BürdieMeister's Rules of Order

The following includes commentary and examples to detail tournament play and the contests. It is understood that not everyone will read through the information in its entirety, however, new players will benefit by gaining a better understanding of the golf and gaming components. Every player can still benefit from reviewing the content as additional insight may be discovered to help with strategy and may assist in achieving glory.

• Golf Format

• Calcutta

• Team Skins

• Hole Contests

• 5

• 6

• 7

• 8

• 9

• 10

• 11

• 12

• 13

• 14

• 15

• 16

• 17

• 18

• 19

• 20

• 21

• 22

• 23

• 24

• 25

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• 30

• Tournament Play Overview

  ​Tournament play is a tiered, 4-person modified scramble that is contested in a single, 21-hole round. (18-hole Championship course plus the 3-hole Practice loop). Each player must submit a golf handicap or have their level of play assessed to ensure fairness in team competition. Four tiers will be calculated based on golf handicaps: A, B, C, or D-players (A-players being the best golfers).

  

  Forming the Teams:
  The cutoffs for each tier will be determined on the day of the Team Draw to make certain that an equal number of players are placed into each handicap tier. Teams will be formed by randomly drawing a player's name from each handicap tier so that every 4-person team will comprise of an A, B, C and D-player.

  TOURNAMENT FORMAT:

  Modified Scramble Format. The BürdieMeister golf format promotes a team effort by preventing players from having their shot played consecutively. On every hole, each team member may hit a tee shot. The team then selects one of the tee shots to play for the next shot. The player whose shot is selected becomes ineligible to play the next shot. The remaining three members of the team then hit from that position. The team then selects one of the shots to play from but again, the player whose shot is selected can not play the next shot. This process is repeated until the ball is deemed on the green. Once on the green, each team member may putt until the ball is holed (except on the assigned par-3 holes).
  ​
  Par-3 Putting Assignments. Each par-3 hole on the regulation course will be assigned to the A, B, C or D-player who will be the only person eligible to putt on that hole. Specific hole assignments will be announced on the day of the event prior to the shotgun start. The par-3 hole on the practice loop, hole #20, will not be assigned so each team member may putt once on the green.

  TOURNAMENT RULES OF PLAY:

  • The first rule of BürdieMeister: There are no gimme putts.
  • The second rule of BürdieMeister: THERE ARE NO GIMME PUTTS!
  • Modified scramble format is used on every hole.
  • All team members may tee off on every hole; men tee off from the black tees and women from the silver tees.
  • Teams will select one of the tee shots to play for the next shot and mark its location.
  • The player whose shot is selected is ineligible to play the next shot and SHALL NOT HIT. 
  • The remaining three team members may hit the next shot from within one club length of the marked spot.
  • The process of shot selection for the next shot is repeated until the ball is deemed on the green.
  • On the green, each team member may putt until the ball is holed; excluding the assigned par-3 holes.
  • Only the designated player: A, B, C or D-player, may putt on an assigned par-3 hole.
  • Players may lift, clean and place their ball within one club length of the marked spot, but no closer to the hole.
  • Players must place the ball in the same lie as the marked spot even if a better lie is within one club length away.
  • Any part of the ball touching the green shall be deemed on the green; the fringe shall be treated as fairway.
  • Putts need to be placed within 4 inches (putter head) of the marked spot, but no closer to the hole.
  • The following actions will incur a one (1) stroke penalty for each infraction:
    • ​Hitting a shot or putting on a green (assigned holes) when not eligible to play.
    • Practice shots, provisional shots, practice putts, and ball rolls.
    • Mulligans, re-dos, do-overs or any second attempt to replay a shot/putt.
      
    • Non-conforming clubs, devices or any act intended to gain an unfair advantage.
      

