Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/51611

Title

Four ball best ball 1

Author(s)

Pollard, Geoff;  Pollard, Graham

Abstract

In this paper a four-ball-best-ball (4BBB) model for pairs of players is set up. The 4BBB match play scoring system is seen to satisfy a basic requirement of fairness. It is shown that it is not strictly possible to rate individual players as 4BBB players. However, ( a reasonably broad) class of individual players is identified such that it is possible to rate them individually as 4BBB players. The capacity of an individual to play birdies is seen to be a very important determinant in being a successful member of a 4BBB pair, but there are other minor factors as well. Consideration is given to equal and unequal 4BBB pairs. The transitive law is seen to apply for 4BBB pairs. Thus, if pair A is better than pair B, and pair B is better than pair C, then pair A must be better than pair C. Correspondingly, if pair A is equal to pair B, and pair B is equal to pair C, then pair A must be equal to pair C. Consideration is given to some strategic issues in 4BBB match-play golf. For example, the conditions under which a player should take a greater risk and have a higher probability of taking a bogey in order to achieve a higher probability of scoring a birdie are determined. Also, the conditions under which a player, noting that his partner is about to have a 'bad' hole and score only a par or a bogey, should 'lay safe', are determined. Thirdly, players who can interact in certain ways are seen to have an advantage over those pairs that cannot do this. Finally, one pair's optimal strategy when they see that their opponents are about to score a par or a bogey, but not a birdie, is analyzed.

Publication type

Conference paper

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Source

Proceedings of the 9th Australasian Conference on Mathematics and Computers in Sport, New South Wales, Australia, 30 August - 03 September 2008, pp. 208-215

Publication year

2008

FOR Code(s)

010404 Probability Theory;  010406 Stochastic Analysis and Modelling

Keyword(s)

Selecting pairs of four-ball-best-ball players;  Strategies for four-ball-best-ball golf

Publisher

MathSport (ANZIAM)

ISBN

9780957862340

Publisher URL

http://www.anziam.org.au/Ninth+MCS

Peer reviewed