Weekly MatchesThe BMGL conducts matches using a combined match play / team play system. Each team fields a four-man team each week. Each player matches up with a player from the opposing team; foursomes consist of two players from each team. Usually, the first foursome will match the lowest handicap player from each team against each other and the highest handicap player from each team against each other, and the second foursome will have the four intermediate handicap players matched up. Matches are handicapped according to the official BMGL handicap system. Handicaps are updated weekly after each match. Any difference in handicap between opposing players is assigned to the lowest handicap (hardest) holes. For example, if a 10-handicap player is playing a 6-handicap, the difference is four strokes. The higher-handicap player would be given one stroke on each of the four hardest holes on that nine (rated 1, 3, 5, 7 or 2, 4, 6, 8) to determine net score on those holes. Holes are awarded to the player who beats his opponent by one or more net strokes on a hole. If a player wins more holes than his opponent, the player is awarded 2 match points. Ties result in one match point being awarded to each player. Additionally, the player beating his opponent's net score for nine holes is awarded 2 medal points. Ties again result in awarding one medal point to each player. On the rare occasions when a team fails to field four players, the opponent who is unopposed is automatically awarded 2 match points. The unopposed player, however, must post a net score of 4 over par or better in order to receive medal points. The average net score typically ranges from 1-3 strokes over par, so this gives a significant advantage to the team that fields a full complement of players. A player arriving late for a match is allowed to join play on the tee following the hole currently being played by his group. The late player automatically forfeits the preceding holes that have been completed by his group (FOR MATCH PLAY). Providing time, daylight, and tee scheduling with golf course management permits, the late player may complete the holes he missed for the purposes of medal scoring only. If the player cannot complete the missed holes for whatever reason, medal points are automatically awarded to his opponent, subject to the BMGL's rule requiring a score of 4 over par net or better in order to collect medal points when playing unopposed. Team StandingsAfter the conclusion of each week's match, all four players' individual points (match and/or medal) are summed for each team. The maximum number of points a team can win is 16; the minimum is zero. The winning team is the one with the most total individual points. In case of an 8-8 tie (which happens frequently), the following tiebreakers are applied (in order):
In addition to determining a winning and losing team for each match, the best three net scores for a 4-man team are also combined for a team score. The team score is ranked against the other team scores for that week's play and awarded team points according to the ranking (the lowest team net is awarded 10 team points, the second lowest 9, and so forth down to the highest team net which gets only one team point). If two or more teams tie, they evenly split the points associated with the shared positions (which is how teams can get half a point). Any team failing to field at least 3 players, automatically forfeits team points for the week. The team points are added to the sum of individual points for a total team score for that week (a maximum of 16+10=26 points can be scored by a team and a minimum of 0+1=1, unless the team fails to field at least three players in which case they could score zero points). A running total of total team points is kept throughout the year. Team standings are determined first by overall won-lost record. For teams having the same record, standings are determined by cumulative total team points. If tied in total team points, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head record during that season. If still tied, the second tie-breaker is total points in head-to-head matches. Third tie-breaker is total of team net scores (best three of four) in head-to-head matches. If still tied, flip a coin. Playoff QualificationThe league championship is determined by a two-round playoff at the end of the year. The top four regular-season teams qualify for the championship bracket. The second four teams play in a consolation bracket for places 5-8. Prize money is awarded based on final playoff position. Teams finishing in 9th and 10th places in the regular season do not qualify for post-season play. Individual players are eligible to participate on their teams during the playoffs only if they have completed three or more matches during that regular season. |