Multi Tee/Mixed Gender Competition - 18 Hole Match Play

Multi Tee/Mixed Gender Competition - 18 Hole Match Play

This article will focus on scenarios that involve more than one set of tees – be they mixed gender competitions and/or events where a single gender plays from different sets of tees (the term ‘mixed/multi-tee’ is used to encompass both scenarios).

Commonly, in a competition where competitors are competing from different tees, the players will be playing from a set of tees with different Course Rating figures, as a result, competitors will be playing from a set of tees with different playing difficulties. This can also be the case where male and female golfers are competing from the same tee set, typically the Course Rating figure for Men will differ to the Course Rating figure assigned for Women. Added to this, competitors will be playing from a set of tees which hold a different Par figure. As a result, the difference in the Course Rating and Par figures means certain competitors may need to be compensated, in the form of "equalisation strokes". 

It is important to note, "equalisation strokes" apply solely to the competition.

The introduction of Course Rating – Par has simplified the requirement for equalisation strokes in such scenarios. Take Stableford and Par/Bogey as an example, the "play to handicap" (P2H) score from any tee is 36 points (or level Par) which means that no additional strokes are required; both players have the same target score and the difference in Course Rating figures is accounted for in the Course Handicap Calculation and subsequently the number of strokes the player receives to achieve the target score of 36 points.

The following mixed/multi-tees will be used in this example:


Norman and Norma both have a Handicap Index of 15.0.

Their Course Handicaps are calculated as:

Norman: (15.0 x 113 / 113) + (67.2 – 71) = 15.0 + (-3.8) = 11.2 rounded to 11

Norma: (15.0 x 129 / 113) + (72.0 – 72) = 17.124 + 0 = 17.124 rounded to 17

For singles match play the stroke allowance is 100% of the Course Handicap.

In addition, because the players are playing from tees with different Pars, the competitor playing over the course with the higher Par receives the difference in the Par values added to the Course Handicap after the application of the stroke allowance.

(Note that as the difference in Par will always be an integer, it is appropriate to round the Course Handicap at the earlier stage)

In this case Norma receives an upward adjustment of 1.0 strokes (72 – 71) after the stroke allowance is applied.

Norman’s Playing Handicap = Course Handicap

= 11

Norma’s Playing Handicap = Course Handicap + Difference in Par

= 17 + 1
= 18

Therefore Norma receives 7 strokes for the match.

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