COMMUNITY

There is a tournament that is around the Raleigh Durham area that is a fill week long. I think that it is two days of stroke play and then 5 days of match play. One of the guys that is a member at my club won it this year and I think his dad has won it in the past.

I've only done anything but stroke play once and that was a 2 man 9 hole scramble from the red tees which was a blast. A Ryder Cup thing like that is something I'm dying to try sometime. Seems like a lot of fun. Wish more people would try stuff like this with friends. Would get people playing and generate interest for everyday people to take up golf or take it back up.

I play in a league that has done a lot of match play, scramble as well as stroke. Lot's of games inside the games too. Even then we're looking to change it up and through in some four-ball for example.

But I'm with you. Stateside we don't seem to change it up nearly as much as the Euros do.

We are definitely hung up on stroke play. Stroke play and straight match play, depending upon what level you play at (all the major USGA events except the Open end in match play).

I'd play everything if I belonged to a club. I don't, so stroke play is the general format.

The TGA has a handful of match play events. I'll play in some of them at some point.

I'd prefer never to play alternate shot ...unless my partner was Tom Kite from about 1988. I'd never want to put my partner through some of my golf, and I wouldn't want to spend 18 holes cleaning up after somebody's mess. That *sounds* like fun, but I know better.

I'm with you Robert on alternate shot unless it's part of a larger play. Say a Ryder Cup format over multiple days. Otherwise, the idea of paying tournament fees and then only getting to hit half the shots leaves you feeling you didn't get your money's worth.

But there are so many fun games to play. Four-ball, 2-ball, match play, team match play, Stableford, scrambles of all variety, foursomes...the list goes on and on.

Money is the issue, but even in my club which is private the guys seem to be hung up on wanting to play stroke or match play

Right. If you, me and a couple of friends wanted to just have some fun, hey, no problem. I'll play alternate shot. Hell, I've played nines with just a 7-iron. I've played a few holes of worst-ball scramble. Fun on the golf course comes in all forms.

But in a true tournament setting? If I've had to pay to play in an event, no way I'm playing alternate shot. Best ball is nerve-racking enough already. Alternate shot ends up in hurt feelings far too often.

I don't fault anybody who enjoys it. If you've got the temperament to handle it, good for you.

I think I'd most like to play in a Stableford scored event. Match play and Stableford stuff fits my triple-bogey-at-any-time skills. Match play more so, but it'd be fun to try to birdie 18 straight holes. I don't typically play that way.

Never played Ryder Cup Style Golf but think it would be a Great deal of fun.
I do however play another type of Stroke Play, I was a member @ a Club for nearly 6 yrs and it really started getting boring. Not sure how it got started but every now and then I or my group plays what I call Red/White and Blue. Alternate tee boxes every hole, it really was a whole different course or at least it appeared to be..

wd