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Several years ago, National Golf Foundation research revealed that more than 40,000 fundraising golf tournaments and events are conducted each year across the United States and that these golf tournaments raise more than $250 million plus a year for worthy causes.

With this kind of money at stake, it is no wonder that many non-profits agencies are turning to annual golf tournament events as a major tool in their fundraising arsenal.

A recent search at Google revealed almost 50 million entries when searching with these key words..."2006 golf tournaments."

Unfortunately most non-profit staffers, while extremely adept at their jobs, are not experienced golf tournament promoters and hiring a golf event planner can cost anywhere from $2,000 - $10,000 dollars. That type of initial outlay of capital is not usually feasible for most profit businesses to spend, let alone non-profit organizations.

Planning and conducting a successful golf tournament is not difficult, it simply requires a little know-how and some organizational skills.

One of the most crucial steps in golf tournament planning - choose wisely your golf tournament format. It could make or break the enjoyment level of your golf tournament.

Golf Tournament Format: Golf tournaments are either played with a scramble or stroke play golf tournament format. Of the two golf tournament formats, the four man scramble is by far the most common type of golf tournament format used in fundraising golf tournaments. Author Lynn Brown's Complete Book of Golf Games is a good resource to learn more about the many types of golf games for your golf tournament planning. For more details visit www.TournamentCreation.com

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::: GOLF TOURNAMENT FORMAT :::

Golf tournaments are either played using a scramble or stroke play format. Of the two formats, the four-man scramble, or Florida scramble, is the most common type of golf tournament formats used with business-related or fundraising golf tournament events.

The following will explain how a scramble golf tournament format is played, followed by a description of various stroke play golf tournament formats. Other golf tournament formats are explained below.

Scramble Golf Tournaments

Rules for Scramble Golf Tournament:
The "Scramble" golf tournament format is probably the most popular format used in tournament play for associations, fundraisers and charity events. The Scramble can be played with 2 or 4 player teams. It is usually played with 4 player teams. In a 2 player Scramble format the player's handicaps are usually applied to their scores, where the 4 player Scramble format handicaps are usually not used. In a four-man scramble format, four players play together as a team. Each player on the team tees off from the tee box. The team members select the best tee shot of the four, and ALL golfers then play their second shot from that location.

Play is continued in this manner until the hole is completed. After the hole is completed, the team score is recorded and play continues under the same guidelines on the remaining holes.

There are numerous variations to a scramble golf tournament format which increases competitiveness and allows all golfers to feel they have contributed to the team effort.

Some of these variations are:

• Play a two-man scramble format instead of a four-man scramble format.
• At least two tee shots must be used by each team member on ay two holes during a round.
• Same player's shot cannot be used twice in a row.
• Every player plays their own ball on all par threes and records the best score.
• Instead of using the best shot off the tee box, the team must us the shortest drive and then use the best shot until the hole is completed.

The score recorded for each hole in a scramble golf tournament format is typically the actual number of strokes attempted by the team.

One measure of a good tournament is how many teams were in contention at the end of play. Some teams can quickly be out of a scramble tournament format if they score one or more bogey or double bogey...when this occurs many teams will let up since they don't feel they are in contention anymore and thus will not have as much fun.

One scoring method to help prevent this is to use a point scoring system.

Along with a score each team will record a set amount of points based on the following system:
*Par - one point * Birdie - two points *Eagle - three points * Double Eagle or Hole in One - four points. ... No points are won or lost for a score of bogey or worst.

Therefore if a team scores a triple bogey and another scores a birdie the team with the high score will only fall behind by two under the point scoring system.

Where as with the stroke scoring method they fall behind by four. Under the point scoring system the team with the most points at the end of play is the winner. If there is a tie use the total score as the tie breaker.

Stroke Play Golf Tournament Formats

When playing in a stroke play golf tournament format, each golfer hits their own ball and depending on what type of stroke play tournament format is being used scores are recorded.

Depending on the golf tournament format stroke play can be individual or team play tournament format. The following is a brief description of stroke play scoring formats:

Medal Play:
Each player plays their own ball and records the number of strokes taken on each hole. Same as stroke play.

Two-Ball Stroke Play Golf Tournament Format (Best Ball):
A team consists of two players and each plays their own ball. The lower of the two scores is recorded after each hole. Four-ball stroke play can be used using four players on a team. Only the low score of the four is recorded.

Blind Team Play Golf Tournament Format:
All golfers play their own ball and record the number of strokes played for eighteen holes. After all scores are recorded, a random drawing is made to determine which players are on each team. The scores are added up for each team to determine the winner.

