4BBB matchplay

[OldMate]

Hi all,

Probably a stupid question, but as I've not played this before I'm confused as to how hcaps are to work. We have our first round winter 4bbb matchplay this weekend. I am off 9 and my partner is off 12. We are playing a pair off 16 and 17 respectively. The comp sheet says that hcaps are "3/4 off the lowest hcap player". I've read around on the internet but there are quite a few interpretations floating around as to how this works and where shots are given. I've asked the comp organiser but am waiting to hear back. Can anyone clarify how this works, i.e. what we each play off and where shots are given/received?

Cheers

 

[fundy]

Everyone takes shots off you. Your partner gets 2 shots (SIs 1 and 2), the 16 hcapper gets 5 shots (SI 1 to 5) and the 17 hcapper gets 6 shots (SIs 1 to 6)

 

[chillicon]

You are the lowest handicap so the other players will get

Partner - 3/4 of (12-9) = 2.25, so 2 shots
Opp1 - 3/4 of (16-9) = 5.25, so 5 shots
Opp2 - 3/4 of (17-9) = 6, so 6 shots

The shots are given as per the stoke index holes.

And how have you played golf for long enough to be off 9 and never played 4bbb matchplay?!?!?!

 

[OldMate]

Thanks fundy, that seemed to be the overwhelming position on the net.

So essentially stroke index holes 3-6 are the main holes to worry about, where neither me nor my partner get a shot and one (or, on SI 6, both) of our opponents get a shot.

 

[OldMate]

You are the lowest handicap so the other players will get

Partner - 3/4 of (12-9) = 2.25, so 2 shots
Opp1 - 3/4 of (16-9) = 5.25, so 5 shots
Opp2 - 3/4 of (17-9) = 6, so 6 shots

The shots are given as per the stoke index holes.

And how have you played golf for long enough to be off 9 and never played 4bbb matchplay?!?!?!

Thanks Chilli, that's helpful.

I've played almost all of my golf in parts of the world where pairs matchplay was rare. I've played a bit of 4bbb but always stableford against the field, and all of my matchplay has been singles.

 

[CMAC]

Thanks fundy, that seemed to be the overwhelming position on the net.

So essentially stroke index holes 3-6 are the main holes to worry about, where neither me nor my partner get a shot and one (or, on SI 6, both) of our opponents get a shot.

you don't get a shot anywhere

 

[OldMate]

you don't get a shot anywhere

Correct, which is entirely consistent with what I wrote!

 

[CMAC]

Correct, which is entirely consistent with what I wrote!

oh dear, touch a nerve there mate

 

[OldMate]

oh dear, touch a nerve there mate

Nope, just confirming that I'm on the same page

 

[Tarkus1212]

What's most worrying is that you found any other interpretation than that given by Fundy & Chillicon

 

[Old Skier]

What I find weird is that a golfer with such a low handicap hasn't come across this format before.

 

[OldMate]

What's most worrying is that you found any other interpretation than that given by Fundy & Chillicon

Yep, I spotted some websites suggesting that it is played as the best stableford on each hole (with each player playing off 3/4 hcap).

 

[OldMate]

What I find weird is that a golfer with such a low handicap hasn't come across this format before.

I guess that we've both learnt something then (in your case, that having played 4bbb matchplay is not a prerequisite to playing golf to any particular standard). As explained above, it's not a common format where I come from.

I suspect you'll find by looking at the various questions on the rules section of the forum that a lot of us don't know all of the ins and outs of every rule/format in golf. In my case, that is why I turned to your very helpful selves for clarity rather than taking a guess or turning up on the first tee without a clue.

 

[Old Skier]

I fully appreciate that the UK is the only country that's big on 3/4 h/c comps so welcome and I hope you enjoy your golf in the UK.

 

[OldMate]

I fully appreciate that the UK is the only country that's big on 3/4 h/c comps so welcome and I hope you enjoy your golf in the UK.

Cheers

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What I find weird is that a golfer with such a low handicap hasn't come across this format before.

Not necessarily. Played with Ads749r in the first round of the winter knockout and somewhere around the 13th he suddenly informed me he was having a great time and had never played this format before and how interesting it was!

 

[Ads749r]

Not necessarily. Played with Ads749r in the first round of the winter knockout and somewhere around the 13th he suddenly informed me he was having a great time and had never played this format before and how interesting it was!

'Tis true. I was a better ball virgin. Now I'm fully broken in.