What is this playing format called?

[albatross]

We're playing in a bachelor party/golf outing tomorrow and we should have around 10 guys.

We were thinking of playing 2 man teams and playing 6 holes scramble, 6 holes alternate shot, and 6 holes best ball. Is there an official name to this game?

It's kind of like Ryder Cup format but with the scramble thrown in there.

What is this called?

[Slim 11]

Isn't scramble and best ball the same thing?

I don't think there is an official name for this. Just a mixture of games. Sounds fun but I would go with 6 holes of scramble (or best ball since I think they are the same), 6 holes of alternate shot and 6 holes of worst ball.

[saltman]

Isn't scramble and best ball the same thing?

Best Ball = Best Score per hole

[Slim 11]

Best Ball = Best Score per hole

Got it! That makes sense. I forgot about that for some reason.

I still think worst ball would be more fun, put a bit of pressure on the lesser players. All the other formats lend themselves to one player bailing the team out all of the time (depending on the various skill levels) except for alternate shot (to a degree).

[NotAStick]

Got it! That makes sense. I forgot about that for some reason.

Actually, a scramble is more prone to having a good player bail out the team, provided that you're playing with handicaps.

Playing without handicaps just isn't fair if your players aren't similar skill, no matter what the game. Playing with handicaps, your 25 handicapper occassionally puts up a par on a 2-stroke hole for a net eagle. Usually those are also the hardest holes on the course and your scratch golfer is not likely to birdie, let alone eagle, so the worse player bails out the team. That's why we use handicaps. Those net eagles tend to make up for the 8 he took on a par 3 with only one stroke.

[tjy355]

We're playing in a bachelor party/golf outing tomorrow and we should have around 10 guys.

They had an event with this format at my club and they called it "The Nightmare." Don't think that is the official name lol.

Isn't scramble and best ball the same thing?

A misconception that is quite common.

[Slim 11]

Actually, a scramble is more prone to having a good player bail out the team, provided that you're playing with handicaps.

If you use handicaps, I agree. However, in most "pickup" outings like this (and most scrambles I have been involved in) handicaps are never figured in.

[alf174]

Yep, use handicaps and pair up based on anti-handicaps.

" The anti-handicap formula is similar to the handicap formula:
1. Determine your worst 10 differentials. (A differential is score minus Course Rating, multiplied by 113 over course Slope Rating.)
2. Add those 10 together.
3. Multiply by .096.
(A less precise method is to add your 10 worst scores and multiply by .096.)

If you have a relatively low anti-handicap, says Knuth, your optimum partner should have a high anti-handicap. Let's say your Handicap Index is also low, a 6. Look for a higher-handicapper, an 18, say--because he's getting lots of strokes--but find one who's more erratic than you are. (Note: USGA recommends that clubs make an additional 10% reduction of the handicaps on teams where the difference in handicap is greater than 8 strokes, otherwise the teams will have an unfair advantage.) Why? Because often his rounds resemble his collection of scores. He'll "blow" holes about as often as he does whole rounds. On the holes he doesn't blow, he'll carry you. "It turns out that Wild Willie and Steady Eddie make pretty good partners," says Knuth. "

[Jay-Bird]

2 man 6-6-6

[AmenCorner]

2 man 6-6-6

Yep, I was going to say "sixes" with different formats.

By the way, I suggest deviating from alternate shot, or at least doing a variation of it where both players tee off and then alternate. (Scottish?). Anyways, alternate can be brutal, trust me.

[Bigacito]

I vote for Bingo, Bango, Bongo. We play that around here and it is a lot of fun for golfers of different skill levels. Though the best golfer insisted we add the Boo-yah, which also gives a point to the golfer with the lowest score on the hole.