Tournament Format

The 2008 Desert Hunt Invitational is a Match Play Tournament. In match play the game is played by holes. A hole is won by the side that holes its ball in fewer strokes. In a handicap match the lower net score wins the hole. A match (which consists of a stipulated round) is won by the side which is leading by a number of holes greater than the number of holes remaining to be played. Matches are worth one (1) point to the winning side and zero (0) points to the losing side. Ties are worth one-half (˝) point to both sides.

ROUND ONE

FOURSOME MATCH PLAY (Alternate Shot)

In a foursome match, two (2) play against two (2) and each side plays one ball. In a foursome during any stipulated round, the partners play alternately from the teeing ground and alternately during the play of each hole.

Handicap Allowance

The allowance for the higher-handicapped side is fifty percent (50%) of the difference between 75% of the combined Course Handicaps of the members of each side. Any handicap allowance falling between two whole numbers (as a result of the difference between the combined Course handicaps of the members of each side being an odd number) will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

Example 1

Team A with a 75% of combined Course Handicap of 34 shall receive eight (8) strokes from Team B with a 75% of combined Course Handicap of 18 (34 – 18 = 16 ; 16 x 50% = 8). Team A receives them on the holes allocated as the first eight (8) handicap-stroke holes

Example 2

Team A with a 75% of combined Course Handicap of 25 shall receive five (5) strokes from Team B with a 75% of combined Course Handicap of 16 (25 – 16 = 9 ; 9 x 50% = 4.5 ; 4.5 rounds up to 5). Team A receives them on the holes allocated as the first five (5) handicap-stroke holes.

ROUND TWO

FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAY (Better Ball)

In four-ball match play, two (2) play their better ball against the better ball of two (2) other players.

Handicap Allowance

75% of the Course Handicaps for all four players are reduced by the Course Handicap of the player with the lowest handicap, who shall then play from scratch. Each of the other three (3) players is allowed one hundred percent (100%) of the difference.

Example

Player 1 on Team B would play from scratch, Player 1 on Team A shall receive eight (8) strokes, Player 2 on Team A shall receive three (3) strokes and Player 2 on Team B would receive eleven (11) strokes. The players with strokes receive them on the handicap-stroke holes equivalent to their allocation.

ROUND THREE

FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAY (Better Ball)

Same as described for Round Two (above)

ROUND FOUR

SINGLES MATCH PLAY

In Singles match play, the match is won by the player who is leading by a number of holes greater than the number of holes remaining to be played.

Handicap Allowance

The higher-handicapped player receives the full difference between 90% of the Course Handicaps of the two (2) players: the lower-handicapped player shall play from scratch.

Example

A player with a 90% Course Handicap of 16 shall receive four (4) strokes from a player with a Course Handicap of 12. The player receives them on the holes allocated as the first four (4) handicap-stroke holes.

The 2008 Desert Hunt Invitational Tournament adopts the recommendations of the United States Golf Association (USGA) Handicap System Manual and, more specifically, Section 9 – Handicap Competitions sub-sections 9-4a (i) Singles Match Play, 9-4a (iii) Four-Ball Match Play, and 9-4a (vii) Foursome Match Play. The Founders recommend that you familiarize yourself with Section 9 of the USGA Handicap System Manual.

TIE-BREAKER

In the event that the overall match is all square (tie) at the end of the regulation play of the tournament, the Captain’s will play a three (3) hole Singles Match Play tie breaker to determine the winning team. The Singles Match Play tie breaker will begin on the teeing ground of the first tee box on the course last played in the tournament. In the event that the three (3) hole Singles Match Play tie breaker concludes in a tie (all square), then a sudden death tie breaker will begin on the teeing ground of the fourth tee box on the course last played in the tournament and continue through the rest of the course until a winner has been determined. The Handicap Allowance for Singles Match Play will be in effect.