Golf weekend away with no h/c - how to play stableford?

[dufferman]

I'm off on the annual golf weekend next week. Only 6 of us this year, 3 with no handicaps. 2 rounds. Stableford preferred.

I'm always tasked with the handicaps & scoring. It's tough. Please 3 guys with no handicaps who want a shot (there's a trophy involved!) at winning, but don't make the handicaps up so the guys with real handicaps don't have a hope.

I've seen the "System 36" scoring... a bit complicated:

The player would be awarded on the first day:-

Double bogey or worse - 0 points
Bogey - 1 point
Par or better - 2 points

Their total points from 18 holes will then be deducted from 36 to give them their handicap for the day.

That handicap can then be deducted from their gross score to give the nett score. Work out Stableford points from there.

Any other (maybe less complicated) ideas?

 

[Capella]

How about just asking them what they normally shoot on an 18 hole round? Even if they don't have a handicap, I assume they do play once in a while?

 

[duncan mackie]

It's an art, not a science, in such situations.

They must play of something when they play at all so start with that. If going Capella's route of what do you usually go round in then you will need to make an adjustment to come up with an appropriate stableford handicap eg score - par x 85% rounded up. This makes a very rough allowance for stableford adjustment etc

Just come up with something and don't dwell on it ie don't endlessly debate handicaps - golf weekends become dire when this happens.

 

[Hobbit]

Try and give the 3 non-handicap guys a realistic handicap for round 1. Reassess after the first round, including cutting the established guys so that everyone is still playing for something in round 2.

Good luck... there's no nailed on formula for this.

 

[calluma11]

Was in a similar boat for a tournament I recently arranged between a group of friends - for a trophy. Stokeplay event however.

We fortunately had, at least, a list of 3/4 scores from a local 9 holes course we play together. So I averaged this, doubled it and added a few strokes (because they weren't used to playing a trickier 18 hole course I thought they'd struggle mentally and physically towards the end, gave them a chance)

We're talking about me having 22 shots and giving them 12, 15 and 28 shots ON ME. So high handicaps for them. It did work very well however, and i'd say it was pretty level. I ended up winning on countback so at least one of the handicaps was well calculated haha.

Once you've got the first day out the way you have a better idea for the second day and can re-adjust accordingly.

Hope it goes well, good luck
Callum

 

[Curls]

How about playing foursomes with 3 teams, handicap+non handicap. You could all play in one group and get 2 games in in a day, switching teams around in the afternoon. Based on folks performance the day before assign the non-handicap players a nominal h/c and may the best man win the Sunday trophy.

 

[dufferman]

How about playing foursomes with 3 teams, handicap+non handicap. You could all play in one group and get 2 games in in a day, switching teams around in the afternoon. Based on folks performance the day before assign the non-handicap players a nominal h/c and may the best man win the Sunday trophy.

It sounds good, but unfortunately the trophy we play for is for individuals!

 

[Curls]

It sounds good, but unfortunately the trophy we play for is for individuals!

Yeah you play for that on Sunday, individual Stableford with the handicaps agreed upon by observing foursomes play the day before. I think foursomes is good because if someone is woeful you can pair them with someone good and they can still enjoy the competition.

 

[Captainron]

Get them all on the range and have a small competition to hit some targets on the range. Make out as if it's a pre tournament warm up. You can then get a feel for how someone plays and have a better idea of the handicaps they could be awarded

 

[garyinderry]

Simple. Ask them what they think they should play off then take a few shots off.