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Question from Derek, a parent:

I have a golf group that is set up as follows.12 players broken into 2 teams of 6.We play as a 4 ball ie 2 from each group.I am looking for a formular to have the 2 players from each group not play with each other again & also both of the 2 in each group not play with others in the other group more than once.I don't believe it is possible,so will accept as little duplication as possible-many thanks-Derek

Derek,

I’m not sure if this is what you want since it it not clear how many weeks there are in the season. Let’s try anyway:

First schedule the teams of six. There is a schedule where every 2 players have been partners exactly once. Here it is:

1. 12, 34, 56
2. 13, 25, 46
3. 16, 23, 45
4. 14, 26, 36
5. 15, 24, 36

Now use the schedule above to construct the matches involving the pairs from team A and team B. Schedule 1 (for each team) gives 3 weeks of golf (week 1 is 12v12, 34v34, 56v56, week 2 is 12v34, 34v56, 56v12, etc). After 3 weeks every pair among Team A 12, 34, 56 have played every pair from Team B 12, 34, 56. The same goes for Schedules 2, 3, 4, 5.

So, over 15 weeks you can have every pair from Team A against every pair from Team B exactly once. What I’d suggest is using week 1 from each schedule, then (after 5 rounds) week 2 from each schedule, then (after 5 more rounds) week 3. That way players on the same team are partners once every 6 weeks.

Hope this helps.
—Victoria

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