Birdie’s Sporting Club
Format, Rules & Tips for Golf League
ITINERARY
10 Weeks
Non-Flex: Dedicated Nights – Set Times
Regular Season: Weeks 1-7
Playoffs (Top 8 Teams): Weeks 8-10
9-Hole Rounds
Warm-up: 6:30 PM
Tee-off: 7:00 PM
PLAYERS, TEAMS, & SUBS
3-Player teams (5 players total, including 2 subs per team)
Each team consists of an A player (lowest handicap), a B player (middle handicap), and a C player (highest handicap)
HANDICAPS
Each player is required to submit a league qualifying round before week one of the league. Your qualifying round score will determine your starting handicap. Qualifying rounds are complimentary for all documented players.
Any players who do not complete a qualifying round before the league starts will start with a 0 handicap
Outdoor handicaps or apps like Grint do not qualify as a usable handicap for X-Golf Brooklyn leagues
Individual Handicap Formula:
2 Rounds Played: Best 1 score of 2
3 Rounds Played: Average of best 2 of 3 scores
4 Round Played: Average of best 3 of 4 scores
4+ Rounds Played: Average best 3 of your last 4 scores
Playoffs Handicap formula:
Best score of the season is dropped
Continued average of the next best 3 scores of the season, including playoff rounds
Once you have established an X-Golf Brooklyn handicap, it will roll over into your next league or tournament
GAME TYPES, SCORING, AND LEADERBOARD
All league scores are net scores based on individual or team handicaps
Example:
Player is a +10 Handicap. Player shoots a +8. Player scores a -2.
STROKE PLAY
For stroke play rounds, you will be paired with another team in a bay, but you won’t be competing directly against them. All teams will be playing against the entire field.
All players play their ball and are competing against their individual handicap
Stroke play rounds are calculated by the sum of all three players' net scores:
Example: A Player = +2
B Player = +1
C Player = - 1
Team Net Score = +2 (Movement on leaderboard)
HEAD-TO-HEAD (MAJORS)
For head-to-head rounds, you will be paired with a team and play against that team specifically
All players play their ball and are competing against their individual handicap
All head-to-head rounds are calculated by the team's net result of individual matchups + a low team net kicker:
Team 1 Team 2 Matchup Win = -1
A Player vs A Player Matchup Loss = +
B Player vs B Player Matchup Tie = 0
C Player vs C Player Lowest Team Net Win = -2
Lowest Team Net Lowest Team Net Loss = +1
Lowest Team Net Tie = -1
SCRAMBLE
For scramble rounds, you will be paired with another team in a bay, but you won’t be competing directly against them. All teams will be playing against the entire field.
All players hit the same shot and choose the best ball out of the 3 for every shot
All scramble rounds are non-handicapped
Final score determines movement on the leaderboard
ALTERNATE SHOT
For alternate shot rounds, you will be paired with another team in a bay, but you won’t be competing directly against them. All teams will be playing against the entire field.
Players share the same ball for the entire round, and alternate turns for each shot
Shooting order is randomly alternated by the simulator throughout the round
Team alternate-shot handicaps are determined by averaging the A & B players' handicaps. The C player’s handicap is not calculated into the round.
Final score determines movement on the leaderboard
WEEKLY CHALLENGES & CASH GAMES
Every week, there will be a course challenge on a specific hole. If you win, you will receive a prize from one of our sponsors the following week.
Closest to the pin challenge: must be on the green to qualify
Longest drive challenge: must be on the fairway to qualify
Individual lowest net score challenge
Team lowest net score challenge
Cash games are an opportunity for players to bet on their skills. The more players that buy in, the bigger the pot. X-Golf Brooklyn does not take any cash game money.
Cash Game: $10 (Bet against everyone who buys in on your league night)
MEGA Cash Game: $10 (Bet against everyone who buys in from all league nights for a bigger risk, but bigger cash reward)
Cash Game Formats
Low Net: Player with the lowest net score wins the pot
Low Team Net: Team with the lowest net score wins the pot
Most Birdies: Player or team with the most birdies wins the pot
Birdie Streak: Player or team with the longest streak of birdies or better wins the pot
Par Streak: Player or team with the longest streak of pars or better wins the pot
Players must buy in before the round starts. No exceptions.