  TOURNAMENT TIEBREAKER:

  In the event of a tie, a sudden death playoff will be played on a predetermined hole (typically, hole #9) starting 15 minutes after the last team has finished regular tournament play. Playoff rounds will be played as follows until all ties have been decided:

  1. Teams will play the hole under standard tournament rules.
  2. Teams will choose a hitting order to play a single ball from tee to hole. Only one player will play each shot/putt. The ball must be played as it lies until deemed on the green—no lift, clean and place.
  3. 100 yard shoot-out. Teams will choose a hitting order and each player will play from the 100 yard marker. Order of play will rotate between teams so that no two players on the same team will hit consecutively. The team whose player's shot is closest to the pin is deemed the winner. This is the final attempt to break tie(s) on the course.
  4. Scorecard playoff will determine a winner among tying teams in order of the following basis: the most eagles, the most bürdies, and finally hole-by-hole scores starting from hole #1.
  5. ​Coin toss.
     

  The sudden death playoff format gives tying teams the opportunity to actively determine their own outcome on the course. Changes to the playing format are necessary to challenge teams in order to expedite the playoff process. In the event that play is no longer possible due to weather or lack of daylight, for example, remaining ties will be decided by going to the scorecards. The decision to further expedite or discontinue play at any given time will be at the tournament organizers’ discretion.
• Calcutta Auction Overview

  The Calcutta (team auction) is an open auction held the morning of the BürdieMeister. Players bid among themselves to "buy" teams, with each team being sold to the highest bidder (owner). All proceeds from the Calcutta auction will go into the prize pool. Teams that place in the Tournament will be awarded a predetermined percentage payout of the prize pool.

  

  CONTEST DETAILS:
  Cost:  Varies
  Payout:  100%
  Prise Pool:  Total prize money is the sum total of the team auctions
  Payout Schedule: 1st place team = 60%; 2nd place = 30%; and 3rd place = 10%

  AUCTION FORMAT:

  Standard Live Auction Format. To bid on a team, attract the attention of the auctioneer by being fabulous or simply raising your hand at the appropriate time. Each bid obligates the bidder to pay the amount in full when the bid is deemed final at the fall of the auctioneer's hammer. The team auction is expected to be fast paced, and bids should be made quickly. Bidding will close with fair warning only by the auctioneer. Decisions of the auctioneer are final.

  • Teams will be sold to the highest bidder (owner).
  • ​Team owners may, but are not required to, resell any portion of ownership to others.
  • Minimum amount for a team will be $600.
  • Players may bid as often, and on as many teams, as they can afford.
  • A group of players (consortium) pooling money to bid collectively on teams are welcome.
  • Bidding is in whole dollars only; bid raises will be in increments announced by the auctioneer.
  • Team owners must make payment at the close of the auction; only cash or personal checks accepted.
  • A consortium must pay in full using a single payment method per team—no split payments allowed.
  • All sales are final; no refunds except for Tournament cancellation resulting from an act of god.

  BUYING/SELLING TEAM OWNERSHIP:

  The player whose bid is deemed highest at the fall of the auctioneer's hammer is obligated to buy the team and becomes its owner; and the "owner of record" for payout purposes. As of July, 2022, team owners are required to offer the opportunity of ownership to the team's players as defined by the '5/20 Rule' below. After the 5/20 initial offering, the team owners may, but are not required to, resell any portion of ownership to other players in the tournament. Any player buying a percentage of a team, "ownership share", becomes a shareholder of that team and is entitled to their portion of the payout if the team places. All payouts from the Calcutta prize pool will be awarded to the team's owner of record who is then accountable for the disbursement of monies to its rightful shareholders.
  
  5/20 RULE:
  Common sense should have compelled team owners to offer ownership shares to the team's players to create a performance incentive, however, it became necessary to better clarify expectations. The new '5/20 Rule' establishes a player's right of first refusal and the opportunity to own a piece of the team on which they play.
  An initial ownership schedule is defined by allotting the team into five equal shares of 20% and offered to the team's owner and each of its players. Each player on the team is initially afforded the right to buy, but is not obligated to, up to a 20% ownership share. All unclaimed percentages from the initial offering to the team's players automatically transfer back to the team's owner to sell-off if they so choose.
  (Note: If the team's owner is also a player on the team, they initially own two shares or 40% of the team.)
  
  From past tournaments, the price point for players to buy a team or ownership share has been relatively low. Owning a team is limited to the total number of teams in the Tournament and the availability of ownership shares is widely dependent on the team owners themselves. With demand for ownership exceeding available opportunities, buying a team in the auction is the only way to ensure ownership. The transaction may seem intimidating at first glance, but the examples below will shed some light. Additionally, players should consider forming a consortium to collectively pool their money. This practice has proven to be very effective as a consortium can often raise more money to outbid any challengers.
  
