Started in the fall of 2019. The Gobblers was started because a few friends wanted to create a friendly contest. We settled on creating a Fedex Cup like experience. That first season consisted of just four players. Now, we have a strong community of golfers who enjoy playing each round with tournament like conditions.
Within every round we play some additional games. These are optional.
1. Skin play - Per hole, best net score wins a skin, skins range from $1-$2 dollars a piece.
2. Best net front-nine, back-nine, and overall 18. Each worth 3 skins.
3. Closets to the hole on every par 3 - $2 dollar buy-in.
4. Snake, snake is a per group option. Every time a person 3-putts, they have been bit by the snake. If you have the snake by the end of the round, you owe every other golfer in the group $5 bucks.
GOBBLER OPEN RULES AND TOURNAMENT BREAKDOWN
Gobbler Open Rules and Tournament Breakdown
Rules:
Tee Boxes: we'll be playing from the white tees all three rounds:
Dye: 6,005 (par 72)
Norman: 5,874 (par 72)
Fazio: 5,636 (par 71)
Max handicap is 26. All handicaps will round down to the nearest whole number.
Tournament handicaps are based on the 18Birdies index. 18Birdies Handicap FAQ - see how index is adjusted based on rounds recorded.
Seeding round and Championship rounds will have slightly different handi calculations. See below for more information.
Max score per hole: 11
Required to state the ball you are using at the tee box or after a drop is needed.
Pro tip: focus on every tee shot that goes out of play and try to help your group out by watching their tee shots as well.
Groupings: rounds 1 & 2 we'll be pairing up however we want. Get some rounds in with buddies. Round 3 we'll be grouping based on standings. Last 4 golfers on first tee time, middle 4 in middle tee time, and top 4 in the last tee time.
Integrity is a vital part of the Gobbler Open. Thus, if a member is caught or thought to have maliciously cheated, that player will be disqualified.
If the offense is more gray area and not necessarily malicious, the commissioners will align on an appropriate penalty that will likely result in additional strokes
All USGA rules are enforced with the exception of specific call outs below:
Gimme Putts: Up to the discretion of each group for putts within the leather. Putts must be within the leather, this is still a tournament after all. If at least one person does not concede the gimme then the player must putt else a 1 stroke penalty.
All drops, free relief or from penalty, will allow for two-club lengths. Red & Yellow stakes.
Out of Bounds (OB): Will be defined by either White stakes or non-course borders (eg Homes, Condos, Roads, etc).
If you hit your shot OB, you must drop your ball from your original spot and hit again (one stroke penalty) or declare that you will drop in the fairway. (two stroke penalty)
If you are unsure if your ball went OB, you must hit a provisional shot from your original spot. You may then search for your original ball. If your original shot did go OB, you have two choices:
Hit your provisional which had a 1 stroke penalty.
Draw a parallel line from where your original ball went out of bounds and the pin, drop 2 club lengths from where the rough meets the fairway (no closer to the hole), take a 2 stroke penalty.
Example: You hit your tee shot near a line of houses on the right. Your ball goes OB about 200 yards up.
You hit a provisional from the tee box. You chunk it 50 yards up the fairway.
You go search for your original ball. If you find it, you can play it without any penalty. If you don’t find it, you can decide to either:
Play your provisional with a 1 stroke penalty (hitting 4)
Drop a new ball where your original ball went out of bounds, take a 2 stroke penalty (hitting 4)
Any player may pick-clean-place a ball that ends up in the fairway (of the hole you’re playing). This includes taking balls out of divots, holes, or off of dirt/rocks and placing the ball on grass.
Determining what is or is not a fairway - At times, the fairway will not be clear and obvious. In those cases, the player will need to get a second opinion from his playing partners. All on the field decisions will be deemed as sufficient and no-contest.
If your ball ends up in a footprint in a bunker, you can move it out of the footprint no closer to the hole. This is the only reason to touch a ball in a bunker.
If you're ball is in play (not in a hazard) and on rocks, you can move it to dirt or grass (within 1 club length)
If unsure about a situation or ruling, ask the group, and if the group comes to a consensus on a ruling, that will be accepted.
Tournament Calculations:
The Gobbler Open is divided into two sections. The seeding round and the Championship rounds. During the seeding round players compete for an additional advantage to be used during the Championship rounds. After seeding, the Championship weekend commences and is a cumulative stroke play format.
Seeding Round:
Handicap is based on your 18birdies index rounded down.
Players will be awarded strokes off depending on how they finish during the seeding round. These strokes off earned will be applied to their championship handicap and provide an additional advantage. The reward table is below:
Finish Position Strokes Earned
1 -12.03
2 -9.62
3 -7.69
4 -6.16
5 -4.93
6 -3.94
7 -3.15
8 -2.52
9 -2.02
10 -1.61
11 -1.29
12 -1.03
Championship Rounds:
The goal of the Championship rounds is to provide a tournament style atmosphere. As such, we will play in a two-day cumulative stroke play format. Much like the Pros but condensed into a weekend and on two separate courses.
You will receive a handicap for the Championship rounds after the seeding round has concluded. Your handicap will be determined by either the lower of 18 birdies index or your gross seed round score, whichever is lowest, (x2) + Strokes off earned.
Example: Your 18Birdies index is a 12. During the seeding round you shot 10 over and took second place overall. Your championship handicap will be 10(x2) + 9.62 = 29.62. So, this player would start the championship rounds at -29.62.
We’re using 10 instead of their 18birdies index of 12 because we take the lower of either the index or the gross score from the seeding round.
Just like the FedEx Championship, players will see they have a beginning weekend stroke total even before teeing off. As mentioned above, this is your handicap and as such will be in the form of a negative stroke total number. As play progresses and scores submitted, those scores will be added to the existing stroke total. Winner will be whomever has the lowest stroke total after the two days.
Using this format, not only will we get the experience of a stroke play tournament but each player will have a clear view of their tournament standings and what they need to do in order to win the crown.
Winner is the player who has the lowest net stroke total at the end of the two championship rounds.
Simple Example:
Seeding round winning: -10
Handicap going into Championship weekend: 20
Total strokes starting the weekend (beginning weekend stroke total): -50
Total strokes across Championship weekend (scores combined after both rounds): 180
Championship weekend net stroke total: 130
In an event of a tie:
In an event of a tie the players involved in the tie will play in a 1 hole sudden death playoff with their established championship net handicap in 18birdies. Play will continue on to the next hole until one golfer outscores the other with their net handicap for each hole.
Score Submissions:
Please download appSheet to your mobile device and use the GobblerOpen app.
Using this app should give players the ability to submit new scores, review old scores, review players, and review regular season as well as tournament standings. If unable to submit scores please contact Andy or Levi.