On Saturday, 12 July 14, I am playing in the Medigas Celebrity Classic 2014 at Trillium Wood Golf Club. This event is very popular in my area and to make things more exciting, the celebrities are professional hockey players! One celebrity will play with each group of four, making each team a total of five players. It is going be very exciting and I am looking forward to hitting the links.

The Medigas Celebrity Classic is a non profit charitable organization. Proceeds from this annual event support children that face physical challenges. It also assists young students in the advancement of their health care studies, during their pursuit of post secondary education. Previously this annual event was operated as the Rick Meagher Charity Golf Classic and it was originally established in 1988.

After 26 years and thanks to generous donations and money raised from the annual tournament, over $1,500,000 has been raised. Helping to support the needs of children with physical challenges in the Quinte area.

The advertisement for this event states that the Best Ball tournament will have a shotgun start at 10:30 am. For all the avid golfers out there, I bet you are scratching your head at the “Best Ball” format. I have doubts about the format myself and here is why.

Scramble – Everyone lines up the putt!

The difference between a Scramble and Best Ball tournament are two of the most confused terms in golf. Most novice players have difficulty because the names do not follow any logic.

The four-man scramble features teams of four players competing against one another. In this format, each team’s players hit from the teebox, then the team members choose the best of the four shots for the next shot. All team members then play the second shot from that location, and again choose the best shot. Play continues in this manner until the hole is completed. The team then records its score and maintains that format for all 18 holes. (Golfsmith.com)

Best ball can be played using 2-, 3- or 4-person teams. Each player on the team plays his or her own golf ball throughout the round, and on each hole the low score – or “best ball” – of the group serves as the team score. For example: On the first hole, Player A gets a 5, B gets a 4, C gets a 6, D gets a 6, so the team score for that hole is 4, because the low score of the group was B’s 4. (about.com)

Given that about 180 players will be teeing off at roughly the same time, it is unlikely we are playing the Best Ball format. Although, this format would be great for me, most participates at charity events are not single digit handicappers. The Scramble format is what most players will expect. They will be out to enjoy the day and donate money to a good cause.

Regardless of the format, I am going to enjoy myself and share many laughs with the friend who invited me. It is going to be a fantastic event that supports a local charity and besides if golf is involved, how could we go wrong!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!