High-Low Team Play Golf Tournament Format:
All players in a foursome play their own ball. At the end of each hole, the highest and lowest scores are recorded. The score for the high and low are added for the team total.

Average Score Team Play Golf Tournament Format:
All players in a foursome play their own ball. After eighteen holes, the scores of each player are totaled and divided by four to determine the average score for the team.

Similar to a scramble golf tournament format players can quickly be out of a stroke play golf tournament format with too many high scores.

A scoring method to keep the players competitive is the limit the maximum number of strokes on a hole to a bogey or double bogey.

The variations to a scramble and stroke play golf tournament formats are numerous. When making a session on whether to have a scramble or stroke play golf tournament format, keep in mind the caliber of golfer that is likely to play in the golf tournament.

If a majority of the players play on a regular basis, either one of the two golf tournament formats would be acceptable.

If many of the golfers are first-time golfers, or very inexperienced, a scramble golf tournament format is highly recommended.

The scramble allows golfers of all abilities to compete together with fellow teammates and have fun doing so. Regardless of the golfer's skill, somewhere during the round, he or she will make a contribution to the team.

Because a scramble golf tournament format is a team effort, no ONE participant feels uncomfortable or pressured into having to make a good shot every time.

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::: GOLF TOURNAMENT FORMATS - MOST POPULAR :::
Which Golf Tournament Format is right for your golf tournament?

Scramble Golf Tournament Formats
This golf tournament format is probably the most popular for team tournaments. The Scramble golf tournament format allows everyone at every playing level to contribute enhancing the golf tournament experience. Two, three or four person golf tournament teams choose the best shot following every stroke. Each player then plays from that one spot until the hole is finished. There are many variations on this golf tournament format including:
Texas Scramble Golf Tournament Format - at least four drives must be used from every player.
Florida Scramble Golf Tournament Format - the player who's shot was chosen cannot play the next shot.
Ambrose Golf Tournament Format - player handicap is used in determining final score.

Best Ball Golf Tournament Format
This golf tournament format is popular with the more advanced golfers who like to play their own ball. At the end of the hole, the team uses the best individual hole score. Best Ball Golf Tournament Format is also called Four Ball Format as well as a variation, 1-2-3 Best Ball Format.

Alternate Shot Golf Tournament Format
Also called Foursomes, this golf tournament format is for two person teams. Playing the same ball the two players alternate hitting shots. This format is also known as Odds and Evens and Scotch Foursomes variations.

Stableford / Modified Stableford Golf Tournament Format
The Stableford format can be played by individuals or as a team tournament. Playing format may be best ball, scramble or alternating shots. Points are won or lost based on the following:
Double eagle = 8 points
Eagle = 5 points
Birdie = 2 points
Par = 0 points
Bogey = Minus 1 point
Double bogey or worse = Minus 3 points

Chapman (Pinehurst) Foursome Golf Tournament Format
The Chapman Pinehurst golf tournament format is used for the event two person teams compete. On each hole, both golfers tee off and then switch balls for their second shot. After the second shots the team then plays alternate shots with the player whose ball was not chosen hitting the third shot.

Bingo-Bango-Bongo Golf Tournament Format
This golf tournament format is very popular with golf association and league tournaments rewarding for three things on each hole.

Three points are at stake on each hole. Points are won based on the following:

First player on the green = 1 point
Closest to the pin once all balls are on the green = 1 point
First player to hole out (hit the ball in the cup) = 1 point

All shots are taken in the order of who is away or furthest from the pin.

Peoria System Golf Tournament Format
This golf tournament format is best for a stroke play tournament where the players don't already have a handicap (or one that they would rather not use). This format allows all players following the round, to earn something similar to a handicap allowance and apply it to their final scores. The Peoria scoring golf tournament format involves totaling a score on six pre-selected holes (only know at the end of the round) and then each player's net score is calculated.

AN EXAMPLE:
The total score of the six holes selected = 33
Multiple the total by 3 - 3 X 33 = 99
Subtract par for the course from the multiple = 99 - 72 = 27
Handicap = 27
If gross score = 102 the net score = 102 - 27 = 7

Callaway System Golf Tournament Format
This handicap system was developed by Lionel Callaway, a former head professional in Pinehurst, North Carolina. This golf tournament format system can be used to handicap an individual or team after playing eighteen holes of golf to determine the handicap. The Callaway System involves consulting a chart following the round to determine a handicap deduction and handicap allowance.

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