  Example #1:  Jack bids $2,000 for Team A and wins. Jack is now Team A's owner and makes a payment of $2,000 at the end of the auction. Jack approaches Team A's players and offers each their initial 20% ownership share. The players elect to buy into their own team and keep a 15% ownership share each. Jack is happy the team's players are motivated to win and keeps the unclaimed 5% from each player, increasing his ownership share from 20% to 40% of the team. Each player pays Jack $300, securing an entitlement to 15% of the payout if the team places in the Tournament. Although Jack initially paid $2,000 out-of-pocket to own the team, he was able to quickly recoup $1,200, or 60% (4 x 15%), from selling ownership shares to its players; thereby, reducing his investment to $800.
  
  Example #2:  Jill has already bought an ownership share of her own team but is looking to invest in another. She learns that Jack still holds 40% of Team A and approaches him. Jack is wanting to only own 20% of Team A and agrees to sell Jill the extra 20% of the team. Jill pays Jack $400 and now has ownership in two teams, increasing her chances of being in the money. Jack has again reduced his investment in Team A from originally $2,000, to $800, and finally, $400.

  PAYOUT EXAMPLE:

  There are 10 teams in the Tournament and the average amount a team auctions off for is $1,000. The Calcutta prize pool would be $10,000 (10 x $1,000). The team you are playing on sold for $1,200 and you decided to buy a 15% ownership share, making your up-front investment $180 ($1,200 x 15%). It so happens that your team finished in 1st place. Therefore, the team wins 60% of the prize pool or in this example, $6,000 ($10,000 x 60%). Since you hold a 15% ownership share in the team, you are entitled to 15% of that $6,000 payout and take home $900 ($6,000 x 15%). Not a bad return on investment!
• Team Skins Overview

  The Team Skins contest pits teams against one another to win as many of the potential 21 coveted “skins”—total number of holes played in the tournament. A skin is won by the team that posts the lowest score on a hole. The low score must be unique among all scores (no ties). Teams that win at least one skin qualify for a payout from the prize pool proportionate to the total number of skins won.

  

  CONTEST DETAILS:
  Cost:  $100 per team
  Payout:  100%
  Prize Pool:  Total amount calculated based on the number of teams (# of teams X $100)
  Payout Schedule:  Proportionately among qualifying teams based on skins won.

  HOW SKINS ARE AWARDED:

  Upon receipt of all team scorecards at the end of the tournament, scores will be reviewed to determine if a skin has been won for each hole. The team that posts the lowest, unique score (no ties) on a hole is awarded a skin. For holes that do not have a clear winner, the skin becomes void and subtracted from the potential 21 skins. The final total number of skins won is tallied and then used to calculate the value of each skin. Teams that win at least one skin will be awarded a proportionate payout from the prize pool. A team's payout amount is determined by using the calculated value of a skin multiplied by the number of skins the team won. All payouts from the Team Skins prize pool will be awarded to the team's A-player who is then accountable for the disbursement of monies to their team members. In the event no skin is won, the Team Skins prize pool will be awarded to:

  1. The team with the most eagles.
  2. Teams that tie for the most eagles will split the prize pool equally.
  3. The team with the most bürdies (if there are no eagles).
  4. Teams that tie for the most bürdies will split the prize pool equally.

  PAYOUT EXAMPLE:

  There are 15 teams in the tournament. The Skins Game prize pool would be $1,500 (15 x $100). When all the team scorecards are turned in at the end of tournament play, it is determined that only 5 out of the 21 holes had a team post a lowest, unique score. Therefore, the total number of skins awarded is 5:  Team A won 2 skins, and Team B won 3 skins. The value of each skin is calculated to be $300 ($1,500 ÷ 5); and the proportionate payout amounts would be:  Team A wins $600 ($300 x 2), and Team B wins $900 ($300 x 3). Each team member can then collect their portion of the team winnings.
• Closet to the Pin
  
  Longest Putt
  
  Straightest Drive