Each year, ORLGA holds two Member/Member Tournaments: one in the Spring and one in the Fall.  In these tournaments, two members of ORLGA play as a team and compete against other two member teams.  The tournament is held over two days, on two separate courses, and consists of four nine-hole formats.  These formats are: Total Net of Partners; Better Ball of Partners; Alternate Shot; and Scramble, and can be played in any order over the two days.  At the end of play, the teams with the total lowest net scores win. Depending on how many teams sign up, prizes can be awarded up to 10^th place.

Rules:

   The committee that runs the Member/Member Tournaments will decide on the rules and formats to be
   used, and the order in which they will be played.  The directors will also match up teams in a foursome,
   trying to balance them to include higher and lower handicapped players, so that all teams can keep a
   good pace of play.  The committee will also announce the rules and make up the score cards for the
   events.  After play is complete, they will tally the scores and determine the winners based on the rules
   for the tournaments.

Formats:

    Total Net Score of Partners is exactly what it sounds like.  Both partners play   all their shots, with
    no maximums allowed, and deduct the handicap shown on the scorecard for those nine holes at the
    end.  Full handicaps for this format are used.

 

    Better Ball of Partners, also known as best net, is also exactly what it sounds like.  On each hole, the
    teams select the lowest net score of the partners and record that as the team score.  Full handicaps
    with strokes on appropriate holes will be indicated on the score cards.  Usually, each team must use
    at least two or three scores from each partner.

    In most cases, these two formats are held on the same day, because team members can record
    these18 holes of play in the handicap system.  All balls are being played and the scoring is in
    accordance with USGA rules.  In the better ball format, gimmes may be taken by the team member
    whose partner is already in the hole with a lower score, but the score can still be recorded.

    Alternate Shot, one of two versions that can be played in these tournaments.  The first is known as
    True Alternate Shot.  In this format, both partners tee off on the first hole, and pick the best tee
    shot; whosever tee shot is not used then takes the next shot, and so on until the ball is holed.  On
    the next hole and on all remaining holes, only the partner who did not make the last putt tees off,
    and then the partners hit alternate shots into the hole.  In this format, 25% of the total team
    handicaps are used.  These handicaps will appear on the scorecard for the appropriate nine holes.
 

    In traditional Alternate Shot, both partners decide beforehand which one of them will tee off on the
    odd holes and which one will tee off on the even holes.  The partners then hit alternate shots into
    the hole.  In this format, 25% of the total team handicaps are used, and the scorecards will reflect
    these numbers.

    A Scramble is usually played on one of the nine holes.  In a Scramble, both players tee off, then pick
    the best tee shot and then both hit from there.  Then, the partners pick the best second shot, and
    both hit from there.  This is repeated until the ball is holed.   The ball must be placed within one club
    length of the shot being chosen, and must remain in the same condition (ie, if in the rough, must
    stay in the rough, etc.)  Once the ball is on the green, both players will putt from the same spot,
    which is determined by the team.  In many cases, the team may have the weaker putter go first to
    show the stronger putter the line.  In any case, putts must be holed, and players should not tap in
    their putt before their team mate has tried her putt.  Otherwise, the higher score will count.  In
    many scrambles, the rules may require that the teams use at least two or three drives from each
    team member.  In this format, 35% of the A player and 15% of the B player’s handicaps are used,
    and the scorecards will reflect these numbers.

Awards:

   After play is completed on the last day, the players usually
   meet at the Plantation Club for an awards ceremony and a
   toast to the winners.  These tournaments are a lot of fun,
   and participation in them is usually pretty high.  So, when
   you see the sign-up sheet, grab a partner and sign up.  Or
   sign up individually and the tournament directors will match
   you up with another member.
 

We hope to see all of you out there at the next ORLGA Member/Member Tournament.