Quota points game

Question
QUESTION: We are having a bit of controversy in our group when playing quota points games. We usually end up with an uneven number of players so we go with lets say, three threesomes and one foursome. The prevailing opinion is that the foursome has the advantage because they have one additional chance to make a birdie or an eagle. I have never heard of this being proved mathemeatically or statistically. Have you ever heard of this and if it's true how do we compensate for the advantage ?

         Thanks,

         Maury

ANSWER: Hi Maury,

Yes, the foursome would have advantage over the threesomes, unless the points system you are using as negative points (such as -2, -1, 0, 1, 3, 5: 0 being a net bogie).

Which points system do you use? Do you drop out the worst points of one player in the foursome so that there are only 3 players counting for all the groups?

If this is the case, you would need to randomly choose the omitted player (say by drawing straws). You could do so on each hole (could be different players on different holes) or just at the end of the round (one player).

Provide me with some clarification.

Ken Tannar
www.probablegolfinstruction.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ken,

   We tried the negative points today ( minus one for a bogie ) with everything else staying the same and the guys seemed to think it was more fair. We again had three three's and a four and the scores were dramatically different but seemed more fair than before.

   Before we start, normally we just throw up balls to determine the teams but some of the guys were thinking that we should pick the "A" players first and then random draw the rest. That keeps all the low handicap guys from getting on the same team. Does this sound like a good way to set the teams ?

   I'm not sure I understand the idea about dropping out one of the four players and counting only three. Is this done randomly or how. That may be another way to balance things out.

   Thanks for your help.

         Maury

Answer
HI Maury,

If you have low handicappers (like single digits whereas the rest are in their mid to high teens or 20s, definitely split them up by marking their golf balls. You can then throw all the balls and divide up the others with these players.

When I suggest dropping one score of each 4, I'm assuming you're  just totaling the points of each group, thus you can only count 3 from each. You can't select the best one or two balls as then the foursome would have an advantage. Yes, you need to randomly withdraw the fourth from the group so there is equal chance of taking out + points and - points.

Ken