competitions to keep it interesting for everyone? Not enough people have official handicaps to use those.

OSUckSteverMSUcks

September 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^

I was trying to add more to that post as you responded. I was also going to suggest some of the Ryder Cup matches. Best ball with 2 man teams, or alternate shot. Try to match up the best with the worst golfer type of thing to make teams a little more even.

Kilgore Trout

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^

Scares the crap out of me, but I think it's worth trying. Advancing the ball can be a challenge, so it could get nuts. One cool idea I heard was both team members tee off, take the best one, then alternating shot from there. I think that would help avoid getting into too much garbage off the tee. We're playing at the Gull Lake View complex in Battle Creekish, so it looks like there are some tough courses.

Route66

September 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^

The longest drive is a staple and a must. Even the bad golfers like to hit it hard and can get lucky. Don't forget the dick-out rule. If a guy does not hit it past the ladies tee, he has to play the hole with his.......you get it. My father in law, a pastor, thought that was a funny rule. Until his first drive went 10 yards.

Yinka Double Dare

September 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 PM ^

Presumably you'll have two foursomes then. If you think you can make the teams reasonably even, do 4 teams of two and do it like a scramble (i.e. two man team, you choose which drive to play and you both play from that spot, and then you choose the best second shot and both play from there, etc. until you're in the hole). You can either play it as a four-team stroke competition for each round as well as overall, or match play with the winners playing each other in the next 18 and the losers playing each other.

You can also play foursome scrambles in stroke play, so it would be one group versus the other one.

I've done this with some friends (we actually did 3 vs. 2, it was early season and we were on an empty private course so they didn't care we played in a fivesome). It's a load of fun to have teams.

dmgoblue08

September 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^

play a stableford system. Give the higher handicaps some strokes and cap the negative points at double or triple bogey. You can play 4some vs. 4some and cheer on everyone in your group.

BlockM

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^

I was taught how to play a game called The Wolf earlier this summer, and it was great. In each foursome, one player is the wolf, and they tee off last.

The wolf picks one other player to be on his team for that hole, based on the tee shots. He must make a decision whether to take a player immediately after their tee shot. For example, player one has a terrible tee shot, player two's is fantastic so the wolf takes him as his partner, then player three goes. You can't go back and pick an earlier player.

If the wolf doesn't like any of the tee shots, he can go by himself.

For each hole, there are two points available: lowest individual score, and lowest combined score. If the wolf is alone, combined scores don't matter. If he has the lowest score on the hole, he gets two points.

After each hole, the wolf designation rotates to another player. Each person keeps track of their own points, so the person with the most points wins.

It might not be the most fair way to play, but I as a mediocre golfer tied for the win while playing with several others that are on my college's golf team. Sounds a little complicated, but not actually too bad.

Kilgore Trout

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^

That would be a lot of fun. Lots of strategery, which I love. One question. So say the wolf goes it alone, but doesn't have the low individual score. So just one point is awarded to whichever of the other three has the best score? What happens in ties? Half points, no points awarded, or carry over?

BlockM

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 PM ^

I believe if the wolf goes alone and doesn't win the hole, two points go to each of the other three. Ties meant no points when I played. Ties are common, but if it's 2-on-2 usually at least one point is awarded. If both teams have the same low score, but different total scores, the players on the team with the lower score each get one point.

You may be able to find better (more complete) instuctions online, but in the 2 minutes I looked I mostly found rules if you're betting money on each hole.

username

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^

Wolf is a great game, but it's really designed for threesomes. Because 18 isn't divisible by 4 (I went to U-M!), each player doesn't get the same number of opportunities to be wolf, making it somewhat unfair. Also, it's tough to divide up two points among three people.

For a foursome, use approximate handicaps and make teams of two. Set a dollar limit everyone can live with (say $30) and play match play on front 9, back 9, and total. Each of the three games is worth $10 in this example. That way, each hole is simply won or lost, so total number of strokes doesn't matter, plus handicap should give everyone a fair shot. Also, with 3 games being played per round, you're guaranteed to get a payout. (settle any ties on the practice green).

Ziff72

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^

I have conducted the same 8 man trip for 11 years. People may think it a little strange at 1st, but I guarantee you by the end of the trip they will love it and it works for all levels. Play a Ryder Cup. Break the teams into 4 obviously. Make them as even as possible and play matches. Because it is match play the slashers in the group won't have to get broken down looking for balls up north or grinding out holes posting 10's. Having a teammate brings the comraderie together in the cart and gets the trash talk going in the cart. Play a 2 man scramble format and a best ball format. For the better players you can play a modified alternate shot. It is always the most fun and nerve racking. Nothing like leaving your partner a 5 ft putt. It ups the trash talk for dinner time and brings the trip together. If your guys are in anyway competitive or you have a bunch of football players they will loe the competition and team feeling.

Kilgore Trout

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^

Love all the suggestions. Competitiveness definitely won't be lacking, so some sort of overall competition is a great idea. I think we'll incorporate some of these games into it and keep some sort of leaderboard. Should make it much better. This is our first time trying this, but I'm thinking it'll be great and become a tradition.

Last question... I was thinking of getting a yellow polo and having the current leader wear it, like the Tour de France. I just can't decide if that's cool or cheesy... could go either way.

CincyBlue

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^

but I'm sure some will want to play their own ball.

Do a skins game where everyone puts in $5 or $10 bucks and the lowest score on the hole wins the skin. there is usually 5 or 6 skins given out.

take one round and do the alternating shot or scramble.

Mattinboots

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:32 PM ^

First on green, closest to cup, first in cup. It's not the number of strokes. You just have to honor that furthest away has honors. In this case, the good golfers usually win bingo if they can get on in regulation, but the bad golfers usually win bingo if the good golfers are just off the green in two (on a par four of course). Bango usually goes to the best chipper and bongo to the best putter. Make a win in each category worth the same amount (my buddies and I usually do a $1). It's an even game for all usually and our group has a wide range of talent as well.

Edit: This is for each hole and definitely doesn't work in team events like alternate shot (obviously).

Goblue89

September 2nd, 2009 at 3:44 PM ^

I played an Arizona Scramble this weekend and it was a lot of fun. You play a scramble off of the tee and then everyone plays their own ball the rest of the way.

For example:
-Player A,B,C & D tee off

-Player B has the best drive

-Player A,B,C & D hit their next shot from where Player B landed.

-Players A, B, C, & D play their own ball the rest of the way.

Its fun because if you are playing with guys who aren't good off of the tee (and most beginners are) it gives them a fighting chance so the majority of the time, someone hits it into the fairway.