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Golf Tournament Formats and betting games
"Foursomes"
Definition: Foursomes is a competition format in which teams are comprised of two players each, and the players alternate
hitting the same ball (which is why Foursomes is also very commonly called "alternate shot").
The first player tees off, the second player hits the second shot, the first player hits the third shot, and so on until
the ball is holed. Players alternate hitting tee shots so that the same player doesn't hit every drive.
Foursomes can be played as stroke play or match play. As match play, Foursomes is one of the formats used in the Ryder
Cup.
Here's a hint for Foursomes strategy: Try to determine before the round which are the toughest driving holes on the course
being played. Factor that into the decision on who hits the tee ball on the first hole.
"Yellow Ball" or "Pink Ball" or "Pink Lady";
Definition: Yellow Ball (a k a Pink Ball, Pink Lady, Lone Ranger or Money Ball) is a game for 4-person teams that puts
the onus on one player per hole to come through for the team.
Each group of four players in a scramble has a yellow ball (or pink, or a white ball that has been marked) that rotates
among players. For example, Player A uses it on the first hole, B on the second, C on the third, D on the fourth, then back
to A on the fifth and so on. In this game, two scores per hole are added together for the team score. Here's the catch: One
of those two scores must be from the player with the yellow ball. So on each hole, the team score will be the score of the
player with the yellow ball, plus the lowest score of the other three players on the team. Does the ball actually have to
be yellow? Of course not, but the ball should be marked in some way to designate it as "the" ball.
"2-Man Scramble"
Definition: A 2-Man Scramble is a competition format that is exactly what it sounds like: a scramble in which the teams
consist of two players each. After each shot, the best of the two shots is selected and both players play from that spot,
until the ball is holed. One team score is recorded. Also Known As: 2-Person Scramble, Two-Person Scramble. Alternate Spellings:
Two-Man Scramble
"2-Person Best Ball"
Definition: "2-Person Best Ball" is a best-ball competition format in which the teams consist of two players.
Played as one team vs. another, whether stroke play or match play, it's simply another name for Four Ball. Each player on
the team plays his own ball until completing the hole, then the lower of the two scores is recorded as the team score for
that hole. For more explanation, see Best Ball. Also Known As: 2-Man Best Ball, 2-Person Better Ball, Four Ball
Alternate Spellings: Two-Person Best Ball
"Ambrose Competition"
Definition: "Ambrose Competition" is another name for a scramble, but one in which a team handicap is used.
All players tee off, the best shot is selected and all players hit again from that same spot. The best second shot is selected,
and all players hit from that same spot, and so on until the ball is holed. If the scramble is called an "Ambrose,"
it means that handicaps are used in play, with a fraction of the total handicaps of the group members serving as one handicap
for the group. For example, if it's a 2-person scramble, the handicaps of the two players are added together and divided by
4. For a 3-person scramble, divide by 6; for a 4-person scramble, divide by 8.
The arithmetic produces one group handicap which is used during play.
"Bag Raid"
Definition: Bag Raid, a k a Pick Up Sticks, is a match play game between two players. It's pretty simple: Every time a
player wins a hole, his opponent gets to choose one club from his bag and remove that club from play. Example: After A wins
the first hole, B removes A's pitching wedge from play. For the rest of the round, A cannot use that pitching wedge. Any club
can be chosen, but most players give immunity to the putter (otherwise it would be the first club to go, and putting is hard
enough without having to do it without a putter). The strategy - well, aside from the strategy of not losing holes - is to
first remove from your opponent's bag the clubs which he's most comfortable and best with. When playing Bag Raid, make sure
you carry the maximum allowed 14 clubs at the start of the round.
"Best Ball"
Definition: Along with the scramble, "best ball" is one of the most popular golf tournament formats. Best ball
can be played using 2-, 3- or 4-person teams. Each player on the team plays his or her own golf ball throughout the round,
and on each hole the low score - or "best ball" - of the group serves as the team score. Player A gets a 5, B gets
a 4, C gets a 6, D gets a 6, then the team score for that hole is 4, because the low score of the group was B's 4.
Best ball is usually played as stroke play with the total score added up at the end of the round. It can be played as
match play, but best-ball match play with more than 2-person teams results in a lot of halved holes.
When using 3- or 4-person teams, it's almost imperitave to apply handicaps so that the weaker players will be able to
contribute. A 2-person best ball match play competition is also known as Four Ball. "Best ball" can also refer to
a competition in which a single player plays match play against a 2- or 3-person team playing best ball.
"Bingo Bango Bongo"
Definition: Bingo Bango Bongo is a points- based game that can be played by any number of players, from two up.
In Bingo Bango Bongo, three types of achievements are rewarded with a point. The first player in a group to get his ball
on the green gets a point (bingo). The player in the group whose ball is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green
gets a point (bango). And the player in the group who is first to hole out gets a point (bongo).
Add up the points at the end of the game, high points wins.
Bingo Bango Bongo gives weaker players a chance to earn points because what matters is being first at something. For example,
all members of the group tee off on a par-4. The player who hit the worst drive (farthest from the hole) plays first, and
so has the first shot at winning the bingo point. So, too, with closest to the pin.
