Golf Genius ::

Match Format and Scoring

a. Generally – Each team match will consist of four groups of four players. In each group there will be two players from each team. The lowest two handicap players from club “A” will play with the lowest two handicap players from club “B”. Same method of parings for subsequent groups.

b. Individual Matches – Each player will play an 18-hole individual match against an opponent from the other team with the winner earning 2 points. (Ties – points are split 1-1) The number one player (lowest handicap) from Team “A” will compete against the number one player from Team “B”. The number two players from each team (second lowest handicaps) will also compete. Same for the number 3 players and so forth…

c. Four-Ball (Best Ball of Two) - The two players from Team “A” in the first foursome will also simultaneously compete against the two players from Team “B” in an 18-hole four-ball match. The winning four-ball team will win 2 points with ties being split 1-1. Same method and matches for all four foursomes.

d. Thursday Afternoon Matches – Typically matches are to be played on Thursday afternoon. Team captains can mutually agree to play their match on a different day and they may also switch their home and away matches to avoid other club competitions. Captains who can agree are given great leeway in the scheduling of their matches. However, if captains cannot agree on scheduling, the match is to be played at the course and day scheduled.

e. Match Points – Accordingly, each competition will result in:

i. 8 – Individual matches for 16 total points
ii. 4 – Four-ball matches for 8 total points
iii. 24 - Total Points per Match

f. Winning Team – Determined by Match Points tied matches are not broken except for during the post-season play-offs.

g. Division Points (The Most Important) – At the completion of the match, teams are awarded points on the following basis: Winning Team = 3 points, Team Ties = 1.5 points each; Loss = 0 points

Note: Division points reflect your teams win-loss record and these points are used to determine your group’s winner. Example: Division points are similar to games won in baseball or hockey. In baseball, it does not matter how many “runs” a team wins by-each win counts as one game. Similarly, if you win your match 24-0 you have still only won one match and you earn 3 Division points for winning. (Match points only come into effect at the end of the regular season and only as part of the tie-breaking procedure for determining group winners and home-field advantage for the playoffs).

Group Winners

a. Groups – Each “group” will ideally contain four teams which will compete against one another during the regular season. Over six weeks, each team will play each of the other three teams in the group two times – once at home and once away. The group winner will be the team with the most Division Points (win-loss points) at the end of the season. In the event of a tie, there is an established tie-breaking method described under “Tie Breaking Procedures”.

b. Groups with Three Teams – In the event that a group has only three teams, each team will play the other two teams in the group twice – once home and once away over the six week regular season.
Accordingly, teams from groups of three will play only four matches and team will have two weeks on the schedule where they will not have a match. The group winner will be the team with the most Division Points (win-loss points) at the end of the season. In the event of a tie, see Tie Breaking Procedures for Groups.

c. Region Full and Alternate Teams – Once an area has 16 teams (four groups with four teams each) the region will be full. Additional “regions” may be added to accommodate more teams, but this may not always be possible. Teams will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Tie-Breaking Procedures for Groups

(To Determine Group Winners and Wildcard Teams)

a. Group winners will be determined by the team with the highest Division points: (3 points for a win, 1.5 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss)

b. In the event of a tie between two or more teams with identical Division points, the group winner will be determined by:

i. First - the total Division points won in matches between the tied teams
ii. Second – the total match points (Individual Points) won in matches between the tied teams
iii. Third - the total four-ball points won in matches between the tied teams
iv. Fourth – total match points won in all matches against all teams
v. Then total match points earned in, their last three matches; then their last two matches; then last match; then by coin flip

c. Wildcard Teams – (Three Group Regions Only) Since wild card teams do not compete directly against one another during the regular season, any ties by overall points will be determined by:

i. First - the total match points won in all matches by the tied teams
ii. Second – the total four-ball points won in matches by both teams
iii. Third - total match points won in the last 3 matches
iv. Then match points earned in, the last two matches; then last match; then by coin flip
v. Groups with only three teams – Points Adjustment – For determining home field advantage and tie breakers, teams from groups of three teams will have their overall and match points grossed up by 150% so that they will be on a comparable basis with groups of four teams.

