Contests are an excellent way to get more mileage and fun out of your tournament. After all, everyone loves to win, and special event contests give everyone more opportunities to win. Some of these contests, such as Nearest to the Pin, can be won as easily by a beginner as by an expert player.

Driving Contest

Pick a wide, flat fairway. Each contestant gets five drives, with only the best three counting. Only shots ending on the fairway count. For quick determination of distances, erect marker flags every 25 yards from 125 yards out to 300 yards. Judges stationed down the fairway can estimate the distance beyond the nearest marker for each drive. A variation of this event allows only three drives and deducts 10 percent from the distance for all shots ending up in the rough.

Longest Drive

A prize is awarded for the longest drive in the fairway. This is normally played on the course's longest par-5 hole.

Shortest Drive

Here, the prize goes to the shortest drive in the fairway. This contest normally is played on the same par-5 hole as the longest drive contest.

Straightest Drive

A white line is placed down the middle of the fairway. The drives that comes to rest closest to the line is the winner. Usually, this event is played on the course's last par-5 hole.

Nearest the Pin

A prize is awarded for the shot that comes to rest closest to the pin. Normally, this is played at the course's first par-3 hole of the back nine.

Longest Putt

The prize goes to the person making the longest putt on a specific green. It is best to play this contest on the course's putting green at the clubhouse prior to the start of the tournament. That helps to establish a fun and competitive atmosphere without slowing the pace of play.

We are able to offer Awards and Trophies for each of these categories, click here for more information.

Competition Formats

The details below are meant as basic outlines but you should consult your golf club for clarification of these rules as they may vary.

The Scramble

The Scramble is the most popular format for group tournaments because it encourages teamwork. Players are in teams of four. In putting together the teams, the tournament organizer needs to know the golfing ability of the participants; it may be necessary to ask the golfers for their handicaps. Each team member tees off, but the team plays its second shots from where the best drive landed. Play continues in this fashion through putting. A scramble helps develop camaraderie among the players, eliminates embarrassment over poor shots, and allows everyone to make a contribution. Optionally, you can impose a rule that each player must contribute a minimum number of tee shots (e.g. at least three per player)

Best Ball

Best Ball may be played with two, three or four people on a team. Golfers play their own ball on each hole, but only the lowest score is recorded as the team score. This format may be played with or without handicap. This is usually a fun format with a medium pace of play. Results can be calculated quickly. This format is played for all 18 holes, and the total is submitted as the team's score.

Foursomes

Foursomes is played with one ball per team of two players. One player will hit all the odd shots, and the other will hit all the even shots. To avoid having the same player hit all the tee-off shots, team members can alternate playing odd holes.

Stapleford

Stableford is very popular format. Players score points on each hole according to a point system that takes into consideration each player's handicap. Unlike other golf games, the winner in a Stableford tournament is the player with the highest score.

Points are earned on the following scale:

Net Score	Points
Albatross	5
Eagle	4
Birdie	3
Par	2
Bogey	1
Double Bogey	0
Triple Bogey	0
Others	0

Blind Hole Match

Blind Hole Match is played under full handicap. The only scores that count are those shot on certain unannounced holes. The committee does not make selections of those holes until the entire field has left the first tee.

Derby Tournament

Derby Tournament, much like a horse race, is a great way to inject more fun into a tournament. (Sometimes it is referred to as Rumpsie Dumpsie or Horse Race.) The format is simple and, with proper publicity, draws many players and spectators as well. Play is over nine holes. From 10 to 15 players are needed, and their handicaps should be as close as possible. The event can be played from scratch or with full handicap.

Players draw numbers from an entry box to determine their respective tee-off positions. Each player marks his or her ball with that particular number. All 15 entries tee-off in succession from the same tee and play out the hole according to the normal sequence of play. The three highest-scoring players are eliminated. The same procedure follows on the second hole, again with the three highest players eliminated. On the third hole, the two players with the highest score are eliminated. From the fourth through the eighth hole, the player scoring highest on each of these holes drops out, leaving only two players going into the final hole.

Any ties among players are broken with a chip-off from a point 40 to 50 yards out in the fairway. Closest-to-the-pin remains in the tournament. It is recommended that an official be named to make all decisions, especially in regard to chip-offs. A tape measure settles questions quickly.

This event can comfortably handle three races by starting on the first, fourth and seventh tees. Because only nine holes are used, the rest of the course can still be open for others to play. Prizes are awarded for the first three places, much like a horse race. Thus any contestant who survives the seventh hole is assured of at least third place.

Nassau Tournament

Prizes are awarded for the best first 9, the best second 9, and the best 18 holes. Full handicap is used for the 18-hole scores and one-half handicap for 9-hole scores. The advantage is that a player making a poor start or tiring at the finish may still win a prize for a good performance on the other nine.

One Club/Two Club Event

Each player carries only one club, which must be used for all shots. The club may be specified by the committee or selected by the player. Low net wins. Variations permit two clubs or even three.

Practice Green Tournament

Practice Green Tournament is an 18-hole event on a practice putting green. The winner is determined by total putts. In case of ties, all tying contestants play extra holes at "sudden death" (a player is out on the first hole he or she fails to score). If the club has no practice green, use the clock method on one of the regular greens near the clubhouse by marking off nine tees at varying distances around the edge of the green. Players putt from each of these tees to the cup.



Disclaimer: Allwag Promotions have given these tips based on their own understanding of these rules and will under no circumstances be held responsible for any dispute or liability incurred. Please consult your Golf Club for verification on all rules, advice and golf etiquette in general