MP Special

MP Special is a four-player points game with the partners rotating every six holes, so everyone partners everyone: holes 1–6 pair seats 1 & 2 against 3 & 4, holes 7–12 pair 1 & 3 against 2 & 4, holes 13–18 pair 1 & 4 against 2 & 3. The seat order is set when the game is created. Because the rotation needs all three blocks, it is always a full-18 game.

Every hole plays for two points. Low Ball goes to the side with the lowest single net score; Low Total goes to the side with the lower combined net. Both partners bank their side's points. Ties split the point by default, or carry over or wash out if the game is set that way. Optional extras stack on top: a birdie or eagle multiplies the side's hole points, the shot add-ons (Sandy, Barky, Poley, Closey) are worth a point each on par or better, and a press doubles the points from the hole it is called on until, by default, the partners change. With handicap strokes on, the birdies, eagles and the add-ons' par-or-better are all NET — a gross par on a hole where you get a stroke is a net birdie, and a gross bogey there still earns the add-on. With handicap strokes off they are gross.

Handicap strokes. Each player is netted against his own tee's card — its stroke indexes for where the strokes fall, its pars for birdies and the add-on bar — so players on different tees are each scored on the card they played. Full net gives everyone their own Course Handicap; a plus handicap gives strokes back on the easiest holes, stroke index 18 first. Spin-off low is the USGA "play off the low" convention (Rules of Handicapping): the lowest handicap plays off zero and everyone else gets the difference. When the low is a plus handicap the difference is bigger than your own handicap, and the low player neither gets nor gives a stroke. On the Hogan round Colter was a +3, so Patrick (9) got 12 strokes, Sam (7) got 10 and Matt (6) got 9, on stroke indexes 1 upward, while Colter played straight gross.

Settlement (points payout). Every player settles the point difference with every other player at the amount per point. On the owner's Hogan round at $1 a point — Matt 40, Colter 39, Sam 36, Patrick 27 — Patrick owes Matt $13, Colter $12 and Sam $9; Sam owes Matt $4 and Colter $3; Colter owes Matt $1. That nets Matt +$18, Colter +$14, Sam +$2, Patrick −$34. The settle-up screen pays the net balances, so it shows fewer transfers (here Patrick pays Matt $18, Colter $14 and Sam $2) with everyone ending in the same place.

Settlement (matches payout). Each six-hole block is one match at the amount, won by the side with more points in it; a press doubles the block.