Playoffs and Regional Champions

a. After the regular season, four Group Champion Teams will compete over two rounds of playoffs to determine the Regional Champion. (Teams will be paired by the FSGA Committee for the play-offs.)

Three group regions will include a wild-card team.
Two group regions will have each group winner advance to the playoffs. The winner will advance to the State Championship

b. Teams will be “seeded” based on each team’s overall record from regular season play. The seeds will be used to determine who receives the home course advantage for the second match of the playoff. Division points will be used for this test, and if overall points are tied, then total match points will be compared. If the teams are still tied, then the tie will be broken by comparing four-ball match points. If the teams are still tied, then the tie will be broken by a coin flip. (Teams from groups of only 3 teams will have their Season and match points grossed-up by 150% for purposes of determining home field analysis). Wildcard teams will be the fourth seed in their playoff division.

c. The playoff matches will be conducted on the courses of the competing teams, according to all regular Interclub rules.

d. For each round of the playoffs, each team will play two matches against their opposing team on a home-and-away basis, conducted over two weeks. The winner will be determined by the Division Points earned in the two matches (Each Match - Winning Team = 3 points, Teams Tie = 1.5 Point Each; Loss = 0 Points)

e. Ties – If the teams remain tied after the completion of both matches, a sudden death playoff will be held to determine the winner. (See tie-breaking procedure in next section)

f. Eligibility - Only players who have played in at least one team match during the regular season shall be eligible to participate in the playoffs. Any infraction of this rule shall result in forfeiture of all individual and/or four-ball points won during the play-off match by the ineligible player(s).

Players who were scheduled to play in a match that was cancelled are not eligible to play in the playoffs unless they have played in another match during the season.

g. Regions with Three Groups (Wild Card Team) – In some cases a region will only have three groups. After the regular season, each of the group winners will advance to the playoffs. Additionally, the highest ranking second place team, the “Wild Card Team”, based upon Division Points (awarded for wins and ties), will advance to the playoffs. If there is a tie based on Division Points, then the team with the highest number of total “Match Points” from all their matches will advance. See Tiebreaking Procedures for Groups in a section listed above.

h. Regions with Two Groups – In some cases a region will only have two groups. After the regular season, each of the group winners will advance to the playoffs. The playoff winner will advance to the State Championship.

Tie-Breaking Procedure for Playoffs

a. If the teams remain tied after the completion of both matches, a sudden death stroke-play playoff will be held to determine the winner. The sudden-death playoff should involve the 1, 3, 5, and 7 lowest index players from each team and should begin on hole #1 unless another hole is mutually agreed upon.

b. The combined net score (with full handicaps) of the four players from each team will be used to determine the winner. The playoff will continue until the tie is broken. (Unlike the regular matches, you will not be playing match play against an opponent). The two players from each group that are from the same team are partners for purposes of the rules; they may give each other advice and both of their net scores will count. Only the total net score for all four players will count. Stroke play rules apply and all putts must be holed.

c. Order of Play – For the playoffs, the first foursome to play should include the #5 and #7 players from each team. The second group to play should include the #1 and #3 players from each team.

d. After completing the 1st playoff hole, each foursome would need to wait beside the green until the other group has completed the hole to determine if a winning team has been identified. If the teams are still tied after completion of the 1st playoff hole, the playoff continues sequentially until a winner is determined.

e. In the event that the 1, 3, 5, or 7 player cannot participate in the playoff, a higher handicap teammate may take his spot. However, the substituted player must play to the absent players handicap index. Example: If the #3 player leaves, the #4, 6, or 8 player may play in his spot, but must play to #3’s handicap index. The #2 player WOULD NOT be allowed to substitute for #3. If there is not a teammate to fulfill the absent players spot, the team must forfeit.

f. Players in the playoff will each receive their full handicap and strokes will be allocated according to the club scorecard.