MATCHPLAY SHOTS

alexgolf

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Aug 22, 2009
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Hi All

Does anyone have an answer to this.

If your match goes into sudden death, why do you still have to give shots??

A round of golf consists of 18 HOLES according to the
R O G. Once you have had the shots, that should be it to my mind.

Can anyone enlighten me??

Hope all ok on GM FORUM land
 
Great when your receiving them and a pain when you're giving them away in extra time. In theory the extra holes could go on and on and its designed to give the highe handicapper an equal opportunity to continue to compete on a level playing field
 
It because your basically starting new round after every 18 holes (could last forever??) and it gives the higher handicappers more of a chance. If that makes sense?
 
Good question. I am not sure but i would say that the shots are per round of golf. Therefore if your first play off hole was stroke index one I would expect the higher handicapper to be given a shot.
Will be interested to see a pro's view on this though.
 
Technically you shouldn't have low SI holes at the start of the round. Unless you're giving loads of shots away the first 2 or 3 holes may be scratch.
 
Technically you shouldn't have low SI holes at the start of the round. Unless you're giving loads of shots away the first 2 or 3 holes may be scratch.

Correct in theory Imurg, unfortunately stroke 11 for our 1st hole and stroke 8 on the 2nd (combined yardage of about 430yds!!) gives the high h'capper a real head start at our club........ damn them!! :D
 
Technically you shouldn't have low SI holes at the start of the round.


I'm not questioning you personally, but can you tell me why that's the case? It's like saying you can have a hard hole first, is that right?
 
Theoretically, matchplay could run another 18 holes so shots do need to be given otherwise the low handicapper would have the odds stacked in their favour.
 
Technically you shouldn't have low SI holes at the start of the round.


I'm not questioning you personally, but can you tell me why that's the case? It's like saying you can have a hard hole first, is that right?

Stroke index is not strictly given because of the the holes difficuty. Stroke index 1 and 2 are usually near the middle of the front and back nines.
Likewise index difficulty 1,2,3 and 4 will not be on holes 1,2,17,18.

There are guide lines for this.
 
"not strictly....an indicator of difficulty"

I'm even more confused now. I dont think im cut out to understand all the rules and rationale of this game
 
All of the above is correct according to the rules etc.

Unfortunatly as several other points in the rules it doesnt make any sense.

The point about the playoff going to possibly another 18 holes and so unfair to the high handicapper is correct but so what.

If the higher handicapper cant get the job done with all the advantage for the previous 18 holes then that should be it.

The move to full difference has been illogical as well.

O well.

Thanks to all that have contributed
 
Sorry Rick, but if you take time to read and understand the rules, they do make sense.

Regarding matchplay, the reason that the stroke indexes don't necessarily reflect the difficulty of the hole IS for matchplay reasons.

Imagine the scenario where you get only 1 shot off your opponent. If that was on the 18th, the match could be over by the time you get to take your shot.

Conversely, if the 1st was index 1 then you would immediately get the advantage and again if the match went into extra time. This is why there is a seemingly complex set of recommendations as to how the indexes are allocated.

Some courses actually have different stroke indexes for matchplay and strokeplay/stableford games.

The change to full difference on handicap in singles matchplay rather than 3/4 makes complete sense and in fact may not go far enough. I'm not quite sure now of the exact figures but under the 3/4 difference the advantage for the lower h/capper over the higher h/capper was in the region of 60/40. Under full difference this has been reduced to about 55/45 - still to the lower h/cappers advantage.
 
It's an interesting q?

I agree a matchplay could go on forever (in theory), so shots need to be given again.

However, it would be grim to lose on the first because the lesser player gets a shot and you both make the same score....
 
PS, at one of my courses, the S.I. 1 is the shortest par 4.
Why?....for matchplay reasons.....it ought to be the easiest hole for the better play to birdie/par as opposed to an "easy" bogey for the less good player.
 
All of the above is correct according to the rules etc.

Unfortunatly as several other points in the rules it doesnt make any sense.

The point about the playoff going to possibly another 18 holes and so unfair to the high handicapper is correct but so what.

If the higher handicapper cant get the job done with all the advantage for the previous 18 holes then that should be it.

The move to full difference has been illogical as well.

O well.

Thanks to all that have contributed

you have a strange idea of the purpose of handicap. it isn't to 'give the high handicapper an advantage' it's <u>intended</u> to equalise it for both players.
It doesn't as the low handicapper should still win in a one-on-one contest - so why didn't 'he' get it done in one round. Anyway if the handicap is based on 18 holes, why should the lower get a further advantage over all extra holes?
It's only where there are a lot of high-handicappers competing that the odds shift to there being a better chance of <u>one</u> high handicapper scoring well.
 
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