Tournament Handbook - Event Formats The Collegiate Golf Alliance has formulated these different formats and rules as a resource for your tournaments. Golfers of different abilities like a variety of formats that can utilize teamwork and individual skills. Feel free to email your favorite format and variations on the rules to rules@cgagolflinks.com What is a "Rules of Play" sheet (a.k.a. Tournament Sheet) and why is it important? A "rules of play" sheet is normally issued to every golfer when they sign in at the course and receive their scorecard. It describes the nature of the competition and should highlight any special competitions such as longest drive holes, closest-to-the-pin holes, mulligan purchases, and applicable local course rules. It would also describe the format of the competition and usually how many prizes and in which categories, net and gross, flights, individual, etc. Such information is essential to running any golf event. If it is a scramble event, the rules of the scramble should be spelled out. The information should also clearly enunciate how ties will be decided. If players are to pick up when they have played a certain number of shots and if they are allowed to move their balls in the fairway are two other possible topics. The availability of food and drink on the course, the time for dinner, and other non-golf items can also be included, but the main focus is to clearly define the competition. The host golf professional should be able to assist or even draft this document for you. Tournament Directors will be smart if they also distribute this information electronically a few days in advance of the event. A well thought out Rules of Play sheet will minimize many questions and provide the basis for a more fair, equitable competition. Bob Fagan, Golf Writer/Expert Golf Witness/Former Golf Pro Suggested Web Pages http://www.golfonline.com/beginners/rules/rule2.html http://www.usga.org/rules http://www.ruleshistory.com http://www.mygolf.com/rules http://www.usga.org/champs/clubs/tournament.html 1 person two person scramble You get two shots at everything 1-2-3 Best Ball Four players play as a team. The first hole, the 1 lowest score is used. the 2nd hole, the 2 lowest scores are used and the 3rd hole the 3 lowest scores are used. The 4th hole goes back to 1 lowest score. This can be used for net and gross scores. 2-person Alternate Shot Two players play as partners during any stipulated round. The partners shall play alternately from the teeing ground and during the play of each hole. Penalty strokes do not affect order of play. The team handicap consists of tournament percentage of the partners combined handicaps. Scoring is based on one ball gross, net or points with both players receiving the same score. 2-person Best Ball Two competitors play as partners, each playing his or her own ball. The lower net score of the partners is the score for the hole. Each player receives a tournament percentage of their handicap and takes their strokes where the fall on the card. 2-person Scramble A team consists of two players in the same group. On each hole each player drives and the best tee shot is selected by the team. Each member then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected tee shot lies and the best second shot is then selected in a similar manner. This process is repeated until the hole is completed. 4-person scramble A team consists of four players in the same group. On each hole each player drives and the best tee shot is selected by the team. Each member then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected tee shot lies and the best second shot is then selected in a similar manner. This process is repeated until the hole is completed. 5 Person Scramble A team consists of five players in the same group. On each hole each player drives and the best tee shot is selected by the team. Each member then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected tee shot lies and the best second shot is then selected in a similar manner. This process is repeated until the hole is completed. Best Ball of Four (First and Second Balls of Four) A, B, C, D play their net best ball or best two balls against the field in a stroke play competition. Each receives a percentage of their regular handicap and takes their strokes where they fall on the card. Foursome Match Play This format is a match in which two play against two and each team plays one ball. During any stipulated round the partners shall play alternately from the teeing grounds and during the play of each hole. Penalty strokes do not affect order of play. The higher handicapped team receives the tournament percentage of the difference between the combined handicapped of the members of each team. Match play is limited to first 128 players (64 two-man teams). The flights should be set up for eight, sixteen, or thirty-two or sixty-four, hundred twenty-eight players to use the latter listing properly. Individual Match Play Match play format has 2 competitors competing to win the most holes within a match. Whoever wins the most holes wins the match. Handicapping can be applied if desired. Individual Stroke Play This format is played with an individual counting every stroke and playing his or her own ball throughout the competition. The player competes against the rest of the players in his or her flight of field. Scoring is based on one ball gross or net which ever is preferred. If players are competing in a net stroke play event the player will then subtract the course handicap from the gross score. Ironman Triathlon Three different formats are used! four-ball (net better-ball), Pinehurst (partners each drive and then play their second shot with the other's ball. After the second shot, they choose which ball to use to complete the hole hitting alternate shots) and Scramble Pinehurst (2-person) A team consists of two players. On each hole the player and his partner drive form the teeing ground. On the second stroke, player A will play players B’s ball while player B will play player A’s ball. Prior to the third stroke, the partners must make a choice as to which ball they will play. There will be only one ball played by each team after the second stroke. Penalty strokes do not affect order of play. The team handicap is the addition of 50% of the lower handicap of the partners or 20% of the higher handicap of the partners. Both players post the same tournament score. Stableford Players score points on each hole according to a point system that takes into consideration each player's handicap (the best players are rated A, the poorest D). Unlike other golf games, the winner in a Stableford tournament is the player with the highest score. Points are earned on the following scale:
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