2-man Ambrose V 1-man Playing Best of 2 Balls

[trapper2000]

Hi Folks.

Just curious to have some thoughts on this

Who would win? Is it fair?

How could you make it fair if not?

Cheers

[dennyjones]

Welcome to TST.   We're glad you've joined.

 

What are the skill levels of the players?  Handicaps included?  I would have to say that I believe the 2 person team would have an advantage over the single.  

I'm sure you'll get a better and more thorough response from other members.  

 

Again, thanks for joining

 

 

[DaveP043]

This reminded me of a (fictional) book I read about a golf hustler.  One game he used was to play against a good player.  he'd play his own ball straight up, the other guy was allowed to play the best of 4 attempts, similar to your scenario, but with double the chances.  The other guy got ahead early, but was exhausted after 8 or 10 holes of hitting 4 drives, 4 approaches, etc., on every hole.  Again, this was fiction, but it has a ring of truth to it.  So in your scenario, I'd wonder whether a single player taking two attempts at each and every shot would get pretty fatigued before the end of the round.  With a little self-control, taking a second try only when there was real improvement available, he might do really well.  

[iacas]

Four shots? And if one of them is good, do you really keep hitting more? Even if you hit all four, since it's basically a four-person scramble… but even better since you can learn directly from previous shots, that's gonna be like 120 full swings.

I'd go pretty high in the handicap range against a Tour player (assuming it's a typical 7000 yard course or shorter) given four attempts.

[trapper2000]

Cheers for comments :)

Say they are all 18 handicappers.

[gbogey]

I'm confused - the team of two is playing a scramble but the single player is playing best of two balls or is he playing a one man scramble with two shots?

If the single is best of two balls, then I'd bet on the pair playing a scramble everytime.

If it's a two man scramble versus a single person scramble, I'd take the single, at least until fatigue was a factor. Give a regular play two shots and I think he is going to play better than the other two guys. That said, probably works better for the solo for 9 holes than 18. If the solo was smart and self aware of his game, and many of us are not as aware as we should be, he would conserve his energy and not play a second swing after a good shot.

 

[trapper2000]

Cheers gbogey. The single player can hit 2 balls every shot and take the best ball, and then hit 2 balls from that spot, so your second scenario...

[gbogey]

39 minutes ago, trapper2000 said:

Cheers gbogey. The single player can hit 2 balls every shot and take the best ball, and then hit 2 balls from that spot, so your second scenario...

In that case I double down on my comments - I'll take the single guy and I know if I'm in that match against two similar players I'm pretty confident that I'm the favorite.

[trapper2000]

Yeah, I have a similar view. I was in the team of 2 and we got down 5 after 5. Get 1 pt if win the hole - whatever that game is called. We lost it 3 down with 2 to play so almost saved it.

After the first hole when the single did a putt, then dropped a second ball, made a slight adjustment and sunk it, we thought it wasn't right.

We couldn't do anything with handicaps etc so we just made them wait between putts - usually just one of us to putt.

We were a 23 and 25 handicappers (probably playing to about 28) and the single was a 16 handicapper, but somehow had a HC of 20 (so that is 1 HC pt already).

In terms of making it fair, and changing HC (HC1 + HC2 / 4), I think maybe adding 2 HCs to the double (or taking 2 HC off the single (after the adding and div by 4) might make it fair.

Also maybe making a rule that the single couldn't change clubs for the second hit.

Hard to say from that one game but possibly:

- 2 shot HC adding

- can't change clubs for second shot

- need to have other team putt in between their 2 putts

 

Not sure. Do you think you'd still win or have these rules made it unfair the other way? Cheers for thoughts..

 

Edited November 13, 2024 by trapper2000

[trapper2000]

..maybe 1 shot HC change might be a good starting point..

[Carl3]

On 11/4/2024 at 9:34 AM, DaveP043 said:

This reminded me of a (fictional) book I read about a golf hustler.  One game he used was to play against a good player.  he'd play his own ball straight up, the other guy was allowed to play the best of 4 attempts, similar to your scenario, but with double the chances.  The other guy got ahead early, but was exhausted after 8 or 10 holes of hitting 4 drives, 4 approaches, etc., on every hole.  Again, this was fiction, but it has a ring of truth to it.  So in your scenario, I'd wonder whether a single player taking two attempts at each and every shot would get pretty fatigued before the end of the round.  With a little self-control, taking a second try only when there was real improvement available, he might do really well.  

I hope you can remember the name of the book and author. I need to read it as it sounds fascinating🤣

[Carl3]

On 11/4/2024 at 10:22 AM, iacas said:

Four shots? And if one of them is good, do you really keep hitting more? Even if you hit all four, since it's basically a four-person scramble… but even better since you can learn directly from previous shots, that's gonna be like 120 full swings.

I'd go pretty high in the handicap range against a Tour player (assuming it's a typical 7000 yard course or shorter) given four attempts.

I played in a scramble that got rained out. The day was forecast for rain and my 3 partners bailed. I went anyway as I took the day off and did not feel like going to work. Not sure how many groups showed up, but I was assured that I could hit all four shots if I wanted. Long story short: I played 13 holes and was nine under with a couple holes at the end where I was having trouble hanging on to the club due to the rain.

If I hit a drive that I deemed acceptable I did not hit another. I probably only took 3 or 4 mulligan tee shots on par 4 and 5 holes. Approach shots I probably hit at least two sometimes 3. I don't recall missing a GIR. Once on the putting surface is where I shined with 4 attempts. I was amazed at how successful I was on these long putts when I had 4 balls sitting there and then hit them in quick succession. One would go high, then one a little low and then the third or fourth would often drop.

I "won" the event and got some nice prizes. I was a bit embarrassed by it all.

[Vinsk]

Four shanks in a row would wear me out soon.