2018 Ryder Cup Results

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The results for the 2018 Ryder Cup held on 15 May 2018 at the Gateway National Golf Links have been posted to the Metro Seniors web site.  You can find the results on the Home/About Us page, or various links on the page side bar.

Or you can click here for the results.

Note: There were only 3 CTP awards.  Hole #7 had a combined Yellow (Back) and Red (Forward) Tee Box.  Hole #7 was a Back CTP.  The only individual that was eligible and put his name on the card was playing from the Forward (Red) tees.  Therefore there was no award given for the CTP on Hole #7.

 

2018 Ryder Cup Pairing List – Rev A

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Revision A to the 2018 Pairing List has been posted to the Metro Seniors web site.  It can be viewed on the Home/About Us page or on the side bar.

You can also click here to see the Rev A Ryder Cup Pairing List

There have been numerous cancellations and updates to teams and start holes.  So look at Rev A and make sure your team mate is aware of any changes.

 

2018 2-Man Ryder Cup Pairing List

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The Pairing List for the 2018 2-Man Ryder Cup has been posted to the Metro Seniors web site.  The Pairing List can be found on the Home/About Us page and the sidebar under Schedules/Signup – Confirm – Wait – Pairings Lists.

Or Click Here for the 2018 2-Man Ryder Cup Pairing List.

For information on the new handicap system being used for Special Events, Click Here.

The event will be held on Tuesday, 15 May, at Gateway National Golf Links.  It is a 7:30 am Shotgun Start.  Scott Bahno is the Lead.

Ryder Cup Format:

Holes 1 thru 6  Best Ball – Each partner plays own ball until hole is finished and team records the best score.

Holes 7 thru 12  Alternate Shot – Each partner tees off, team picks best drive, then hit alternating shots (including putts) until hole is finished.  Record the team score.

Holes 13 thru 18  Scramble – Each partner tees off, team picks best drive, then both hit from best spot (including putts) until hole is finished.  Record the team score.

 

First 100 Pairing List – Rev A

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We had some cancellations that required an update to the First 100 Pairing List.

See Rev A of the Pairing List posted on the web page.  Foursomes 9, 14, 15, & 18 have changed.  If you get to the course real early, the changes may not have been made to the carts.  Hold tight and somebody will be there with the updated reports.

Note: Foursome 19 was deleted.

 

How to Win Your Flight

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Want to know how to win or place more in the Metro Seniors Weekly Tournaments?

What increases your chances of winning or at least placing in the money?

Want to know if you score is likely to be a 1st or 2nd place for your flight?

Bottom line – Or Short Answers

  • If your net score is lower that the course rating, you are probably going to win some flight prize money.  Example – Course Rating 68.5     Net Score 66    Probably wins.
  • If your net score is 2 to 3 strokes below the course rating, winning chances improve significantly.
  • Frequent players are more likely to win, more chances, and perhaps improved play.
  • Very few players win more than once in a season.  Competition is significant.
  • 15 to 20 different players win their flights over 25 tournaments.

There are several factors will increase your chances of winning in your flight.

  • Play more outings
    • Members playing less than 10 outings won less than 10% of flight prize money
    • Members playing 15 or more outings won 74% of flight prizes
  • Improve your game
    • Playing more is a big factor in improving
    • Practice – especially putting and short game
  • Play strategically
    • Select the best tees for your scoring (usually forward tees)
    • Use rules properly for lost balls and hazards
    • Plan you shots for reality not wishful thinking
    • Play more low attendance outings – less competition

 

For those of you who want more data, read on.

Here is some real data that may help.

Actual data for 2017 for Division 1 (Friday, 18 hole). We had about 130 members for 2017 and played in 24 events (one rainout). Handicap distribution for Division 1 is a little higher than other divisions, but the trends and concepts will be the same.

For 2017, First Place Flight winners were well distributed. Between 15 to 20 different players won a 1st place in each flight. There were a few 2 time winners, and only 4 with 3 or more wins for the season. No one player is dominating any flight.

1 Time 2 Time 3 or more Total
Wins Wins Wins Players
First Place A Flight 8 Players 6 Players 1 Player 15
B Flight 16 Players 4 Players 20
C Flight 15 Players 3 Players 1 Player 19
D Flight 11 Players 3 Players 2 Players 16

Almost all of the first place flight winners in every flight played at least 15 or more rounds.

One important point, handicap is calculated at about your best 25 percentile – it is the about the average of the best 50% of your history. So matching or just beating your handicap can be a 10% to 20% event. Beating your handicap significantly – more than 5 or 6 points could be a 1 or 2% event.

Winning a flight once or twice a year is likely. Winning three or four times per year is very unlikely. Reduced competition, fewer players, course conditions, weather, will all be factors that influence who is winning and the winning scores.

What scores does it take to win a flight?

To win or place in your flight you will usually have to play better than your course handicap for the tees played.

