r2rdbm 2013 format, rules and fixtures

RULES
As revised, 6 March 2013

1. General considerations

From the outset there were 2 main issues to be resolved to create an order of merit system for our group:

Issue 1 - Individual players will play different numbers of competitions throughout the season.

An incremental points system would disadvantage those who play, say 5 competitions against those who play, say 20, given the greater opportunity to amass points the more competitions you play.

Solution
An average points format allows all players to compete equally irrespective of how many or how few competitions they choose or are available to participate in through the year.

Issue 2 - Different numbers of players will be involved each competition.

One event there may be 10 players from our group competing, the next there may only be 5. A points system which is based solely on our performances against the other members of our group [i.e., 1st place: 10pts, 2nd place: 6 pts, 3rd place: 4pts etc. etc.] would be flawed. For example if only 3 players turned up, and shot nett 76, 80, 88, it would be unfair to dole out 10 pts, 6pts etc.

Solution
A system which calculates points as a ratio of the player’s position within the entire field, would reward scoring appropriately, and give an accurate reflection of each player’s achievement.

2. Formula for calculating points awarded after each competition

Scenario:
Player 1 scores a nett 72 in the opening competition of the season, finishing in a tie for 14th place. In a field of 154 players, he has comfortably made the 'cut'. Any player finishing in the top 50% of the field will make the 'cut' and receive points. The cut for this competition is 77th place.

c = 77
p = 14

Pts = 12 – ( (12 ÷ c) x p ) + (12 ÷ c )
= 9.97 (from a maximum of 12.0)

Bonus points

In addition, players with scores within the top 5 score brackets (for example, 1st = 68, 69, 70, 71, 72) for each competition will receive the following bonus points:

3.0 pts – Score bracket 1 (Winner)
2.5 pts – Score bracket 1 (2nd on countback)
2.0 pts – Score bracket 2
1.5 pts – Score bracket 3
1.0 pts – Score bracket 4
0.5 pts – Score bracket 5

Notes:
- Points are awarded in every event to players that finish above the cut line.
- On average, the cut line falls around CSS+6… there is always still something to play for if slipping a few shots over the buffer zone!
- 15.0 points will be awarded to any player finishing in 1st place, either outright or better inward half.

3. Order of merit league positioning

Each players league position will be determined the average number of points they have scored in each medal. i.e. adding the total number of points gained and dividing this by the number of competitions played – i.e. the divisor.

Divisor
The divisor is calculated by adding 3 to the number of events played. This allows a slight bias toward players who play a larger number of events and deters protectionism from those playing fewer events. The minimum divisor for every competitor is 9. This is in place to avoid a scenario where someone could play very well in a couple of competitions at the beginning of the year and set a target unbeatable for others choosing to play greater number of events.

e.g
After 3 events, Player A scored:
8.18pts in event 1,
0.00pts in event 2,
9.49pts in event 3
Total = 17.67pts

AV/PTS = 17.67 / 9 = 1.96 (where the minimum divisor – 9 – is applied)

4. Eligible competitions

A full fixture list of the 24 eligible competitions is listed below. These take place over the 31 weeks from Saturday 23rd March – Saturday 19th October 2013, and include all club medals on Wednesday's, Saturday's and Sunday's.

Note:
Pts will be calculated using results from the club website. If any results are unavailable online, I will request them from the club, however if this is not possible then the competition/s in question will be removed from the fixture list irrespective of any potential points gained by players. Hopefully this will not be the case. Additionally, if any competition is played over a reduced golf course - for example temporary greens in play - the decision as to whether Race points can be awarded will be made by the administrator. For guidance, should there only be minor alterations (for example as experienced with work carried out to the 17th green a couple of years ago) then points will be awarded. If 18 temporary greens are in play for any reason during a competition, then the Race points will not be awarded irrespective of any potential points gained by players. Circumstances that fall in between these guidelines will require a decision by the administrator, and this decision is final. Where possible, notification of this will be posted on the appropriate Event thread prior to play.

FIXTURES

#1 Saturday 23rd March, Duke of Abercorn Cup (Bogey Competition)
#2 Sunday 31st March, Professional Cup (Stableford)
#3 Wednesday 3rd April, Wednesday Medal
#4 Saturday 20th April, Howie & Seath Cup
#5 Sunday 28th April, Lyle & Scott Salver
#6 Wednesday 1st May, Callaway Cup
#7 Saturday 4th May, Salisbury Cup
#8* Sunday 19th May, Spring B Meeting
#9 Wednesday 29th May, Tommy Dobson Trophy
#10 Saturday 1st June, Belhaven Bowl
#11* Saturday 8th June, Summer B Meeting
#11* Saturday 15th June, Summer A Meeting
#8* Saturday 22nd June, Spring A Meeting (rescheduled from 18th May)
#12 Sunday 7th July, Jimmy Paterson Memorial
#13 Sunday 14th July, Deer Park Trophy
#14 Wednesday 24th July, Centenary Cup
#15 Wednesday 7th August, Wednesday Medal
#16 Sunday 11th August, Joyce Ward Memorial Bowl
#17 Saturday 24th August, Thomson Jug
#18 Wednesday 4th September, Wednesday Medal
#19 Sunday 15th September, St Columbas Chalice
#20 Wednesday 18th September, Wednesday Medal
#21* Saturday 21st September, Autumn A Meeting
#21* Sunday 22nd September, Autumn B Meeting
#22 Wednesday 2nd October, Wednesday Medal
#23 Saturday 5th October, Ronnie Shade Bowl
#24 Saturday 19th October, Saturday Medal – Race finale.