Golf Pairings

[jbrannon]

we have 8 golfers and we are playing 5 rounds, how do I set up the foursome so everyone plays together

[Ian Wakeling]

Unfortunately there is not a good solution to this problem.  Each player will play with 15 other golfers over the 5 rounds, and you might think that it is possible to arrange each player to play with each other at least twice, but this is impossible to achieve.

You will have to use a schedule like this:

(2 8 4 1)  (7 6 3 5)
(8 3 5 2)  (6 1 7 4)
(3 2 1 7)  (4 5 8 6)
(1 3 6 8)  (5 7 4 2)
(1 4 5 3)  (7 6 2 8)

where 8 pairs play together within a fouresome 3 times.  Most pairs play together twice, however there are four pairs who meet only once, these are (1 5) (2 6) (3 4) & (7 8).

Consider possible alternatives:

For 7 rounds there is a balanced solution

other options involving threesomes and 8/9 players

Hope that helps.

[golfnut]

Ian,
This may not be the right place for me to reply. You gave me a golf schedule for 36 players that looked great, but now we have lost many players and could use a schedule for 32 and/or 28 players. Can you help with this?
Golfnut

[Ian Wakeling]

Golfnut,

You can find schedules for 20, 24, 28 & 32 players on Ed Pegg's web page.  28 players is the best number to have since you can have all 27 opponents exactly once in 9 rounds.

Hope that helps,

Ian.

[golfnut]

Ian, Super. Results for 28 & 32 players will work out great.
Thanks again, Golfnut