Format of Doubles Golf®? AKA “Better Shot”

·        Doubles Golf® is the rebranding of the 2-player “Better-Shot” fromat . This format enhances nine-hole rounds, which create speedy play and the opportunity for evening events (tournaments & leagues) at any golf facility.

Who can play Doubles Golf®?

·        Doubles Golf® or “Better Shot” golf can be played by any two players, who team up and play a two-player better shot format over nine holes. Teams consisting of Men, Women, Juniors, Seniors, or any combination of these can register and begin posting scores on the Doubles Golf Mobile Scoring System also known as the Doubles Golf App.

Definitions of popular Doubles Golf Categories:

·        Men’s - Any two men 25 to 59 years of age.

·        Women’s - Any two women 25 to 59 years of age.

·        Mixed - One man and one woman 25 to 59 years of age.

·        Senior - Any two players 60 years of age or older.

·        Parent-Junior - One junior 13-years of age or younger and one immediate or extended family member (minimum of 18 years difference between the players).

Does the senior division include both sexes? Can two women compete against two men?

·        Yes. Any two players, any gender, 60 years of age or older.

Who can launch Doubles Golf® leagues?

·        Any Golf Course Operators or PGA and LPGA Professionals are permitted to launch Doubles Golf leagues and events at their course(s).

How do I qualify for the United States Doubles Golf® Am Championships?

·       Once leagues are completed, the team with the lowest average score through league matches, will be crowned the Club Champion for their category. These Club Champions will advance to their local state or regional qualifier where the winning teams with a A3 rating or better will qualify for the United States Doubles Golf Am Championships.

Where will the United States Doubles Golf® Am Championships be held?

·        The Unites States Doubles Golf® Am Championships will be held in the fall of each season.

 Can a golfer qualify in more than one category?

·       A golfer may win the Doubles Golf® Club Championship league on teams in more than one category (Men’s, Women’s, Senior, Mixed, and Parent-Junior). Depending on the scheduling of the state or regional qualifier, the player may have to choose only one category to compete in, if a timing conflict occurs.

Will all events be nine-hole rounds?

·        State or regional qualifiers and the United States Doubles Golf® Am Championships are always ‘gross’ events and will be based on nine-hole rounds (tournaments may be multiple nine-hole rounds, as an 18-hole round is considered two Doubles Golf® rounds).

Do facilities have to register to be a part of Doubles Golf®?

·        Yes. A golf course operator or “league adminstrator” must register their course as an official Doubles Golf® host facility. This registration gives them exclusive rights to conduct Doubles Golf® leagues and events at their facility and provides them with exclusive adminitrative access to the league management software in the Doubles Golf App. Click HERE to register your facility!

Do we need a minimum number of teams registered in a league to be able to advance our Champion?

·        Yes, a course must have at least six registered teams in a league to advance to the state or regional qualifier. Ex: A course must have at least six Mixed-Doubles teams in a league to advance their Mixed-Doubles Club Champions. To advance all Club Champions, a course must have six teams registered, in each of the five categories (Men’s, Women’s, Senior, Mixed-Doubles, and Parent-Junior).

What is the Timeline?

• Facilities are encouraged to conduct Doubles Golf leagues and events year round where possible. Leagues are to be concluded by August 31st of each year. State & Regional Championships are conducted in September & October. The United States Doubles Golf Am Championships are held the first week of November each year.

What is the Doubles Golf App and what are Ratings and Rankings?

·      The Doubles Golf App is where all teams can go to post their regular Doubles Golf rounds and league match results. The app is where teams will be able to see their Doubles Golf Rating, and see where their team(s) rank at their course, in their state, and nationwide!

·        Doubles Golf® team rating is constant for each 3-month Doubles Golf® season (winter, spring, summer, fall). Based on the scores posted, the system will determine the division (A, B, C) and flight within each division (1,2,3) that the team is rated to compete in. Should a team compete against another team outside of its rated division/flight, there will be a stroke allocation to create parity. The team rating indicates a “three-stroke range” that the team most often plays within. Should the team’s range of scores change, an adjustment in the team’s rating will occur at the beginning of the next quarterly Doubles Golf® season. The ratings range from A1 to C3.

·   A team’s ranking is live, and may change with each score posted. It allows a team to see how it ranks against the other Doubles Golf® teams in its category at the team’s facility, in the state, and nationally.

How do I access the Doubles Golf App?

·        The Doubles Golf Scoring App can always be found at the top of any page on the DoublesGolf.com website. It is a “webapp”, which provides a better user experience and can be accessed on your phone, tablet, desktop, or laptops at anytime. You will not need to visit and download anything in the App Store/PlayStore or clear room off your device. If you have internet, you can access the Doubles Golf Scoring App. Teams can also add the App as a tile on the homescreen of their phone for quick access. The app can be found at the top of the page, simply click on Doubles Golf App.

Cost per Team to register for Doubles Golf® teams on the Doubles Golf App?

·        $20.00/Team

Does the Doubles Golf App recognize 18 hole rounds?

·        Doubles Golf® teams, playing 18 holes, will be prompted to post two rounds(front and back).

Can anyone register on the Doubles Golf App even if they don’t plan on playing in a league? Can a team sign up and see where they rank statewide even with no PGA Professional at their course?

·        Yes! All golfers are invited to register and post scores on the Doubles Golf App. Teams will still receive a rating and be able to see where they rank at their local course, in the state, and nationwide. Teams can always search for any open leagues in their area on the Doubles Golf App.

How many rounds does it take to get a Doubles Golf® rating?

·        When registering, if both players enter their USGA index, they’ll be provided a ‘temporary rating”. After posting two 9-hole scores, all teams (with a temporary rating or not) will reveive a “conditional rating”. After posting five rounds, teams receive their “official” Doubles Golf® rating.

Are these events handicapped?

·        While Doubles Golf® stays away from using handicaps, our “stroke allocation” table can be used in local level play to create parity for inter-flight, and inter-division competition.

Can you post scores outside of Doubles Golf® events?

·        Any and all nine-hole rounds played by a team in the Doubles Golf® format should be posted to the Doubles Golf scoring app. This includes competitive and recreational rounds. Doubles Golf® encourages the posting of rounds played in match-play events as well.

Will there be a rule book for Doubles Golf®?

·        The Doubles Golf® Conditions of Play is located at the beginning of the FAQs (top of this page).

How do you regulate what tees people play from? Does that get included in the formula for rankings?

·        Recommended yardages for A, B, and C Division Doubles Golf® teams will be included in the release of Doubles Golf® Conditions of Play. A team’s posted scores will also have tee-box used included in the score-posting. The formula used in the Doubles Golf scoring, rating/ranking system factors the scores, and the tee-box used in the rating of the team.