Share your own competition formats--I have one to start

[Aguirre]

Just thought I'd share this with you guys.  We did this cup style format for a few years before kids and a couple of guys moving sort of broke the whole thing up.  But we had a great time.

1.  We always had eight players (although you could do it with any number of combinations of four easily).  Make sure everybody knows that they kind of have to show up, or it messes up the whole competition.  Have back ups if necessary.  Threaten lives if they don't cancel early, etc.  Four players (or however many is necessary depending on the number of players) per team.

2. 36 holes, switching partners after each nine.  This usually isn't a problem at most courses, as there is often a mild back-up at the turn.  Whatever the case, make sure that when somebody is switching from the last foursome to the first, that the first foursome off catch up to the group in front of them as soon as possible.

3. There are four sessions of nine hole match play. The first three nine hole sessions are team events, so there are two points available for each.  The final nine hole session is singles, so four points available plus the previous rounds equals ten possible team points.  Five for the retention/draw, five and a half for the win.

4. The first nine is two man best ball.  It's best to start out with everyone using their own ball, so they can get into the rhythm of the round.  The second nine is two man scramble.  The third nine is alternate shot.  And the fourth nine, as previously mentioned, is singles match play.

5. When using handicaps, the USGA has a chart for two man scrambles.

6. One stipulation that we had was that everybody in the first three rounds on each team much switch partners, so that everybody on your team plays together.

7. Another fun thing we did a couple of the years was to have the captains and whoever could make it grab a few beers and do the pairings live, like they do in the President's Cup.  You alternate who gets to choose first.  There was definitely some trash talking during this part, as some of us (definitely including me) matched certain twosomes or singles players against others.

Anyway, share yours if you have one.