Medal Division's

[Deleted member 15344]

How many clubs still have their medal comps in divisions ?

We got rid of them a couple years back to have prizes for the overall medal top 6

We still get the odd people asking me to print the divisions splits even though there is no prizes for the split divisions and have done it a few times but now have also stopped that

 

[fundy]

Ours are still done in 3 divisions, some recently wanted it extended to 4 divisions!

 

[williamalex1]

We have 3 divisions plus scratch.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We still have divisions. A lot of the higher handicappers prefer it as they are playing against their peers and so there's still a chance to pick up a voucher for second or third even if someone comes in with a great and winning score.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

For the medals we have 2 divisions 0-12 then 13-28

The board comps are different splits dependant on handicap restrictions for the comp.

 

[mchacker]

We have two but I've no idea how they're split. One week in July I won div. 1, next week I was in div. 2 off a lower handicap?

 

[Father_Ted]

Having divisions stops most of the bitching from cat 1s about not being able to win a medal because of an exceptional score by a mid to high handicapper

 

[NWJocko]

3 Divisions for us, 0-10, 10-18 and 18+ I think.

 

[IanG]

Two divisions 0-12 and 13 upwards.

 

[tugglesf239]

We do also

 

[ger147]

We still have divisions, 2 or 3 depending on the number of entries.

 

[Sir Scoop-A-Lot]

We dont have divisions anymore. I actually feel as a high handicapper it makes it more competitive. Obviously some of the lower handicappers feel a little cheated when one of us higher ones comes through with a one off great round to win.

That may be because a lot of the old boys deliberately keep their handicaps up and only play 1 or 2 comps a year to ensure they keep it. Gives a bad name for those of us genuinely trying to lower ours. But that's a story for another thread!

 

[sawtooth]

We still have divisions but we went from 3 to 2 due to dwindling numbers.

0-13 Div 1 and >14 Div 2.

 

[duncan mackie]

so much will depend on the size of fields, and the related entries from various handicap categories.

if you have a total field around 60 and less with most players in cat2/3 then divisions don't make a huge amount of sense - but double the field with, say, 30 cat 1 entries and 30 cat 4 and there is an implied equity to it.

we don't have any, in any competitions, and haven't done for some time. we constantly assess the results against anything that divisions would add and haven't found any benefits yet ie the winning handicaps overall almost exactly reflect the distribution of entries weighted slightly to the lower end (as delivered by the underlying handicap system itself). This is all comps - medals show an increased weighting to the lower handicaps - stablefords a corresponding reduction in the weighting ie they more closely match distribution (as you would expect)

 

[Fyldewhite]

We have qualifiers for 4 weeks followed by a final and have 3 divisions in the qualifying rounds (0-10, 11-15, 16+) to ensure a more even distribution of handicaps in finals (we have no prizes for qualifiers). Did some research a few years back and found it wouldn't actually make much difference to have no divisions. So, in reality it makes little difference (which it shouldn't if the handicap system works!), but the perception is that it's fairer. so we left it as it has always been.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Once you get over 20 people in a comp it is worth splitting it into divisions.

Not splitting it is going backwards IMO, divisions add a nice little bit of competition for everyone and ensures the buzz of competitive play can be shared around.

 

[duncan mackie]

Once you get over 20 people in a comp it is worth splitting it into divisions.

Not splitting it is going backwards IMO, divisions add a nice little bit of competition for everyone and ensures the buzz of competitive play can be shared around.

I'm afraid I can't see any logic in this as set out. On the basis that you have either a fixed total of prizes, or a percentage of the players, by splitting it into smaller prize groups you increase the probability that a player who performs well will not get rewarded. He might think he has a better chance (as both posts #14 & #15 reference) but in practice they become significantly reduced.

 

[needmoreclub]

I'm afraid I can't see any logic in this as set out. On the basis that you have either a fixed total of prizes, or a percentage of the players, by splitting it into smaller prize groups you increase the probability that a player who performs well will not get rewarded. He might think he has a better chance (as both posts #14 & #15 reference) but in practice they become significantly reduced.

This.
Due to dwindling numbers we are down to one division, makes it worth my while as match sec paying out 3 prizes of decent amounts instead of 6 prizes for two divisions made up of £3 etc, we had to change the two's format as well due to paying out very small amounts. Members seem very happy with it.

 

[GB72]

Wish we had divisions but they only appear in a few comps (normally board comps with separate trophies for each division). Despite the fact that we have a pretty high number of entrants to every comp, I cannot see the club paying out 3 times the money to reward 1st, 2nd and 3rd in 3 divisions.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I'm afraid I can't see any logic in this as set out. On the basis that you have either a fixed total of prizes, or a percentage of the players, by splitting it into smaller prize groups you increase the probability that a player who performs well will not get rewarded. He might think he has a better chance (as both posts #14 & #15 reference) but in practice they become significantly reduced.

I supposed I am spoilt by my first club, we had two very fun divisions. I prefer the multiple division format and support its use as long as you have a decent number of entrants. Its not about the chance of winning, its about ensuring everyone feels a buzz of competition.

I know the struggle of the mid handicapper, we are either the lowest handicap of one division or the highest of another. When we are the lowest we have to contend with high handicappers having a good day, when in the other division we are not usually consistent enough to compete.

Having said all that I support the system because it usually benefits the majority. A single division just caters to the hot shots and "Fast Improving" golfers week in week out.