My hometown 9-hole course is in desperate need of an influx of energy and enthusiasm! I want to start a new league, event, tournament or fun-night that will cause some excitement that's unique and different. Being in northern Minnesota, our season is short and golf has trended into an after-thought and dropped on the list of priorities.
We already have a weekly Monday night match play league with 8 (4 man) teams, and a weekly Tuesday night (beer league) with 8 (6 man) teams. If my league was to work it cannot compete with these existing nights.
Our current membership is lacking of scratch golfers, so a league night would do better catering to the mid to high handicapper. It would also do better if it didn't require weekly attendance. Maybe a fun-night elimination game?
My initial thought is to have 10 players (2 fivesomes) and highest score on each hole is eliminated. Ties go to a putt-off. On holes 1-5 there is a chance at immunity (#1 longest drive, #2 closest to the pin, #3 longest putt, #4 closest to the pin, #5 longest drive). Players that are eliminated can continue to golf, but are not part of the game. Each player puts in $10 at the start with opportunities on holes 6, 7, 8 and 9 to "sweeten the pot" with unanimous votes. If there is not an even 10 players, the elimination holes would be delayed.
What other fun ideas do you have? An aspect to consider is that the course is not highly pressured, meaning that just about anytime we golf, speed of play is not a major disruption. Many of the golfers (including myself), are loyal to our individual existing league night, but that tends to be the only time any of us make it to the course, which is killing the course. Last year it was purchased by the city for pennies on the dollar and will die to the plow as farm land if it doesn't have some fun added.
