eClub Four-Ball Match Play Championship

 

ENTRY/WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: Once event is full at 64 teams/128 players or March 14 at 11:59 p.m., whichever comes first.

FIELD: Open to the first 64 teams/128 competitors with active membership in one of the 8 NCGA eClubs to register.

ENTRY FEE: $30 per person; the final 2 teams will play a Championship Match to determine the Champion. Unlike previous years, the championship match date and host course will be determined later by agreement of both teams. NCGA staff will find a private or high end public/resort course to host the Championship Match. Championship Match fees and awards are paid for by NCGA.

 

**Important Format Information**

The format will use the "POD" system to conduct the matches. This is modeled after the PGA TOUR's Match Play event. 16 "PODS" of 4 teams each will be created prior to the matches starting. Each team in the "POD" will play each of the 3 other teams once prior to the given deadline (below). Teams may schedule their matches any time within the deadline, with the additional stipulations below. The team with the best record after their 3 matches are completed will advance to the "knockout round" where they will play single elimination until only 2 teams remain for the Championship Match.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. The initial bracket seeding process will more heavily weigh team handicap indexes so that if at all possible, matches will be contested between teams of similar handicaps. Your eClub location will be highly considered for early round matches so travel is at a minimum.
2. You may only play the same course ONE time during the duration of the tournament. This will help to prevent against “home course” advantage. A team who reports a match at the same course previously used will be DISQUALIFIED unless the match is replayed at a different course prior to the deadline.
3. Per USGA recommendations for Four-Ball Match Play, players will play to 90% of their course handicap.
4. The eClub reserves the right to modify a player’s handicap index at any time during the competition if it believes the player’s index does not represent their true ability based on scores from this event and their handicap history.

 

 

FORMAT: "POD" (Round Robin) Four-Ball net Match Play; then Single Elimination Four-Ball net Match Play

• Teams/Players will register for the event before the entry deadline and then will be seeded in a "POD" of 4 teams. Seeding is determined by handicap index (as of the close of entries) with a priority on which eClub you are in. There will be circumstances where some teams may not be in a "POD" with teams from the same eClub.
• A substitute is only allowed prior to your 1st round match. After that, a substitute is NOT allowed except by Committee decision (generally, only for teams whose players did not know each other and an unforeseen circumstance requires 1 player to withdraw)
• Each match within your "POD" MUST be completed by the deadline date given. The team with the most points in their respective "POD" will advance to the "Single Elimination round" against a winner of another "POD" until only 2 teams remain. The finalists will advance to play at Pasatiempo Golf Club on September 15th. Green fees, cart, and lunch will be paid by the NCGA eClubs.
• Players will receive 90% of their handicap per USGA recommendations. 
• It is each player’s responsibility to provide their most recent handicap index for each match.  
• Per handicap regulations, each match’s handicap stroke allocation will be as follows: the player with the lowest course handicap will play to “scratch.” The remaining three players will receive the difference in strokes compared to the low player and those strokes will be given beginning with the most difficult handicap hole on that match’s given course.
• Example below: -At course X with tee markers Y, Tim receives 4 strokes, Bob receives 8 strokes, John receives 10 strokes, and Mike receives 12 strokes. Tim has the lowest handicap and will receive 0 strokes. Bob will receive 4 strokes (8-4), John receives 6 strokes (10-4), and Mike receives 8 strokes (12-4). The strokes will be issued on the most difficult handicap holes on course X with tee markers Y.
• Any disputes regarding teams’ inability to schedule their match before the deadline date will be decided by the Committee.

 

TIES IN GROUP POD PLAY: If team(s) are tied with the same number of points after POD play is completed, the team that will advance to single elimination play is determined by the best Head to Head record, then by the total of Holes "Up" in their 3 matches, then by random draw (unless teams are able to complete a tiebreaking match within the given deadline) 

 

MATCH PLAY BRACKETS SCHEDULE (schedule is subject to change):      

 

Group Pod Play Deadline

Sunday, May 30th

Round of 16 Teams Deadline:

Sunday, July 11th

Round of 8 Teams Deadline:

Sunday, August 15th

Semifinals Deadline:

Sunday, September 19th

Championship Match:

Date between September 24 - November 24 to be agreed on by Finalists, course to be determined by NCGA.

 

KEY NOTES:

·       Players MUST be an active NCGA eClub member with standing in the 2021 season to participate and be age 18 or older. Guests are NOT eligible for the Match Play Championship.

·       All eClub events will require that participants display proper golf etiquette and behaviors. This would include no denim, no cut-off clothing, the removal of hats when inside facility buildings and no foul language. Players could be given further prohibitions as the club sees fit but those will be provided in the player e-mail. The NCGA does have the right to remove anyone for not abiding by these rules at any time. Being removed from property would result in the loss of all funds.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY:

·        The cancellation date is the date when this event reaches 128 players for the cancellation cost of $10. A cancellation after this date will be a “forfeit” and a loss of all funds.