The Main Event - Flight Matches
You and your guest will comprise a two-player team. The field of 84 two-player teams is divided into two (2) divisions based upon the combined handicaps of the partners: NICKLAUS (Lower handicaps), and PALMER (Higher handicaps). The divisions will each have seven flights of six teams. The flights are also based upon the combined handicaps of the partners. The competition is a Net Better-Ball of Partners match play with each of the other teams in your flight. Each team will play five 9-hole matches. Flight champions, runner-ups, and Death Flight winners will advance to the Play-offs. The four Play-off winners advance to the Frolics Championship.
Scoring & Match Contingencies
Each match is worth Nine (9) points:
- One (1) point for winning the hole
- -half (1/2) point for tying a hole
- Zero points for losing the hole
Bye & Forfeited Holes
If a team does not show for the match or holes of the match (i.e. show-up late or leave early), the opposing team will play against par for the match or holes.
If a player is late for a match, the other player will represent the team. The player who is late may join the match between holes, but cannot participate in a hole if any player of the match has hit their second shot. If a player leaves early, the other player will represent the team, and play out the match.
Tie Breaker for Flight Champions, Runner-Ups, & Death Flight Winners
In the event of a tie for flight champions, runner-ups, or death flight, the tie will be decided by: (The 9-hole match is equal to a round)
- Points won on the head to head matches
- Total of the net better ball of partners for the five (5) rounds/matches (last 2 rounds/matches for the Death Flight)
- Better ball of partners for the final round/match, last six, last three, then last hole backwards.
Death Flight
In each Division, there will be two death flights which will place a team into each of the four (4) Play-Offs. After the third round/match, the two last place teams & ties of each flight will automatically qualify for the Death Flight (in addition to still being a competitor in their original flight). In Flights 4 & 11, the Death Flight eligible teams will be split to be into the two different Death Flights in order to create equitable size Death Flights. In Flight 4 & Flight 11, the eligible team with the lower team number will be part of the lower flights' Death Flight, and team with the higher team number will be part of the higher flights’ Death Flight. The team with the highest point total from the 4th & 5th rounds/matches of each Death Flight will advance to the Play-offs. If a Death Flight team wins or finishes 2nd in their original flight, the 3rd place team of the original flight will advance into the play-off.
The Bourland Trophy
Awards the team with the lowest GROSS better ball of partners score for 45 holes played Thursday-Saturday. Ties will be determined by a sudden death play-off starting off the #1 Tee (2,17,18) following the 5th round/match.
The Wilson Cup
Awarded to the Father/Son team with the lowest NET better ball of partners for 36 holes played on Thursday and Friday. Ties will be determined by a sudden death play-off starting off the #1 (18,1…) Tee following the 5th round/match.
Play-Offs
In each Division, there will be two Play-offs for a total of four (4) Play-offs. In Flights 4 & 11, the two qualifying teams will be split to play in the two different Play-offs in order to create equitable
size Play-Offs. In Flight 4 & Flight 11, the qualifying team with the lower team number will be part of the lower flights’ Play-off, and team with the higher team number will be part of the higher flights’ Play-off. The format will be an alternate shot three-hole play-off. Teams will select who will tee off on the first hole, and then alternate shots throughout the remaining holes. Penalty Strokes do not effect the order of play. If player A putts out, then player B will tee-off of the next hole. Stroke allocations will be based off of 100% of the players course handicaps and the USGA recommendation, 16% of the team’s alternate shot handicaps (50% of the combined player’s Course Handicaps), and rounded to the half (.25-.74 = .5 and .75-.24 = whole #). In the event of a tie after three holes of play, a team “Chip-off” (total distance from the hole for both players) will determine the winner.
The Frolics’ Championship
The four Play-off winners advance and will compete in a two-player net aggregate four-hole Championship: Hole’s 1, 2, 17, 18. Stroke allocations will be based on the USGA recommendation of 22% of each team’s combined playing handicap rounded to the half (.25-.74 = .5 and .75-.24 = whole #). If there is a tie for the Championship after four holes, a playoff will continue on hole #1 & #18 with strokes applied. If still tied after 2-holes of play the championship will be determined with a chip-off. A tie for second, and third places will be determined with a chip-off on hole #18. All chip-offs are the total distance from the hole for both players.