Golf Tournaments

[murray1419]

I run two golf societies.
The first is for 12 players. Play is in 4's over three days. I would like a schedule that allows for each individual to play with as many different players as possible. Every year I struggle to sort this out so any assistance would be appreciated.
The second event is for 16 players in 2 teams of 8 played over 4 days. Again I would like a schedule that allows players to play with as many colleagues and opposition as possible.
If you can help that would be a weight off of my mind.
Thanks in advance
Peter Murray

[Ian Wakeling]

Hello Peter,

Your 12 player problem does not have a nice solution - there is a schedule here that may help, and also another link that explains the problem.  In this situation it would be far better to play threesomes, then it should be easy to find a schedule with no repeats.

Can you give some more information about the 16 player problem.  Is this also foursomes, but where each foursome contains 2 players from each team?

Ian.

[Ian Wakeling]

Peter,

I read your post again and think the 2 from team A against 2 from team B scenario is still the most likely.  So hopefully the following will be just what you are looking for:

Day1:
(A1 A5 B1 B5)
(A2 A6 B2 B6)
(A3 A7 B3 B7)
(A4 A8 B4 B8)

Day2:
(A4 A5 B3 B6)
(A3 A6 B4 B5)
(A2 A7 B1 B8)
(A1 A8 B2 B7)

Day3:
(A2 A5 B4 B7)
(A1 A6 B3 B8)
(A4 A7 B2 B5)
(A3 A8 B1 B6)

Day4:
(A3 A5 B2 B8)
(A4 A6 B1 B7)
(A1 A7 B4 B6)
(A2 A8 B3 B5)

Notice that if you sub-divide each team and make two ability groups (1-4) & (5-8), then every foursome contains a stronger and weaker player from every team.

[murray1419]

Thank you for your replies.
In the 12 player problem I neglected to say that the reason we play in fours is that we all go in Buggies.
I have looked at your solution and 1 player plays with all the others, so no repeats and 2 players play with 2 players twice. All the others only have one repeat.
The schedule for the 16 player scenario is perfect.
Thanks for your help, its greatly appreciated.
Peter