4 balls or 3 balls

[balaclava]

All the Saturday (summer) competitions at my club are 3 balls. Is that the same throughout the UK?

Does it matter? In my view 4 playing together provides a much more convivial group and the opportunity for a social better ball comp between the 4. I asked why all out comps are 3 ball and was told that 3 balls take too long to get round. This is true but it isn’t the fault of the 4 ball it’s because all the comps arte medal and we’re always looking for lost balls and walking back to the T box. A 4 ball stableford is probably

 

[Imurg]

We go out in three-balls for medal because the ball-in-the-hole format takes longer and a 4 ball would take well in excess of 4 hours to get round. The problem is not just with those playing. If you are a 4 ball medal you are probably slowing up the whole course.

And you shouldn't ever have to walk back to the tee to play another ball - there is no limit on provisional balls. Hit 3 or 4 if you are at all unsure if you will find it.

 

[DCB]

"it’s because all the comps arte medal and we’re always looking for lost balls and walking back to the T box."

As said in last post, this is not necessary. Play a provisional if in doubt, then play proceeds at a normal pace.

 

[Marko77]

We are 3 balls as well in medal comp - pace of play being the reason I believe - 4 balls are only allowed in the lunchtime slot or at the end of the morning and only then at the discretion of the Pro.

I had heard that some clubs don't like 4 balls in medals as they believe players would be more bothered about the game within a game rather than the medal. I don't know how much truth there is to that?

 

[USER1999]

My last club we medalled in 4 balls, played a better ball match in the 4, and also a swindle stableford simultaneously with our usual crowd (against the rules of golf, (only one comp at a time)but why not), and were round in 4 hours.

My current club, we medal in threes, and it takes 4 1/2 hours.

 

[Herbie]

Im not sure I understand any of this as the majority of 4 balls Ive played in(regardless of format)get round in under 4 hrs as do the 3 balls Ive played in, unless of course those ahead are slow coaches

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We play both monthly stableford and medals in 3's drawn randomly each time so you never (in theory) get the same partners.

 

[medwayjon]

We medal in 4-balls and they are pre-booked which allows all the crowds of cronies to kiss each others arses and cheat as much as they like.

 

[balaclava]

The ramifications of the 3 ball / 4 ball game are significant.

First you should know a couple of things that I believe to be true.

1. People don’t like change and the British are off the scale in that regard.
2. We (Brits) think we’ve got it right and anyone who doesn’t do it our way has got it wrong (because we’re British and we invented the game).
3. We (Brits) are exactly as the world portrays us - we’re reserved, insular, exclusive, arrogant and pompous.

So what and what’s that got to do with the 3 ball / 4 ball format?

The reason we play 3 balls is because we (as opposed to the rest of the world) have the CONGU handicap system which requires that only ‘qualifying’ competitions are used o calculate the handicap. And for some reason I don’t quite understand medal and ‘qualifying’ are synonymous to HC committees. We consequently have formed a culture where golf is all about a ‘test’ and true golfers are those who want to grit their teeth and continually test themselves in a solitary quest of discovery – man, club and ball against the course. Well one third of us do as two thirds of the members never play in a qualifying competition (according to our HC secretary)!!

OK I’m coming to it – so what’s that got to do with 3 ball / 4 ball format?

The two thirds that don’t play in ‘qualifying’ comps are playing their regular social 4 ball better ball game with their mates who they play with every other day of every week and have been for the past zillion years.

I’m a new member and I tip up on the first tee asking people if I can join them and I’ve had some funny looks and I’ve played with lots of guys who have never played with anybody else. I played with a guy the other week who was by himself and I told him this story and he said, “actually I’m one of them, I played with 3 other guys for years until they died off one by one and now I’m by myself.” I played today and I counted 5 single guys trudging around the course by themselves!!

Now I get to the point, what’s that got to do with 3 ball / 4 ball format? If we had a culture which played 4 balls (as is the case in every other country not under British influence) there is always three guys looking for someone to make up a four. So those guys trudging around by themselves (which often includes me) put their name in the pro shop and get regular calls to make up a 4.

