Stroke Play
After developing the Floating Golf Green we needed to help our customers have some fun and incorporate all the aspects of a round of golf into the use of the product. For a stroke play round each hole consists of 3 shots hit consecutively by the player. The best of the shots is the players score for that hole.
9 or 18 hole matches can be played in a few short minutes.
Scoring:
- Fail to hit the green on all 3 shots – Double Bogey: +2
- Hit any part of the green and the ball deflects into the water – Bogey: +1
- A ball rests on the fringe – Par – Even for that hole
- A ball rests on the putting surface inside the fringe – Birdie: -1
- Holed shot – Eagle: -2
Note: The balls location is determined when the next shot is struck before it reaches the green. Example: The players first shot is resting on the fringe and while the second shot is in the air the first ball rolls into the water. The first ball did not move until the second shot was struck. The first ball is a par. The green moves and the second and third shot can help or hurt the players score. The location and scoring of the previously hit ball is recorded when the following ball is struck not altering the accomplishment of the first shot.
Skins
Probably the best game for beginners around the pool will be skins. This popular game was made famous by hall of fame golfers putting for hundreds of thousands of dollars back in the late 1970′s and early 1980′s.
Unlike stroke play, there is a tie, winner or loser on every hole and the best shot wins. Like our stroke play game, each golfer gets 3 shots per hole and the best shot is the players score.
Scoring:
Each hole is its own game and the player with the most hole victories wins. Ties can be carried over or not. At the end of 18 holes the winner has won the most holes.
Shot outcomes from worst to best:
- Neither player hits the floating golf green – push (known as a tie)
- Hit the green
- Ball stays on the fringe
- Ball stays on the putting surface inside the fringe
- Holed shot
Note: The balls location is determined when the next shot is struck before it reaches the green. Example: The players first shot is resting on the fringe and while the second shot is in the air the first ball rolls into the water. The first ball did not move until the second shot was struck. The first ball is a par. The green moves and the second and third shot can help or hurt the players score. The location and scoring of the previously hit ball is recorded when the following ball is struck not altering the accomplishment of the first shot.
Patriot Game
This game is similar to sinks on the putting green. Each player gets 12 shots and the player who hits the flag or flagstick the most is the winner. The opponent determines if the shot hit the flag or flagstick unless there is an impartial judge available to oversee the competition.
Handicap System
For over a decade our sister company, IntelliTurf, has been installing short game practice areas in backyards. Our golf greens are normally refereed to as putting greens but in reality they are synthetic grass golf greens that play just like natural grass holding golf shots from over 180 yards away. During this time we have developed many fun games for the homeowner and as with any golf competition there has to be a handicap system.
The IntelliTurf backyard handicap system consists of simply altering the number of shots each player is allowed. If you are a beginner and are playing skins on the floating golf green, maybe you get 4 shots instead of 3, the mid-handicap experienced golfer would get 3 and any pros hanging around the pool can get reduced to 2 shots.
Altering the number of shots is a very simple method to keep the game fair. If someone is losing every game, give them an extra shot on the even, odd or every hole. If there is an ace among you, dock them a shot on the even, odd or every hole.
Don’t make this too complicated. There is a saying amongst serious golfers, do your really care about winning a handicap tournament? For the serious golfers, get better and play straight up. For the beginners, we have a great system for you to be competitive on the Floating Golf Green.