Looking for some fun golf formats to trial this summer?
Quick 9 takes a look at some of the formats that you could incorporate into your rounds in 2019…
Fun golf formats: Skins
Skins is determined on the value set by the players on each hole.
Players go head-to-head in a type of match play in which each individual hole has a set value. The player who wins the hole is said to win the “skin,” and whatever that skin is worth.
Skins games are often more dramatic than standard match play because holes cannot be halved. When players tie on a hole, the value of that hole is carried over to the next one. The more ties, the greater the value of the skin and the bigger the eventual payoff.
For example, a skins game might be played for £1 per hole. If three holes in a row are played without a winner, then the fourth hole is worth £4.
Fun golf formats: Snake
This is one for the players that enjoy placing a bet during a round of golf.
Snake is all about avoiding three putts. If you are the last person in the group to commit a three putt during the round you’re in trouble.
The game follows some basic rules:
- Your group agrees before the round how much the bet is worth
- The first player to three putt owns “the snake”
- They hold it until the next person three putts
- The person holding the snake at the end of the round owes the other golfers in the group the agreed amount
There are two ways to determine how much the payout is at the end of the round. The first is to simply name the price of the entire bet e.g. you agreed the bet is worth £5 so at the end of the round the player holding the snake owes each player in the group £5.
However, there is a different version where the amount double each time there is a three putt e.g. the starting bet begins at £1 and if the snake is passed eight times it means the winner eventually pays out £256 in total!
Fun golf formats: Cha-Cha-Cha
In the 4-Man Cha Cha Cha tournament format, each member of the team plays their ball throughout the round. However, a three hole rotation exists for determining how many scores are used to create the team score.
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On the first hole, the one low ball counts as the team score. On the second hole, the two low balls count as the team score and then onn the third hole, the three low balls count as the team score.
The rotation starts over on the fourth hole.
Fun golf formats: Bingo-Bango-Bongo
In Bingo-Bango-Bongo, three types of achievements are rewarded with a point. The first player in a group to get his ball on the green gets a point (bingo). The player in the group whose ball is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green gets a point (bango). The player in the group who is first to hole out gets a point (bongo).
Fun golf formats: Chapman (Pinehurst)
When the Chapman System is the format for a tournament then it means two person teams will be competition against each other.
Chapman is really, is just several formats rolled into one. Teammates switch balls after their tee shots, select the one best ball after their second shots and then play alternate shots until the ball is holed.
Fun golf formats: Ghost
The Ghost format requires three players to play out a fourball betterball match with an imaginary player.
One player is selected to play with the Ghost who plays off scratch and gives shots to every other player in the group as normal.
The Ghost pars every hole so the best way to play this format is to have the highest handicapper play with the Ghost.
Fun golf formats: Coloured Ball
Coloured ball is played by a four person team and every player plays the hole with their own ball, but on each hole, one player plays the coloured ball.
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The coloured ball rotates among the team members on each hole: A plays it on hole 1, B plays it on hole 2 etc.
The team score is the total of the score from the coloured ball plus the lowest score of the other 3 balls played.
Fun golf formats: Split Sixes
During Split Sixes there are six points up for grabs on each hole.
If a player wins the hole outright then they receive four points, the second best score gets two points and the third zero.
However, if one person won the hole and the other two halved then it would be 4-1-1. If two players halve but beat the third then it is 3-3-0. You get the picture.
You don’t need a maths degree and can be tactical near the end.
Fun golf formats: Daytona
If you like to play golf with added risk then you’ll love this format.
Each team of two put their scores together, so if they both had fours the score is 44. If the scores were different then the scoring depends on how you fared to par.
If one of you got a par or better you would take the lower score first. For example a four and a six on a par 5 scores 46. If you are both above par, say on a par four, then you take the higher score is put first giving you 64.
The lower total takes the money, but be prepared for some big swings.
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