So the significant ramification of the CONGU handicap system is the culture of the 3 ball game which in turn results in factions/cliques and exclusivity (as opposed to inclusivity). And why will nothing change – because we’re British and all of 1-3 above.

The CONGU handicaps system is an abomination and for the sake of the life of golf in the UK, should be scrapped.

 

[Pedro_Wedgitos]

surely this is equally true for three balls as pairs will be looking for a third?

 

[balaclava]

surely this is equally true for three balls as pairs will be looking for a third?

No - because (in my (limited) experience) 3 balls don't play 'side' competitions and if they did it would be an individual competition not a 'better ball.'

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The ramifications of the 3 ball / 4 ball game are significant.

First you should know a couple of things that I believe to be true.

1. People don’t like change and the British are off the scale in that regard.
2. We (Brits) think we’ve got it right and anyone who doesn’t do it our way has got it wrong (because we’re British and we invented the game).
3. We (Brits) are exactly as the world portrays us - we’re reserved, insular, exclusive, arrogant and pompous.

So what and what’s that got to do with the 3 ball / 4 ball format?

The reason we play 3 balls is because we (as opposed to the rest of the world) have the CONGU handicap system which requires that only ‘qualifying’ competitions are used o calculate the handicap. And for some reason I don’t quite understand medal and ‘qualifying’ are synonymous to HC committees. We consequently have formed a culture where golf is all about a ‘test’ and true golfers are those who want to grit their teeth and continually test themselves in a solitary quest of discovery – man, club and ball against the course. Well one third of us do as two thirds of the members never play in a qualifying competition (according to our HC secretary)!!

OK I’m coming to it – so what’s that got to do with 3 ball / 4 ball format?

The two thirds that don’t play in ‘qualifying’ comps are playing their regular social 4 ball better ball game with their mates who they play with every other day of every week and have been for the past zillion years.

I’m a new member and I tip up on the first tee asking people if I can join them and I’ve had some funny looks and I’ve played with lots of guys who have never played with anybody else. I played with a guy the other week who was by himself and I told him this story and he said, “actually I’m one of them, I played with 3 other guys for years until they died off one by one and now I’m by myself.” I played today and I counted 5 single guys trudging around the course by themselves!!

Now I get to the point, what’s that got to do with 3 ball / 4 ball format? If we had a culture which played 4 balls (as is the case in every other country not under British influence) there is always three guys looking for someone to make up a four. So those guys trudging around by themselves (which often includes me) put their name in the pro shop and get regular calls to make up a 4.

So the significant ramification of the CONGU handicap system is the culture of the 3 ball game which in turn results in factions/cliques and exclusivity (as opposed to inclusivity). And why will nothing change – because we’re British and all of 1-3 above.

The CONGU handicaps system is an abomination and for the sake of the life of golf in the UK, should be scrapped.

Utter twaddle. What has a handicap system got to do with whether a competition round is played as a 3 or a 4. I accept that there are those that don't enter medals as they find the format too difficult and prefer the stableford events where one bad hole isn't the end of the round. The point is they are still putting cards in and having there handicaps assessed. I don't really want to take this of thread as handicapping systems is a whole new topic other than to say I'd resent having to put a card in every weekend if I'm just out with a couple of mates for a laugh and a few side bets

 

[Earl]

Well congrats on the length of the post one of the longest i have seen hope you have a good typing speed, I think you prefer 4 balls but i might be wrong !

 

[USER1999]

At my last club there was a comp every weekend, we played in 4s, I put 50 odd cards in a year, and played off 12. For 13 years.

At my current club, I play in about 20 comps a year, due to various circumstances, and guess what, I have played off 12 for about 8 years here too.

It doesn't make any difference how many cards you put in. It averages out. It is the way it is.

All medals are stableford. Anything more than a double doesn't count towards h/cap.

Don't see the problem.