Powerplay golf's TV debut

Danielle Montgomery putts out as Steven Richardson looks on

PowerPlay Golf, golf's new nine-hole, two flag format, launched its made-for-TV version at my home course of Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire and I was fortunate to be one of the invited competitors.

And following its successful debut, I'm reliably informed that discussions are now underway with various television companies to bring the format to a worldwide audience.

The PowerPlay Shootout, as it will be called, features a shotgun start over the first eight holes after which a cut is made. Those who have qualified then 'Shoot-out' down the final hole. The event lasts three hours in real time (likely to be edited to an hour for TV) and the format, together with PowerPlay Golf's risk and reward scoring system, guarantees a gripping finale with lots of spectacular attacking golf along the way.

Billy Spooner tees off watched by ex-Tour pro Keith Waters, (right) the eventual winner

The format really changes the dynamics of the average 4-hour round of golf and therefore therefore a great idea for all those folk who want to play regularly but just don't have the time through looking after children or work commitments. With a shotgun start, it's done and dusted in under three hours!

The driving force behind PowerPlay golf is Peter McEvoy, the former British Amateur champion and Walker Cup captain, who explained that one flag is coloured white and located in an easier (more accessible) position of the green. The other flag (black with skull and crossbones) denotes its 'meanness' and is positioned on the most difficult part of the green.

The simple rules are that the player must opt on each tee to play for the black flag on three of the nine holes. Stableford points are awarded as per normal handicap scoring when selecting to play the white flags but, when taking a PowerPlay to a black flag, a player's score can double in points for a net birdie or better. As a result you can get two points for a net par, six for net birdie, eight for a net eagle and ten for a net albatross.

The game culminated in a shoot-out on the ninth hole for the nine players with the highest stableford score after after eight holes and I managed to prevent it being an all-male preserve.

Kate Evans escapes from a bunker (Picture:Charles Briscoe-Knight

In the end, the professionals proved their skills as the winner of the shoot-out was former Tour player Keith Waters, now an official of the World Golf Federation, who birdied the last to edge out Mouland and Mackenzie.

In a nutshell, I picked up the format very quickly and particularly enjoyed the risk and reward aspect of the game. I recommend club players of all handicaps to give it a go, as it's a game of golf in half the time with twice the fun!