Golf players are typically known for their ability to come up with new games to ensure that play amongst friends and colleagues remains interesting.
Therefore, it is no surprise that players that follow the best bets for horse racing have took inspiration from the equine sport by forming a new game to contest on courses across the world.
There are few similar aspects between the two sports overall, but there have been links in terms of match play between the two throughout recent history.
But, what is one of the newest games that is being played on the course, which has racing at its core?
What is Derby or Horse Race?
It has been found that over 5.6 million adults play golf across the UK and Ireland, meaning big groups of friends playing on a course at one time is a common sight in this modern day. Therefore, it is no surprise that new games have been developed to ensure that there is a competitive element to a day out with friends.
One of the most unique is called ‘Derby’, or purely ‘Horse Race’. This will feature a field of 19 players all teeing off at the same opening hole, before the worst-scoring player is eliminated.
Each hole on the course will see a player eliminated, before the 18th, and final hole, will see the two players left standing competing for bragging rights.
Early Success
Due to being one of the newest games among players, it is still gaining traction. However, its ability to include all players that wish to play has made it an immediate success.
The game has been played regularly across the world in different scenarios, with names such as Rumpsie Dumpsie and Shoot Out typically a common name given to the same game in Australia.
Due to the increased popularity of the sport and large groups that wish to play, it is becoming a prominent selection among fans nowadays.
Possible Issues
The vast majority of courses across the United Kingdom only allow four players to play a hole at one given time. Therefore, it can often be a challenge to get a round of Derby underway.
Therefore, if you are looking to play the game, then you will likely need to get pre-arrangement from the course in order to play Derby.
Meanwhile, players could also look to get their game in during a playday event when there is limited foot traffic across the remaining tees at the course.
Due to the big field size at one given hole, it can often be a challenge to get a game underway, but finding typically uncommon time slots at a course can be the key to ensuring that you are able to play Derby.
What Happens in a Tie?
One of the key rules to remember is that the highest-scoring player at each hole is eliminated. However, for the first couple of holes that could lead to confusion, as a number of players may shoot the same total.
Fortunately, there is a resolution to this in the official rules. Should two or more players shoot the same score, and then a chip-off will be required to determine the player that is eliminated. The player that shoots furthest away from the hole would be eliminated in this tie break.
Alternative Games
An 18-hold showdown featuring 19 players can often be a time consuming activity, especially taking into account that a couple of tie breaks will likely be required during the day.
Therefore, a more popular variation of the game features a field of ten, with just nine holes covered. This enables the players involved to cut the game in half, and it should drastically reduce the amount of time that you spend out on the course on a given day.
Golf Links to Horse Racing
This game isn’t the only link to horse racing, as there have been a number of events in the professional game that have adopted a handicap system, which is commonly used in horse racing.
For example, the TOUR Championship traditionally used a starting-strokes format. However, unlike in racing where the worst-rated horses are handed an advantage, in golf, the best players started with an advantage on the PGA Tour. But, the format has since been scrapped on the PGA Tour, with the season-ending event reverting to a traditional stroke-play competition in 2025.
The sports have also been closely intertwined in terms of ownership. That has been reflected in recent memory, with pro players Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell sharing ownership rights of Givemefive. The runner was previously trained by Harry Derham, and he was a previous winner at Cheltenham in October 2024 after beating Dodger Long to land the Masterson Holdings Hurdle.