Has anybody tried Powerplay-golf?

Apparently, there's a new game variation popping up around Europe these days.



It's a game, played over 9 holes using the Stableford points system, except EVERY GREEN HAS 2 PINS.

One pin (white) is the "easy" position.

The scoring for white pins are as in Stableford

Net Bogey = 1 point
Net Par = 2 points
Net Birdie = 3 points
Net Eagle = 4 points

The other pin (Jolly Roger) is the "hard" pin position.

The scoring for the Jolly Rogers are different

Net Bogey = 1 point
Net Par = 2 points
Net Birdie = 6 points
Net Eagle = 8 points

During holes 1-8, you MUST attack 3, but no more than 3, Jolly Roger pins.

On hole number 9, you have the option to attack a fourth Jolly Roger, but should you choose that, you risk losing 2 points from a Net Bogey or worse (only hole where you can lose points).

So it's a strategy game. Risk the Jolly Rogers or play the "safe" shot to the easy pin?

My club is hosting a tournament on monday and 2 danish challenge-tour players will take part.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of turning golf into an arcade game, but I do see some positive ideas in this. Have any of you tried Powerplay Golf? Is it worth doing?

__________________
//Mox
2008 bag:
Mizuno MX-500 460cc 10.5* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff. (about to be replaced by MP-600 10,5* UST Proforce V2 stiff)
Mizuno F-50 3w 15* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff.
Wilson Deep Red 5w 18* Graphalloy Fatshaft stiff
Cleveland HALO 3i hybrid 22* graphite regular
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Heavy Putter B3-M
Titleist NXT Extreme

Seriously? Nobody?

I'll be reporting my take on the format after the tournament tomorrow, then :-)

Never heard of it until just now, Mox.

It seems like an interesting variation, made easier by playing a familiar course.

Do you have to declare which pin you're going at on the tee box? Or can you hit on the green and decide there?

You had to declare it at the tee box, before teeing off on the hole, which was a pain, since 5 of 9 greens on the course we played are blind from the tee box and 3 of the remaining 4 are elevated and give no visual feedback on depth.

It would have been nice (and more fair) if they had supplied us with a map of the pin positions.

Sadly, I played like a complete dunce today, and had no enjoyment what so ever from the format. I had a hard time just hitting the ball, which made the rest of the game quite irrellevant. I was never even close to scoring the powerplay-bonus on the holes I selected, and ended up with a pathetic 10 stableford points for the 9 holes played.

So I'm not going the review the format here, since it simply wouldn't be a fair evaluation. If you all get a chance to play a Powerplay match, I suggest you try it and post about it in here. I will, if I get another chance at it.

I will say this about the first impression ... It didn't strike me as being particularly interesting, but of course, when you struggle getting off the tee, you can't be bothered too much about whether or not you'd be able to par the hole.

From hitting the ball superbly 4 weeks ago, my game has completely disintegrated. All facets of the game has fallen apart. I can't drive the ball, I can hardly hit the ball on iron shots at all, I can't chip, pitch or putt.
Usually, it was only one facet at any given time that sucked. At the moment, it is all of them. But that's another story! :-(

__________________
//Mox
2008 bag:
Mizuno MX-500 460cc 10.5* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff. (about to be replaced by MP-600 10,5* UST Proforce V2 stiff)
Mizuno F-50 3w 15* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff.
Wilson Deep Red 5w 18* Graphalloy Fatshaft stiff
Cleveland HALO 3i hybrid 22* graphite regular
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Heavy Putter B3-M
Titleist NXT Extreme

I saw something about this on setanta golf, I think it was the out of bounds programme.

I thought it looks a good idea and a fun variation, if there was a course anywhere near me I would certainly give it a go!

I would not like it to take over from the traditional game, but I think everyone would be interested in a little change from time to time.