The 'Middle of the Road' Tournament Format
In Middle of the Road, the four players on each team are playing their own balls throughout (normal stroke play), and each team member records his or her score. And handicaps are in use: At the end of the round, each players' course handicap is deducted from her overall score. (In other words, while golfers record their gross scores, it is net scores that are used to determine the tournament outcome.)
After a team's four net-score, 18-hole totals are determined, the best and the worst of those four scores are tossed out. And the two remaining scores — the scores in the middle — are combined. That becomes the team score, and that is how the tournament's order of finish is determined.
Let's do an example. On Team 1, Golfer A's net score is 69, Golfer B scores 77, Golfer C 72 and Golfer D 75. Golfer A's 69 is the best net score, and Golf B's 77 is the worst, so those two scores are thrown out.
What's left? The 72 scored by Golfer C and the 75 scored by Golfer D. And 72 + 75 = 147, making 147 Team 1's tournament total.
We've also seen Middle of the Road called "Best of Nines, Worst of Nines," which is a name we hate because it doesn't even make sense given how the format works. It can also be called "Two in the Middle," or "2 Middle Balls," or "Middle Twos."
Obviously, golfers playing a Middle of the Road tournament must have handicaps of some type. If a golfer does not carry an official, World Handicap System handicap, tournament organizers can use one of those same-day, single-round, post-hoc handicap formulas (such as a Blind Bogey Handicap, Peoria System or Callaway System).
More formats:
