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Big names in PowerPlay Golf’s first big event
Format has potential to help golf growth
By ED TRAVIS
Format has potential to help golf growth
By ED TRAVIS
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On Memorial Day, before the beer, hotdogs and
fireworks, the Golf Channel broadcast the first big time
golf event played under the rules of PowerPlay Golf - a
relatively new and potentially significant tournament
format.
Unfortunately an unknown (at least to American
viewers and for the sake of media attention) player,
Caroline Hedwall won though her finish didn’t lack
anything in the way of excitement…it was birdie-birdie-
birdie. There were some interesting aspects to this 9-
hole tournament contested on the Twenty Ten Course
at Celtic Manor in Wales other than the modified
Stableford scoring.
Both reigning U.S. Open champions played; Paula
Creamer T-3 and Graeme McDowell tied for last in the
12 player field with John Daly. Gary Player played as
did a few other “names” including Ian Poulter and Paul
Casey. Women faired very well against the stronger
and longer men, albeit playing from more forward tees
with Hedwell, Creamer and Helen Alfredsson taking
the top three spots.
fireworks, the Golf Channel broadcast the first big time
golf event played under the rules of PowerPlay Golf - a
relatively new and potentially significant tournament
format.
Unfortunately an unknown (at least to American
viewers and for the sake of media attention) player,
Caroline Hedwall won though her finish didn’t lack
anything in the way of excitement…it was birdie-birdie-
birdie. There were some interesting aspects to this 9-
hole tournament contested on the Twenty Ten Course
at Celtic Manor in Wales other than the modified
Stableford scoring.
Both reigning U.S. Open champions played; Paula
Creamer T-3 and Graeme McDowell tied for last in the
12 player field with John Daly. Gary Player played as
did a few other “names” including Ian Poulter and Paul
Casey. Women faired very well against the stronger
and longer men, albeit playing from more forward tees
with Hedwell, Creamer and Helen Alfredsson taking
the top three spots.
All of this is “nice,” perhaps even mildly interesting but
there is some additional significance. PowerPlay Golf
is a short, fast, even intense golf format high in
risk/reward. It appeals especially to younger players
and many women like it.
Though not full-contact golf the rules do provide for
some rousing 9-hole competitions. Two cups are cut
on each green; an “easy” location with a White Flag on
the pin and a “hard” location with a Black Flag. White
or Black is chosen before hitting the tee shot and
scoring is by Stableford points: bogey-1 point, par-2,
birdie-3, eagle-4 and albatross-5. But now it gets
interesting as there is a big reward playing for the
Black Flag; points are doubled for birdie or better.
Over the first eight holes everyone must play to the
Black Flag at least three times but on the ninth hole
while points are still doubled going for the Black, if a
bogey or worse is made there’s a deduction of three
points.
Risk and reward making for some exciting matches.
there is some additional significance. PowerPlay Golf
is a short, fast, even intense golf format high in
risk/reward. It appeals especially to younger players
and many women like it.
Though not full-contact golf the rules do provide for
some rousing 9-hole competitions. Two cups are cut
on each green; an “easy” location with a White Flag on
the pin and a “hard” location with a Black Flag. White
or Black is chosen before hitting the tee shot and
scoring is by Stableford points: bogey-1 point, par-2,
birdie-3, eagle-4 and albatross-5. But now it gets
interesting as there is a big reward playing for the
Black Flag; points are doubled for birdie or better.
Over the first eight holes everyone must play to the
Black Flag at least three times but on the ninth hole
while points are still doubled going for the Black, if a
bogey or worse is made there’s a deduction of three
points.
Risk and reward making for some exciting matches.
That’s of course exactly what golf may need to attract
more younger players (dare I say hipper even X-
gamers?) and woo back disaffected former linksters.
David Piggins and five-time member of the British
Walker Cup team Peter McEvoy originated the idea in
Great Britain and since 2007 it has been tried
succesfully at hundreds of clubs around the world. In
2010 PowerPlay Golf was purchased by London-
based Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov’s
company, Convers Sports Initiatives, who are investing
several millions of pounds. There will be two more
televised tournaments in 2011 and European Ryder
Cup captain Colin Montgomery has been signed as
spokesman.
PowerPlay Golf can’t and won’t solve all our industry’s
problems but it’s nice to see a business such as CSI
investing in golf. If it helps grow the game it’s worth a
try.
more younger players (dare I say hipper even X-
gamers?) and woo back disaffected former linksters.
David Piggins and five-time member of the British
Walker Cup team Peter McEvoy originated the idea in
Great Britain and since 2007 it has been tried
succesfully at hundreds of clubs around the world. In
2010 PowerPlay Golf was purchased by London-
based Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov’s
company, Convers Sports Initiatives, who are investing
several millions of pounds. There will be two more
televised tournaments in 2011 and European Ryder
Cup captain Colin Montgomery has been signed as
spokesman.
PowerPlay Golf can’t and won’t solve all our industry’s
problems but it’s nice to see a business such as CSI
investing in golf. If it helps grow the game it’s worth a
try.