Tie breaker question

[Noles]

My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.

[BigSky59]

[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445131936' post='12470952']
My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.
[/quote]

This is the USGA-recommended method way to break ties. Should be last 9 holes, then last 6, then last 3, then last hole. They could probably choose to give medals to everyone, but want to prepare these youngsters for how tie-breakers will (should) be handled the rest of their playing careers.

[Noles]

[quote name='JJH_PGA' timestamp='1445133400' post='12471038']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445131936' post='12470952']
My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.
[/quote]

This is the USGA-recommended method way to break ties. Should be last 9 holes, then last 6, then last 3, then last hole. They could probably choose to give medals to everyone, but want to prepare these youngsters for how tie-breakers will (should) be handled the rest of their playing careers.
[/quote] it just seems so wrong to me. Imagine if at the end of 4 quarters of a football or basketball game, the team with the most points in the 4th quarter was awarded the win.

[BigSky59]

[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445137431' post='12471210']
[quote name='JJH_PGA' timestamp='1445133400' post='12471038']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445131936' post='12470952']
My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.
[/quote]

This is the USGA-recommended method way to break ties. Should be last 9 holes, then last 6, then last 3, then last hole. They could probably choose to give medals to everyone, but want to prepare these youngsters for how tie-breakers will (should) be handled the rest of their playing careers.
[/quote] it just seems so wrong to me. Imagine if at the end of 4 quarters of a football or basketball game, the team with the most points in the 4th quarter was awarded the win.
[/quote]
I hear ya... The USGA recommended format is the usual go-to process because it takes any and all confusion/politics/or any other concerns out of play. A lot of times it is used because of timeliness. For example, a scorecard playoff is much easier/faster than conducting a sudden-death playoff that could potentially last 4-5 holes which equates to about an hour or more. When a committee uses the USGA recommended format, it is the "rules of golf" deciding the outcome of a competition, not the committee. But still, I understand where you're coming from.

[Juice__25]

[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445137431' post='12471210']
[quote name='JJH_PGA' timestamp='1445133400' post='12471038']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445131936' post='12470952']
My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.
[/quote]

This is the USGA-recommended method way to break ties. Should be last 9 holes, then last 6, then last 3, then last hole. They could probably choose to give medals to everyone, but want to prepare these youngsters for how tie-breakers will (should) be handled the rest of their playing careers.
[/quote] it just seems so wrong to me. Imagine if at the end of 4 quarters of a football or basketball game, the team with the most points in the 4th quarter was awarded the win.
[/quote]

I think it's made that way to give the one with the momentum the win without having to go and do another 18 hole, 9 hole, 6 hole, or 3 hole playoff format. While I believe that momentum could shift at any time, it also helps with pace of play and avoids congestion issues when you also have the 12-18 year olds usually playing a full 18, behind them. On top of that, the USGA believes a one hole playoff is unfair because it puts too much immediacy on just one hole. To them it would be like in a basketball game, whoever scores next wins, instead of lets play an extra 5 mins and see who comes out on top. Hope this is understandable.

[Noles]

[quote name='Juice__25' timestamp='1445138255' post='12471260']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445137431' post='12471210']
[quote name='JJH_PGA' timestamp='1445133400' post='12471038']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445131936' post='12470952']
My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.
[/quote]

This is the USGA-recommended method way to break ties. Should be last 9 holes, then last 6, then last 3, then last hole. They could probably choose to give medals to everyone, but want to prepare these youngsters for how tie-breakers will (should) be handled the rest of their playing careers.
[/quote] it just seems so wrong to me. Imagine if at the end of 4 quarters of a football or basketball game, the team with the most points in the 4th quarter was awarded the win.
[/quote]

I think it's made that way to give the one with the momentum the win without having to go and do another 18 hole, 9 hole, 6 hole, or 3 hole playoff format. While I believe that momentum could shift at any time, it also helps with pace of play and avoids congestion issues when you also have the 12-18 year olds usually playing a full 18, behind them. On top of that, the USGA believes a one hole playoff is unfair because it puts too much immediacy on just one hole. To them it would be like in a basketball game, whoever scores next wins, instead of lets play an extra 5 mins and see who comes out on top. Hope this is understandable.
[/quote]I understand, but I still disagree with using a part of the competition that has already ended in a tie to break the tie. To me the bigger point is why even break the tie? There is really no point.

[BigSky59]

[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445345540' post='12481656']
[quote name='Juice__25' timestamp='1445138255' post='12471260']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445137431' post='12471210']
[quote name='JJH_PGA' timestamp='1445133400' post='12471038']
[quote name='Noles' timestamp='1445131936' post='12470952']
My son plays on a local circuit of tournaments. They are 9 holes tournaments, the kids are 12 and under and they give medals for the top 3 finishers. When there is a tie for any of the top 3 spots, instead of just allowing the tie to stand and giving multiple medals, they use a series of tie breakers: lowest last 6 hole score, then lowest last 3 hole score, then match-play from the first hole going forward then a coin flip. I really don't like this policy at all. First off, I think they should just let the ties stand if they cannot have some sort of on course playoff after the rounds are over. Why should one part of a 9 hole score be more valuable than another part? My son has won and lost these scorecard playoffs as they call them and seeing the reactions of the kids when they lose the scorecard playoff makes it seems very unnecessary. I would love to hear thoughts about it.
[/quote]

This is the USGA-recommended method way to break ties. Should be last 9 holes, then last 6, then last 3, then last hole. They could probably choose to give medals to everyone, but want to prepare these youngsters for how tie-breakers will (should) be handled the rest of their playing careers.
[/quote] it just seems so wrong to me. Imagine if at the end of 4 quarters of a football or basketball game, the team with the most points in the 4th quarter was awarded the win.
[/quote]

I think it's made that way to give the one with the momentum the win without having to go and do another 18 hole, 9 hole, 6 hole, or 3 hole playoff format. While I believe that momentum could shift at any time, it also helps with pace of play and avoids congestion issues when you also have the 12-18 year olds usually playing a full 18, behind them. On top of that, the USGA believes a one hole playoff is unfair because it puts too much immediacy on just one hole. To them it would be like in a basketball game, whoever scores next wins, instead of lets play an extra 5 mins and see who comes out on top. Hope this is understandable.
[/quote]I understand, but I still disagree with using a part of the competition that has already ended in a tie to break the tie. To me the bigger point is why even break the tie? There is really no point.
[/quote]
I'm willing to bet if you contact the USGA, they will give you a thorough explanation as to why that is the method they endorse for breaking ties.