Betterball Stableford Scores for Handicap

[Troymcclure]

Assuming all the criteria is met for a handicap adjustment (42 points etc.), if my partner holed out for say 4 points on a hole and I had a putt also for 4 points on same hole, am I right in thinking I’m to pick up as I can’t beat my partners score and I’ll be assigned only 1.5 points for handicap purposes?

 

[D-S]

Assuming all the criteria is met for a handicap adjustment (42 points etc.), if my partner holed out for say 4 points on a hole and I had a putt also for 4 points on same hole, am I right in thinking I’m to pick up as I can’t beat my partners score and I’ll be assigned only 1.5 points for handicap purposes?

Yes, the guidance is that only one score per hole should be recorded however many people record all or most scores. It is allowed (encouraged?) for committees to sanction players who continually do this but this is a bit blurry and tricky for administrators to police. It should be clearer but it isn’t.

 

[Troymcclure]

Yes, the guidance is that only one score per hole should be recorded however many people record all or most scores. It is allowed (encouraged?) for committees to sanction players who continually do this but this is a bit blurry and tricky for administrators to police. It should be clearer but it isn’t.

Thanks. Do you think if the guidance were to allow holing out for the same score as one’s partner, and in such cases both scores counted for handicap, more players would get cuts?

 

[D-S]

Thanks. Do you think if the guidance were to allow holing out for the same score as one’s partner, and in such cases both scores counted for handicap, more players would get cuts?

Yes probably but in one sense that’s not really playing Betterball.
The object is to get one good score per hole. If everyone treats it as getting the most points for themselves per hole, firstly it slows the game down and secondly it’s not how the game is supposed to be played.
If you had a putt or even a chip for 5 points (odd scenario I know) it is in the best team interests for you to try and hole it not worrying about the one back if you miss. If both scores are to count you should probably not take as much risk. One is better ball, the other is singles strokeplay.

 

[Steven Rules]

Four-Ball

Someone's got to say it

(With acknowledgement to rulefan.)

 

[Troymcclure]

The object is to get one good score per hole. If everyone treats it as getting the most points for themselves per hole, firstly it slows the game down and secondly it’s not how the game is supposed to be played.

Yes but isn’t the object of any game that qualifies for handicap adjustments to play as well as one can to handicap? In fact to not do so is considered manipulation.

So dual objectives that completely conflict. Dumb, no?

 

[NearHull]

Yes but isn’t the object of any game that qualifies for handicap adjustments to play as well as one can to handicap? In fact to not do so is considered manipulation.

So dual objectives that completely conflict. Dumb, no?

I think all on here agree that the 4BBB scoring for handicap is a bit if a compromise. Opinions vary between a ‘total lash up’ to ‘ reasonable assessment ‘ and all points in between.
Overall , I’ll accept the compromise because it does help regulate handicaps for those players who play a lot of team games.

 

[Troymcclure]

I think all on here agree that the 4BBB scoring for handicap is a bit if a compromise. Opinions vary between a ‘total lash up’ to ‘ reasonable assessment ‘ and all points in between.
Overall , I’ll accept the compromise because it does help regulate handicaps for those players who play a lot of team games.

So assuming I guess correctly that the number of times a partner would be playing one additional shot in the hope of matching their partner’s score would be so few that pace of play is not unduly hindered, I think an additional “compromise” of awarding the same points seems fairer.

At the same time i hear the argument that the object of the game is to win the hole and that has already occurred. Also, a Rule describing the one scenario where it’s acceptable to hole out when the Team’s score can’t be beaten would be unnecessarily confusing?

I think my opinion sits somewhere between your 2 extremes

 

[D-S]

I don’t think of it (4BB) as a qualifying score for handicap, the only reason for having the ‘qualifying score methodology’ scaling up etc. is to attempt to adjust the handicaps of certain people who have a decent or a lot of decent rounds in team formats. Another way would be for their scores (home and away) to be collated and given to Handicap Committees to assess and adjust their indexes but this is a bit unscientific and liable to misinterpretation,
So to my mind people shouldn’t be entering scores in ways designed to improve their handicap, they should just play the game as it was intended to be played.

 

[NearHull]

I’ve just come across this picture on another website. I thought it appropriate for 4BBB Handicap submissions.

 

[Troymcclure]

I had no choice but to open that can as we played the format this weekend. Everyone looked to me for guidance as an interested student of all things handicap and frequenter of this forum.

I got the can open, but one or two worms stubbornly stuck to the bottom.

 

[Voyager EMH]

If your partner's ball is in the hole and you can not beat that score, then the hole is completed.

If you putt, you are doing so after the hole has been completed - your score should not be recorded. That is the format of the competition.

There is an exception to consider when there is a gross score prize in the competition.
Your partner may have putted out for a 5 nett 4, but if you have a putt for a 4, you should take it. Your score should then go on the card as it is the lowest score for that hole.

 

[Viewer]

If your partner's ball is in the hole and you can not beat that score, then the hole is completed.

If you putt, you are doing so after the hole has been completed - your score should not be recorded. That is the format of the competition.

There is an exception to consider when there is a gross score prize in the competition.
Your partner may have putted out for a 5 nett 4, but if you have a putt for a 4, you should take it. Your score should then go on the card as it is the lowest score for that hole.

I disagree….my score is my score and I’ll putt out and record it if I want to

 

[Voyager EMH]

I disagree….my score is my score and I’ll putt out and record it if I want to

You can submit one score only per hole - the better ball. That IS the format.

You can contrive to always putt out before your partner to maximise your chances of your score being the one recorded.
But this plan can be scuppered if your partner chips in or holes a full shot.
And it is mildly discourteous to the pair you are playing with, if you are causing unnecessary delay.
Presumably, one of the pair you are playing with will be marking your card. Asking them to record two scores on a hole or holes is also an unnecessary request.

 

[Viewer]

You can submit one score only per hole - the better ball. That IS the format.

You can contrive to always putt out before your partner to maximise your chances of your score being the one recorded.
But this plan can be scuppered if your partner chips in or holes a full shot.
And it is mildly discourteous to the pair you are playing with, if you are causing unnecessary delay.
Presumably, one of the pair you are playing with will be marking your card. Asking them to record two scores on a hole or holes is also an unnecessary request.

Just play golf and let the computer sort it out!

 

[Voyager EMH]

Just play golf and let the computer sort it out!

I agree.
The playing of betterball golf should be "just played" when playing betterball golf.