I want to step into a bit more of a “Learn to Play” focus, rather than some of the “Learn to Swing” ideas covered in previous newsletters.
I want to introduce you to a couple of games that you can play using Inrange+ Courses on your touchscreen, to add an element of competitive FUN to your training time or playing time with friends at the range.
They work well because they both will test your ability to keep focus for all 9/18 holes but at the same time have a light-hearted element that can allow you to get away with a bad hole or two if you are lucky, so you’re never completely out of the game if you have a couple of blow-ups.
The first game is called 3 Blind Mice (aka “3 Little Pigs”).
How it works:
Three numbers between 1 and 18 are drawn randomly after the round and those three holes are thrown out.
Players add up their scores from the remaining holes, and those are their scores for the round.
Variations you can try:
The three holes drawn become worth double – either double the points if it is a Stableford competition (fantastic!) or double the number of strokes if it is a Strokeplay competition (not so fantastic!);
- Players can throw out their 3 worst holes and their score is the total of the remaining 15;
- Game number 2 is called “Criss-Cross”.
How it works:
The front nine and back nine holes are paired up – No. 1 and No. 10 form a pair, No. 2 and No. 11, No. 3 and No. 12, and so on, up to No. 9 and No. 18. At the end of the round, compare the scores you recorded on No. 1 and No. 10, 2 and 11 etc etc and circle the lower of the two if you’ve played Strokeplay or circle the higher of the two if you were playing Stableford or Bogey formats.
Then add up the 9 holes you’ve circled. That’s your Criss-Cross score.
Criss-Cross is usually played using gross scores but Inrange handicaps can be used if you want to.
Variations you can try:
- Add the scores together for no. 1 and no. 10, no. 2 and no. 11 etc and then remove the best and the worst so that the 7 remaining scores make up your total;
- Players can throw out their worst pair and their score is the total of the remaining 8 pairs;
Have fun, and I hope these games have inspired you to get a friend or two together and head down to the Range to try them out - if you want more games like these then visit the “Learning Hub” section of my website (www.shaunfergusongolf.com ) where you will find them under the “Games for Learning” or “Games to Play On-Course” tabs.
