All Golfers Are Familiar With The “Best Ball” Format, But What About The Patent Pending “Worst Ball” Format?

Patent applications directed to methods of scoring a round of golf don’t come along everyday, but this week an interesting “worst ball” format patent application was published.

The application published as US Pub. No. 20090054169 titled “Method of Scoring Rounds of Golf” and describes the invention as:

A method for scoring a golf tournament that incorporates, in part, a worst ball format is presented. The invention is directed to a tournament or rounds of golf of teams of two golfers each. On certain of the holes, the format is a best ball format. On other holes, the format is a worst ball format, and on yet other holes, the format is a weighted one, in which the scores of the golfer for each hole are added together, and then either the best or worst score for that hole is added again. The team having the lowest total score at the end of the tournament is the winner.

The application goes on to explain:

[0001] The invention herein resides in the art of sports and, more particularly, to the field of golf. Specifically, the invention relates to a method for scoring rounds of golf, either singularly or for tournament play. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of scoring rounds of golf that relies significantly on the utilization of worst ball scoring, in contradistinction to the best ball scoring that is often employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The sport of golf is widely embraced by participants and spectators alike. While the athletic ability of the participants and the skills demonstrated in their “long” and “short” games contribute significantly to the enjoyment of the game for both the participant and spectators, further enjoyment, intrigue and challenge comes from the method of scoring employed. Those familiar with the game of golf are aware of a broad range of formats by which the game is played and scored. By way of example, these formats include skins, match play, best ball, points, alternate shot, scramble and the like. Tournaments are often fashioned upon these formats or various combinations thereof.

[0003] In team play rounds or tournaments, a best ball format is often employed. In that format, the field may be broken into teams of two players each, and on each hole the lowest or “best” score between the two partners is entered for the team. At the end of this best ball round or tournament, the two man team with the lowest score (aggregate of lowest scores on each hole) is the winner.

[0004] A problem with best ball play for such tournaments is the fact that a dominant player on any team can remove any doubt as to the outcome of the round or tournament early in that round or tournament, reducing the suspense or intrigue at the end of the round or tournament, where it is typically desired to be highest. Moreover, such best ball tournaments often serve to effectively reduce the two golfer team to a one golfer team, again reducing the suspense and intrigue in the round or tournament itself.

[0005] There is a need in the sport of golf for a scoring method that gives consideration to the worst ball on at least certain of the holes of the round or tournament, with the resultant effect of leaving the outcome effectively indeterminate until the last putt is made. Consideration of worst balls in the scoring method also has the tendency to reduce the significance of a single dominant player, ensuring that the scores of both players will likely be used, and effecting more of a team result than a single player result.

[0006] It is most desirable to have a scoring method in golf that considers both the best and worst contributions of team members, that leaves the suspense as to who will win until the last putt, and that is adaptable to implementation in various formats.

[0007] In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the invention to provide a method of scoring rounds of golf in which the best and worst contributions from team members are considered in the scoring.

[0008] Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a method of scoring rounds of golf in which the effect of a dominant player on any team is reduced by the necessity of scoring the worst ball on various holes.

[0009] Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a method of scoring rounds of golf that leaves the outcome of the round or tournament in suspense until the last putt on the last hole.

[0010] Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a method of scoring rounds of golf in which the effects of the impact of the worst ball on scoring can be regulated.

[0011] Still another aspect of the invention is the provision of a method of scoring rounds of golf that is exciting for both spectators and participants, encompasses the full range of performance of team members, and precludes the weakest team member from simply being carried.

[0012] The foregoing and other aspects of the invention that will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a method of scoring a golf tournament between competing teams of at least two persons each, comprising the following steps: entering for each team the lowest score of the team members for a first set of holes of the tournament; entering for each team the highest score of the team members for a second set of holes of the tournament; and totaling the scores entered for each team from said first and second sets of holes, and determining the winner of the tournament to be the team with the lowest total score.

[0013] Further aspects of the invention which will become apparent herein are achieved by a method of scoring a golf tournament between competing teams of at least two persons each, comprising the following steps: entering as a first score for each team the lowest score of the team members for a first set of holes of the tournament; entering as a second score for each team the highest score of the team members for a second set of holes of the tournament; entering as a third score for each team a weighted aggregate score of the team members for a third set of holes of the tournament; and totaling said first, second and third scores, and determining the winner of the tournament as the team with the lowest total score.

Interesting idea, but might be difficult to enforce if a patent is granted.

Dave Dawsey  – Keeping an Eye on Golf Inventions

PS – check out other golf tee related posts here