"Blind Nine"
Definition: Blind Nine, sometimes called Blind Hole, is a scramble tournament in which only 9 of the 18 holes count in
the team's final score. The catch is that the teams don't know which 9 holes count until after the round is completed. The
tournament organizers usually wait until all teams have teed off before randomly selecting the 9 holes whose scores will be
used. Alternately, the organizers may select three par-3s, three par-4s and three-par 5s, but that makes it easier on the
field - concentrate really hard on the par 3s and par 5s because there usually are only four each of those on a course. Blind
Nine is usually played with full handicaps, but using three-quarter handicaps or some other fraction can help ease the logjam
that is sometimes created by using only 9 holes to score.
"Bowmaker (or Bowmaker Tournament)"
Definition: Bowmaker tournaments are very common in the U.K., where the term is widely used. The term "bowmaker"
is rarely used in the U.S., but the format is a familiar one.
A bowmaker boils down to this: A team event in which members of the team are playing their own golf balls throughout,
and a certain number of the team members' scores count on each hole. The most common bowmaker format in the U.K. calls for
4-person teams with the two low scores per hole counting as the team scores. If on the first hole, members of your group score
4, 5, 6 and 7, your team score is 9 (4 plus 5, the two low balls). Stableford is the most common choice for scoring bowmaker
tournaments in the U.K., but other variations are known. Also, you'll sometimes find bowmakers that use 3-person teams with
the best two scores per hole counting, or 4-person teams with the best three scores per hole counting.
"Criss Cross"
Definition: Criss Cross is a tournament format or betting game in which the golfer or team gets to compare corresponding
scores on their scorecard and choose the lower of two scores, resulting in a 9-hole total score.
It's not as complicated as we just made it sound. Here's how it works: Front 9 holes are paired up with the corresponding
Back 9 hole. In other words, think of No. 1 and No. 10 as a pair, No. 2 and No. 11, No. 3 and No. 12, and so on up to No.
9 and No. 18. Following the round, compare the scores you recorded on No. 1 and No. 10 and circle the lower of the two. Compare
No. 2 and No. 11 and circle the lower of the two, and so on through No. 9 and No. 18. Then add up the 9 holes you've circled
for your total score.
"Gruesomes" or Yellow somes
Definition: Gruesomes is a 2-person team game that is more common as a betting game but is also sometimes used as a tournament
format. In Gruesomes, both members of the team tee off - and then the opposing team selects which drive they have to play.
Needless to say, the opposing team is likely to select the worst - or most gruesome - of the two drives. Following selection
of the tee ball, the teams play out the hole in alternate shot fashion. The player who hit the "gruesome" tee ball
also plays the second shot.
"Four Ball"
Definition: Four Ball is a match pitting two teams of two players (a total of four balls being played, hence the name)
against each other using best-ball scoring. All four players play their own ball throughout; at the end of each hole, the
low score among the two partners on each team is that team's score. For example, Players A and B form one team. On the first
hole, A scores a 5, B scores a 6, so the team score is 5. Four Ball can be played as stroke play or match play and is one
of the formats used at the Ryder Cup.
"Greensomes"
Definition: Greensomes is a competition format that is a variation of foursomes (2-person teams, each playing one ball).
In Greensomes, both players on a team tee off, the best of the two tee balls is selected and that ball is then played alternate-shot
until holed. In regular foursomes, the 2-person team would play alternate shot for the full hole, i.e., only one tee ball
would be hit. Greensomes is essentially a 2-person scramble off the tee, then alternate-shot into the hole.
"Stableford"
Definition: A Stableford competition is a golf tournament in which the object is to get the highest score. That's because
in Stableford, golfers are awarded points based on their scores in relation to a fixed score at each hole. That fixed score
can be par, or any number of strokes a tournament committee chooses (6, 8, whatever). The USGA and R&A define Stableford
points in this manner:
More than 1 over fixed score (or no score returned) - 0 points
One over fixed score - 1 point
Fixed score - 2 points
One under fixed score - 3 points
Two under fixed score - 4 points
Three under fixed score - 5 points
Four under fixed score - 6 points
"Switch"
Definition: Switch can be a tournament format or a betting game. Either way, it involves 2-person teams on which the players
switch balls following the tee shots, then play out the hole using those balls. For example, Players A and B tee off. Player
A now switches to B's ball and vice-versa. Player A continues playing that ball he's switched to until it is holed, as does
B. Switch can be played as stroke play or match play; the total strokes for both players can be used, or just the better ball
of the two.
"Texas Scramble"
Definition: Texas Scramble is a competition format that is a basic scramble with a slight twist. Scrambles involve 4-person
teams playing four balls, but with each shot coming from the same spot (the best of the four drives is chosen and all four
team members then hit from that spot, and so on). The variation in a Texas Scramble is that at least four drives of each member
of the team must be used during the course of the round: At least four drives hit by Player A, four by Player B, and so on.
In a regular scramble, a great driver might have his tee ball used on every hole. A Texas Scramble eliminates that possibility
and allows even the weakest driver on the team to get into the action.
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