The Bender

[jimmythanut]

Ryder Cup style event needs your input

I've recently volunteered to set up a Ryder cup style event for a group of buddies. I'm hoping to get some feedback and ideas from all of you guys.
Let me begin by sharing what is known.
Total number of players = 16
Total number of teams = 2
Handicaps will range from +3 to 20+
Other than that, things are up in the air. I would really like to hear your guys thoughts on anything and everything.
For example,
Do we pick captains and have the two captains choose teams the night before or try to split teams up in advance.
What format would be most enjoyable for golfers with such a wide variety of handicaps?
What's the ideal number of rounds?
What type of gift would you most like (bag tag, polo)?
What other add-ons should be included? (buy mulligans, flag prizes etc...)
Please chime in here with any and all ideas. This novice golf tournament planner is in need of serious help.

[SFbaybum]

First, how many days are your 16 guys able to play in a row? Next, are you looking to play more than 18 in a day, like the real Ryder Cup?

It seems to me you need to try to split the teams so the cumulative handicaps on each team are as close to equal as possible so when setting up matches you can try to have guys with semi similar handicaps playing against each other so your +3 handicapper isn't give the 22 handicapper 25 shots.

If it's a 3 day tournament, 18 a day I'd do something along the lines of...

Alternate shot on day 1 where 2 guys square off against another 2 guys and play alternate shot. 1 pt for a win, 0 for a lost 1/2pt for a halve. So, there are 4 pts available on Day 1.
Day 2 play everyone plays there own ball but just score on each hole the 1Best Ball of the 2some Match Play against the other 2some. Same Scoring as above, another 4 pts available on Day 2.
Final Day it's 8 individual match play matches just like the final round of the Ryder Cup. 8 pts available.

[jimmythanut]

RIght now it appears as if the consensus is to only play 2 18 hole rounds. I'm trying to decide if we split the first round into two 9 hole events with alternate shot and bestball and on the last day play an 18 hole match play.
We are planning on splitting the teams based on geography. About half the guys will be coming in from the western part of the state. Next year we will travel to their home course.

[SadTrombone]

I'd go 4-ball Day 1 and Individual Day 2. Don't mess with the foursomes stuff.

I'd also set teams up to have the same cumulative handicap (or as close as possible) and try to "match" similar handicaps up together. On the 2nd day I'd also try to put a high handicap match with a low handicap match (unless the course is going to allow you to send out twos, but I imagine it would be more fun to go out as 4 with 2 matches in each "group").

Is everyone in the group pretty consistent regarding pace of play? Just asking because you don't want 20s holding up +3s and holding up the whole course on a weekend.

If they're interested in doing a foursomes match, why not try to talk them into 36 on the second day? Foursomes in the morning and individual in the afternoon with lunch in between? I'd think any course would love to have something like this going on and would be more than willing to help set it up/score it/manage the event.

*edit* Just saw some of your other questions.

I'd try to see if you could do either a divot tool or maybe (depending on the budget) you could get a custom "tin cup" ball marker thing set up and design a "logo" for the "event". I think THAT would be bitchin. Or maybe bags (again depending on budget)?

I would NOT advise selling mulligans. I'd be worried about that kinda thing turning ugly quick. Proximity prizes sound like fun though. I'd say an optional skins game but that's tough with match play (stroke concessions n' such...what you give for a birdie I may not and it might cost me the skin - again could turn ugly). I'd try to keep money out of it as much as possible other than maybe a 50/50 (something completely unrelated to the "event").

Make sure you get matching club-logo shirts. And team pictures (unless you all have trophy wives like the real Ryder Cup...then don't take pictures...or at least don't post them).

This sounds like a LOT of fun. Uber jealous.

-mini

[g3333]

[quote name='jimmythanut' timestamp='1304628829' post='3210782']
RIght now it appears as if the consensus is to only play 2 18 hole rounds. I'm trying to decide if we split the first round into two 9 hole events with alternate shot and bestball and on the last day play an 18 hole match play.
We are planning on splitting the teams based on geography. About half the guys will be coming in from the western part of the state. Next year we will travel to their home course.
[/quote]

My club does a two day event. We have two captains who pick teams, but it also sounds fun to have regionally divided teams.

We play 27 holes on Saturday; the formats are shamble (similar to scramble but you only play the best ball position after the tee shot), best ball, and alternate shot. On Sunday we playing 18 holes divided into 2-9 hole individual matches. We have a pairing party on Friday night where the captains alternate throwing out teams to determine the matchups for the next day; we re-pair similarly after the Saturday round. There can be a lot of strategy involved in choosing the players for the matches.

Its the funnest event we play all year. The matching shirts are good for the pictures afterward (the winning team always smile more). We also make a winner take all bet.

[jimmythanut]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I attached the informational packet. I'd love you get thoughts and ideas from you guys. I've used information I have found elsewhere for some of the formats.
Anybody know a good format for picking a MVP?
Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

[tfro]

Looks like a fun format, I've got something similar coming up in a few weeks, looking forward to it.

Do you think 15 minutes is enough time for the team events, I see there is a little padding included? These types of things never start on time since someone always wants to hit a few more balls on the range...

[jimmythanut]

15 minutes might be pushing it. Our first actual tee time isn't until like 12 after so realistically that would give the first group almost 45 minutes to complete the team event. The buddies I roll with are never on time so I figured I would just tell them the first tee time was at 11.