Net Scores – Rating and Flight Placement
Net Score
– Tee/Course
Rating
1st Place – All Flights -0.8
2nd Place – All Flights 1.2
3rd Place – All Flights 3.5
4th Place – All Flights 4.1
5th Place – All Flights 5.3

To take 1st place in any flight, on average your net score would have to be about 1 stroke better that the course rating. Example – with a course rating of 68.8 a net score of 68 would put you close to winning. A net score of 64 would give you a very good chance of placing first.

Scores of 70, 72, 73 and 74 would give you an “average” chance of placing in 2nd through 5th place respectively. This placement is more competitive and you will usually need to be 2 to 4 strokes lower to really be competitive.

But we know that flights A – D have different competition. Looking only in 1st or 2nd in the different flights the competition is tougher.

Flt Net Score
– Tee/Course
Rating
1st Place A -1.3
B -1.0
C 0.4
D 2.7
2nd Place A 0.0
B 0.3
C 3.7
D 6.4

Essentially scoring a 1st place in A, B and C flight requires a net score about 1 to 4 strokes LOWER that the course rating. Example – a net score of 67 vs a course rating of 68.5 gives an “average” chance to win (68.5 course rating – 1.3 = 67.2). Getting to a net score pf 65 would be more likely to win.

2nd place in A or B flight would require about 68 or lower (68.5 – 0.0).

By contrast, D flight winners and 2nd place in D and C flights can be higher that the Course rating and still win. Why? Division 1 D flight frequently has low attendance. Fewer players, less competition, and higher scores will win. Flight C also has a little lower attendance and more variability in players skills week to week.

 

 

2018 First 100 Pairings List and Prizes

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The Pairings List for the 2018 First 100 Special Event has been posted on the Metro Seniors web page.

The list is available on the Home Page and the Confirm-Wait-Pairings Lists link on the side bar of the Home Page.

We have four flights A, B, C, D. Each flight will receive:

  • 1st place $30
  • 2nd place $25
  • 3rd place $20
  • 4th Place $10

There will be four Close To Pin (CTP) holes worth.  The closest for each hole will receive $5 prize.

Prize money will be paid at the end of the year.

2018 Season Started – Pace Information

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The new season is now officially underway.  All our 18 hole divisions (Div 1-5) completed the first tournaments.

Scores for Division 3, 4, and 5 are in.  Div 1 and 2 are in the mail.  Check out the top scores at OurGolfStats – CLICK HERE

We also have our first Pace of Play results for Div 1-4.

Generally we are doing well.  We did have a few groups that fell behind and slowed groups behind.

We will continue to measure Pace of Play.  Our targets are 4:30 pace with less that 15 minute finish gap for each group. Most groups already finish with less than a 10 minute gap.  Your Division VP will be able to help groups that are having problems.  Groups or individuals who are frequently “slow” will be warned and asked to improve.

Start Gap and Finish Gap are important indicators.  Div 3 had an average Start Gap of less than 7.7 minutes for 34 tee groups.  Other divisions averaged 1 to 2 minutes longer.  Taking a minute or two to each tee off simply delays everyone behind.  Adding 1 minute to each start tee off can delay the last groups’ start time by 15 to 20 minutes.

Almost everyone should be able to start their round about 8 minutes after the group ahead.

Please be at the start tee box ready to get started as soon as the group ahead moves off.  Start your tee off as soon as it is safe to hit.  Have everyone in your tee group ready to hit.  Don’t make the groups behind wait for you.

Division 1 at Incline Village.  We started with good weather, but had a 30 minute lightning delay.  We had only 19 tee groups (about 70 players) – due to lower headcount in Div 1 and distance to the course.  Adjusting for the delay and restart sequences, the pace was about 4:31, with the fastest group in at 4:20.  Start gap and finish gap both averaged 8.8 minutes.

Division 2 at Emerald Greens.  Strong turnout at 26 tee groups, about 100 players. Pace averaged 4:31, lead by about 10 tee groups in the front who finished in 4:15 to 4:20.  Unfortunately there were 6 tee groups, mostly  starting on the front nine who had big finish gaps – between 17 to 23 minutes.  Later groups who started on the front finished about 30 minutes slower than the late groups who started on the back nine.  Only one group finished over 4:50.  Start gap averaged 8.6 minutes, but finish gap was 10.7 minutes – indicating that the later groups were falling behind.

Division 3 at Aberdeen.  With excellent weather we again had a huge turnout – 34 tee groups, 130 players.  Average time was 4:38, a great time for this many groups.  Last year we had 4:31 average pace. The fastest group was 4:26.  Three groups finished between 4:50 – 4:53, two of these immediately followed the only group with a large finish gap > 15 minutes. Start time gap was 7.7 minutes and the finish gap was 8.1 minutes.

Division 4 at Wentzville. Turnout was strong with 31 tee groups, about 120 players.  Average pace was 4:38, again a good time.  Start time gap was 8.7 minutes average – groups were a little slower getting started.  Finish time gap averaged 9.4 minutes.  There were 5 groups with Finish gaps over 15 minutes.  The fastest group was finished in 4:20.  Unfortunately three groups finished over 4:50 and they did slow the groups following.

Division 5 – Data not yet available.