Unofficial subs may not participate in weekly challenges or cash games
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS & GRAND PRIZES
The final round of playoffs (championship rounds) will consist of the final two teams competing for 1st and 2nd place, as well as the two runners-up competing for 3rd place.
3rd Place prize: Small grand prize
2nd Place prize: Medium grand prize
1st Place prize: Large grand prize, trophy, picture for social media, and a permanent plaque in X-Golf.
RULES & GUIDELINES
COURSE PLAY
No mulligans
If you have a shot that seems like it was misread, a staff member or manager must be notified immediately. If the manager and all players agree it was a misread, the player will be granted a mulligan.
No putt previews
Tees are only allowed when on the tee box for the first tee shot
HANDICAPS
Highest Possible Handicap: +20
Lowest Possible Handicap: +3
Any player’s handicap that equals a number less than +3 will stay a +3 and play from the blue tees.
SUBSTITUTES
Subs scores are capped with the lowest score being -5 and the highest score being +5 until they have completed at least 4 rounds throughout leagues or tournaments.
If a sub does not golf a handicap round before their league round, they will play as an even handicap.
Subs during playoffs must be provided by X-Golf Brooklyn. The opposing team will choose your sub from the list of subs we provide.
Subs that are not listed cannot participate in cash games or weekly challenges.
PLAYOFFS
In week 8, the top 8 teams on the leaderboard advance to the playoffs
Any teams that are tied for the 8th seat will compete in a tie-breaker
Playoffs format is bracket-style and single elimination
Any shots that are “shanked” to the point where the simulator is unable to read should be immediately reported to a staff member or manager and will count as a +1 stroke (playoffs only)
TIE-BREAKERS
Tie-breaker rounds are sudden-death style, where the first team to win a hole wins the round
Tie-breakers are always played as the alternate shot format
Tie-breakers are always played immediately after the round.
TIPS FOR PLAYERS
Unplayable Lie
If you find yourself in a situation that seems impossible to get out of, you may select the unplayable lie option located at the bottom right corner of the screen. This will allow you to either take a drop within the drop area (blue space) for a +1 stroke penalty or go back to your previous shot for a +1 stroke penalty. Choose wisely!
Wind Conditions
The indicator for wind is located at the top of the screen. If the arrow is pointed up, that means that the wind is at your back. If the arrow is pointed down, that means that the wind is in your face.
Green Conditions
Normal greens: Greens play like normal, depending on the course's difficulty
Soft greens: Greens move a touch slower with a slightly increased break
Firm greens: Greens move a touch faster with slightly less break
Wet greens: Greens move even slower with increased break
Power
Pay close attention to your power % at the bottom right of your side map.
Tee box and fairway: always 100% power
Rough: always 90% power (hit the ball 10% harder)
Fairway bunkers: always 80% power (hit the ball 20% harder)
Greenside bunkers: always 50% power (double your distance)
Slope
The uphill or downhill slope is located on the right side of the screen, underneath the mini-map. A green arrow pointing down indicates you are looking downhill, and a red arrow pointing up indicates you are looking uphill.
Club Choice
The club choice indicator at the bottom of the screen is simply a recommendation. You do not have to change your club every shot. The simulator does not read shots differently based on club choice.
The Fringe
When hitting from the fringe, the simulator defaults your club choice to putter. If you would like to chip, press the club icon and change to a wedge. This is the only time you have to change your club.
Putting
Putts must always be hit from the dimples located on either side of the ball dispenser. When putting, remember that the screen is 20 feet away:
20-foot putt: Barely tap the screen as if the hole is there
10-foot putt: Halfway to the screen
40-foot putt: Aim for two screen lengths
Putting and Slope
Be sure to pay attention to the uphill/downhill slope when putting! This can make or break your putt. A good formula to follow when putting is for every 0.1 feet of slope, a foot should be added or subtracted from your putt.
Example:
A 20-foot putt with a 0.4-foot downhill slope should be treated like a 16-foot putt.
A 20-foot putt with a 0.6-foot uphill slope should be treated like a 26-foot putt.