ABOUT

MODIFIED CHICAGO SCORING

A variant of the game "Chicago" is used for the Stillwater Classic. In the Classic version of "Chicago," each golfer subtracts his handicap from 39, yielding his target number, which is called the "hurdle." The player's goal is to reduce that number to zero (or lower) by knocking off points for good holes.

Scoring chart

Anything above +5 doesn’t count, so a player can pick up after lipping out a putt for 9 on a par 4. The winner is the player who has the lowest score after 18 holes.

Example: Player John Smith is determined to have a handicap of 10. Subtracting from 39 gives a hurdle of 29. He scores the following:

So... John Smith's Chicago score is +5. The hurdle (29) reduced by points gained and lost (24) results in a final score (+5).

SCORING FORMAT - 2017

(Assuming 16 players, 8 teams)

Day 1 - Team Chicago

Two-man teams are drawn. Players are chosen from two handicap pools. Players with lower handicaps are placed in Pool “A” and players with higher handicaps are placed in Pool “B”. Teams are selected at random. (Players representing the championship team from the previous year are paired together for the chance to defend their title.)

Points are earned by each player within his pool. Each player plays his round and his Chicago score is calculated. Pool “A” players are compared to each other and the same for Pool “B” players. Points are awarded as follows:

At the end of day one if Team Orange’s “A” player finished 6th in his pool and the “B” player finished 2nd in his pool, Team Orange has 10 points.

Day 2, Round 1 - Best Ball

Round 1 is played in a best ball format that includes handicaps. Team members play together in this round. Each player plays his own ball and records his score on each hole. Once each team member’s handicap is factored in, the best score of the two is recorded as the team score for the hole.

Example: Hole 1 is a par four that is listed on the scorecard as handicap hole 7. Player “A” on Team Orange has a handicap of 5 and player “B” has a handicap of 14. Each player plays hole 1 and they both make a bogey (5) on the hole. Since player “B” gets a handicap stroke on the hole, the team records a par (4) for that hole.

This proceeds through all 18 holes and points are awarded based on how each team finishes.

Again, assuming 16 players (8 teams) scoring is as follows:

Example: Team Orange combines to shoot a best ball score of 73, but two teams shot better scores. Team Orange gets 10 points for the best ball round.

Day 2, Round 2 - Scramble

Round 2 is played in a scramble format. Foursomes are selected based on finishing order after Day 1. The person who finished last using the Chicago format after Day 1 has the first choice of team captains. Then the next to last chooses, and so on, until the teams are filled.

In a four-man scramble format, four players play together as a team. Each player on the team tees off from the tee box. The team members select the best tee shot of the four, and ALL golfers then play their second shot from that location. Play is continued in this manner until the hole is completed. After the hole is completed, the team score is recorded and play continues under the same guidelines on the remaining holes. At least two tee shots must be used by each team member on any two holes during the round.

The scramble is played and final score recorded for 18 holes. Points go to each team member as follows (still assuming 16 players):

Day 3 - Individual Chicago

Everyone plays their own ball and records their score. The Chicago system is applied again, with everyone trying to get to zero (or below). All scores are compared to each other with points assigned as follows:

Example: If player “A” from team Orange finishes in 11th place and player “B” finishes in 4th place, then team Orange receives 19 points.

All team points are added up at the end of each day, and the team collecting the most points over the three days earns the coveted title of “Champion Golfers of the Year.”

History