Handicapping Alternate Games
So….your golf group has become tired of playing two low net and 30/40 and is looking for some different games, but you do not know how to handicap them. Below are listed some different games with handicapping instructions.
4 man scrambles – There is no standard for handicapping scrambles in the USGA Rules, but it is recommended that the following be used. Add 20% of the course handicap for the A player, 15% for the B player, 10% for the C player, and 5% for the D player.
For example, The A player’s course handicap is 5, the B player’s is 12, the C player’s is 21, and the D player’s is 29. For the A player, 5 X .20 = 1.0, for the B player, 12 X .15 = 1.8, for the C player, 21 X .10 = 2.1, and for the D player, 29 X .05 = 1.45. 1.0 + 1.8 + 2.1 + 1.45 = 6.35 which is rounded to 6.
3 man scrambles – There are no recommendations for a 3 person event, but based on the 2 and 4 person recommendations, the total percentage should add up to 50% with the highest percentage applied to the player with the lowest handicap. Thus using 25% of the A player’s course handicap, 15% of the B player’s handicap, and 10% of the C player’s handicap should give an equitable system for the 3 person game. In the event both threesomes and foursomes are playing the same game, the handicap for the 3 person teams should be calculated then multiplied by 1.33, or they should play four shots with the fourth shot being alternated among the three players.
2 man scrambles – For a 2 person event, use 35% of the A player’s course handicap and 15% of the B player’s course handicap.
Texas scrambles – In this game every player on the team will hit a tee shot. The team will select the best shot and every player will play his own ball from there until it is holed. Typically then one (for a two or three man team) or two (for a four man team) scores will be used. For this game, each player will receive 85% of his course handicap.
Alternate shot Match Play – Establish team handicap by adding the indices for the two team members, dividing by two and multiplying the course slope divided by 113. Rounding is done in the normal method with .5 and above adding a stroke. (11.5 becomes a 12) The difference between the two team handicaps determines the number of strokes to be awarded to the team with the higher team handicap.
For example; The match is being played at Tanasi from the orange tees so the slope is 118. Golfers A and B are teammates playing golfers Y and Z. Golfer A has in index of 13.7 and golfer B has in index of 21.6. Golfer Y has an index of 15.9 and golfer Z has an index of 26.6.
For team A/B; (13.7+21.6)/2X118/113=18.4) so their handicap will be 18. For team Y/Z; (15.9+26.6)/2X118/113=22.2 so their handicap will be 22. The difference bewtween the two handicaps (22-18= 4) will be the number of strokes awarded to team Y/Z. Those four strokes will be applied on the holes with the lowest handicap numbers.
Fourball Match play – Each competitor establishes his course handicap in the usual method. The difference between the course handicaps for the two competitors is applied to the holes with the lowest handicap number. For example, golfer A has a course handicap of 13 and his opponent, golfer B has a course handicap of 18. Golfer B will be awarded strokes on the 5 holes with the lowest handicap number; for Toqua, that would be holes 2, 8, 9, 11, and 16.
Foursomes or 1 low net Match Play – The golfer with the lowest course handicap is the baseline and receives no strokes. The other three competitors receive strokes based on the difference between their course handicap and the baseline. Strokes are awarded on the holes with the lowest handicap numbers.
For example; Golfers A and B are playing golfers Y and Z. Golfer A has a course handicap of 5, golfer B has a handicap of 12, golfer Y has a handicap of 4, and golfer Z has a handicap of 9. Golfer Y will be the baseline and receive no strokes. Golfer A will receive 1 stroke, golfer B will receive 8 strokes, and golfer Z will receive 5 strokes.
Stableford – You may be familiar with the standard Stableford game in which a player is given 0 points for a new double bogey (or worse), 1 point for a net bogey, 2 points for a net par, 3 points for a new birdie, and 4 points for a net eagle. For a different game, the points awarded for net birdies and eagles can be increased, perhaps 4 points for a net birdie and 6 points for a net eagle, or negative points can be awarded for net double bogies. Handicapping for this game is done in the standard manner.
