Matchplay Handicap Question

[Bluenoser67]

Here is the question:

I'm a scratch handicap I want to play a matchplay against the other three guys in my foursome. The best score from the three of them vs my score on each hole.

there Handicaps are 12, 14, and 24.

How many strokes do I have to give them.

[n3xt]

Nice Challenge. Play them net. Each player gets the strokes for his handicap compared to your scratch score. Assuming you are talking Course Handicaps vs Index, you give player A 12 strokes, player B 14 strokes, and player C 24 strokes. Allocate them to the holes accordingly and you should have yourself a great match of 3 on 1.

[tjy355]

Whoever has the lowest net score wins the hole.

Not sure that is particularly fair, because in theory, giving strokes by handicap would supposedly level the field, however - you will be playing three against one! (three chances to get a net par on each hole). So you might have to throw some other twist in there.

[Bluenoser67]

Whoever has the lowest net score wins the hole.

Yeah thats my problem. Its unlikely that I will ever win with a level field and 3 to one odds. There must be a way to even it so I have a chance at least. Based on the above assumption and if we all have a average game I should only win 25% of the holes and lose by a landslide.

The way I see it if I played the best guy the 12 handicap I would have to give him 12 strokes. So now if I add 2 more guys to his side (albeit lesser players) I should have to give the three of them less than those 12 strokes. But how many?

[Craig Mac]

Had the same problem with my foursome, they were all much higher handicaps than me and I ended up giving them strokes and hated the 3 on 1 it always ended up being. So I gave them each 6 strokes on different holes, the worst player got the 6 hardest, the other two split the next 12 with one getting the even and the other getting the odd numbered handicap holes. that way they each had their own advantage and I didn't feel it was them against me on the stroke holes. my $.02

[NM Golf]

Nice Challenge. Play them net. Each player gets the strokes for his handicap compared to your scratch score. Assuming you are talking Course Handicaps vs Index, you give player A 12 strokes, player B 14 strokes, and player C 24 strokes. Allocate them to the holes accordingly and you should have yourself a great match of 3 on 1.

I would give them half maybe. You cannot beat them giving them their full handicaps, no way. Nothing beats strokes. Thats why in net tournaments the higher the handicaps in the flight the lower the winning score.

[sacm3bill]

Seems like the only true way to play "you vs them" is to give them their full handicaps. Yeah, it's 3x harder to win the hole, but it *is* 3 against 1 after all. If it wasn't 3 against 1, then it wouldn't be "you vs them", see what I'm saying?

If you want a fair fight, skins (need to have outright lowest net score to win the hole) with full handicaps is pretty fun.

[RemyM]

I would give them 90% of their handicap. That is the allowance for Four-Ball Match Play vs. Par which is the closest game to what you will be doing.