Power Play Golf?

[Syt]

Seems there's some effort of making Golf more interesting for viewers.

http://www.powerplay-golf.com/play/how-to-play-powerplay-golf/

How to play Powerplay Golf

PowerPlay Golf is professional golf's new tournament format, which YOU can play at any golf club worldwide. The club simply needs to be a PowerPlay Golf Official Venue.

Find out more about Powerplay by following the links below:

    * Full Rules
    * Strokeplay Tips
    * Count Backs
    * Matchplay Tips
    * Shootout
    * Etiquette & General Rules

FULL RULES AND POINTS SCORING

GENERAL

1. Except as specifically provided below, the Rules of Golf as laid down by R&A Rules Limited prevail in PowerPlay Golf® Strokeplay at all times.
2. The stipulated round in PowerPlay Golf® Strokeplay is 9 holes.

DEFINITIONS

3. Two holes are cut on each putting green, one with a White Flag and one with a Black Flag. The 'White Flag' hole location is considered easy to play, and the 'Black Flag' hole location is considered more difficult to play.
4. Going for a 'PowerPlay' means playing to the Black Flag.

GOING FOR A 'POWERPLAY'

5. A player must go for exactly three PowerPlays in the first eight holes, and their marker must mark their scorecard by circling the three holes on which they go for a PowerPlay. A scorecard on which a player has not marked exactly three PowerPlays in the first eight holes is deemed to be invalid, and the player will be disqualified from the event.
6. A player must play to the White Flag when not going for a PowerPlay.
7. Players must nominate their PowerPlays before their tee shot. A PowerPlay nominated after the tee shot is invalid. Once nominated, and the tee shot taken, a PowerPlay cannot be withdrawn.
8. On the ninth hole, players can go for a bonus 'PowerPlay', at greater risk (see Rule 12).

SCORING POINTS

9. Scoring in PowerPlay Golf® Strokeplay is by the Stableford points system.
10. When not going for a PowerPlay (ie: when playing to the White Flag), players score normal Stableford points.
Namely:

    * Net Double Bogey or worse 0 points
    * Net Bogey 1 point
    * Net Par 2 points
    * Net Birdie 3 points
    * Net Eagle 4 points
    * Net Albatross 5 points

11. When going for PowerPlay (ie: when playing to the Black Flag), players score double points for a Net Birdie or better. Scoring is therefore as follows:

    * Net Double Bogey or worse 0 points
    * Net Bogey 1 point
    * Net Par 2 points
    * Net Birdie 6 points (PowerPlay)
    * Net Eagle 8 points (PowerPlay)
    * Net Albatross 10 points (PowerPlay)

Note that players do not score double points for Pars or Bogeys when on a PowerPlay.
12 Players face decision time on the ninth (last) tee. Either play it safe to the White Flag (protect your score), or go for a final bonus PowerPlay to the Black Flag, for a potential last-hole points boost- but at the risk of a last-hole points penalty. If going for bonus PowerPlay on the ninth (last) hole, players score as per a normal PowerPlay (Rule 11), except they score minus three points on that hole if they score a Net Bogey or worse.
Example: If a player scores a Net Bogey, Net Double Bogey or worse on a ninth hole PowerPlay, that player scores -3 points on that hole, meaning that his total score for the round is reduced by 3 points.

Strokeplay Tips

(see full Rules Of The Game)
1. PowerPlay Golf is played over 9 holes off full handicap, and uses the Stableford points system. Highest total points after 9 holes wins.
2. There are two flags on each green – White and Black. The Black Flag is generally in the harder position.
3. When you go for a PowerPlay – which means, play to the Black flag – you score double points ONLY if you get a net birdie or better. EG: score 6 points for net birdie on a PowerPlay.
4. You must play to the White Flag when not on a PowerPlay.
5. You must go for exactly three PowerPlays in your first eight holes.
6. You can opt for a fourth PowerPlay on the 9th. However you lose 3 points from your total score for net bogey or worse on a final-hole PowerPlay.
7. You must nominate your PowerPlay before you take your tee shot. Once nominated, and the shot taken, a PowerPlay cannot be withdrawn.
8. As a courtesy, golfers playing to the White flag should putt out before golfers playing to the Black flag.
9. When you are marking a card, draw a circle around the hole number when you have taken a PowerPlay. This helps in a Count Back situation.

Count Backs

In PowerPlay Golf the winner is the player with the highest points total after 9 holes. If scores are tied, the winner is:
1. Whichever golfer went for a PowerPlay on the final hole

If both golfers either did, or did not go for a PowerPlay on the final hole, the winner is:
2. The golfer who scored the most points on the final hole;
3. Then, the golfer with the highest PowerPlay points total over the full 9 holes (IE: points scores when on a PowerPlay to the Black Flag);
4. Then, the golfer with the highest overall points total over the final 3 holes;
5. Then, the golfer with the highest overall points total over the final 6;
6. Then, a coin toss.

PowerPlay Golf Matchplay

(see full Rules Of The Game)
1. Each player must go for exactly three PowerPlays in the first eight holes. You can go for a fourth PowerPlay on the 9th hole.
2. You must play to the White Flag when not on a PowerPlay.
3. You must nominate your PowerPlay before you take your tee shot. Once nominated, and the shot taken, a PowerPlay cannot be withdrawn.
4. Holes are won and lost in the normal way. EG: after strokes are taken, a birdie beats a par regardless of which flag the golfer is playing to;
5. If after strokes are taken both golfers' scores are the same on a given hole, the player going for a PowerPlay wins. IE: a net score gained on the Black Flag 'trumps' the same net score gained on the White Flag;
6. If net scores are the same and both are either playing to the White Flag or to the Black Flag, the hole is halved in the normal way;
7. Halved matches can be settled by a single Extra Hole. The player with the honour decides whether to go for a PowerPlay on the extra hole. Their opponent must play to the other flag. This extra hole cannot be halved: if net scores are the same, the Black Flag 'trumps' the White Flag.

See full rules HERE.

'Shootout'

PowerPlay Golf's 'shotgun start' formula is called the PowerPlay Shootout.
Contact Powerplay here to request a copy of the PowerPlay Shootout rules.

Etiquette and General Rules

Handicaps
PowerPlay Golf is recommended to be played off a full handicap allowance.

Courtesy Rule
Golfers playing to the White Flag should putt out before golfers playing to the Black Flag

Stymie Rule
On the green, if one flag obstructs the golfer's ball to the other (target) hole, the golfer may Lift & Replace that ball to the nearest point of relief, no nearer to the target hole, that gives a clear path to the target hole. A player off the green can remove the non-target pin if it obstructs the route to the target hole.

Hitting A Flagstick
If a ball is played from off the green and hits any flagstick, it is deemed a rub of the green and the ball must be played as it lies when it comes to rest. If a ball is played from on the green and hits any flagstick, then the normal Rules of Golf apply.

Holing in the Wrong Hole
If a ball finished in the wrong (non target) hole, a player may Lift & Replace that ball to the nearest point of relief, no nearer to the target hole, that gives a clear path to the target hole.

[Zeus]

Golf would still suck, imho.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Sounds dumb.  There are also only 14 clubs in the US that bother with it, and most of them are "young people" places (the "First Tee" joints on the list there).  For comparison, there are like 16-17,000 golf courses in the US, and something like 4,500 private clubs.  Europeans are weird, so maybe there are more over there, but really...why not just golf using one of the various normal ways of playing (skins games fucking rule) using mostly standard rules that don't, for example, require stupidity like two holes on a green?