Using
Names.txt files in
Season Play
By
Adrian Thomas
I find it best to limit the names.txt file to 40
players. This means that the same 40 players start
every tournament. You can use more names, but the
computer will select 40 names at random from your
list and that could mean missing out on the best
opposition in key tournaments.
Look at the names.txt file that is in your Data
folder. All you need to do is create a list of players
in that format (notepad is probably the best application
for this). The important factor is the "handicap"
that you allocate to your players. I find a range
of 0 to -5 produces fairly realistic results.
Here are the top players from a list I have used
in an 18 tournament season, along with the "handicaps"
I set and the prize money won (in millions). Apologies
for the aussie "Adams" who should actually be Adam
Scott!
1. Garcia (spa), -5, m
4.1
2. Clarke (ni), -4, m 2.3
3. Els (rsa), -4, m 2.2
4. Westwood (eng), -4, m 1.8
5. Bjorn (den), -3, m 1.8
6. Montgomerie (sco), -4, m 1.4
7. Campbell (nz), -3, m 1.1
8. Harrington (ire), -3, m 1.1
9. Adams (aus), -2, m 1.1
10. Olazabal (spa), -2, m 0.7
11. Langer (ger), 0, m 0.6
12. Van de Velde (fra), -2, m 0.5
13. Goosen (rsa), 0, m 0.4
14. Romero (arg), 0, m 0.4
15. Sjoland (swe), 0, m 0.4
16. Lawrie (sco), -1, m 0.4
17. Leaney (aus), 0, m 0.4
18. Jiminez (spa), -1, m 0.3
19. Mcginley (ire), 0, m 0.3
20. Gronberg (swe), 0, m 0.3
As you can see the results are fairly true to
life over the course of a season, but some tournaments
were won by surprising players (such as Sjoland
and Leaney who both have 0 ratings). The best players
have some bad tournaments and the lower ranked players
can still have some outstanding results.
The best information for creating names.txt files
can be found at
http://www.golfonline.com/golfstats/index.html
Here you will find a wealth of info, money lists,
rankings etc.
NOTES:
Make sure you make a
backup of the names.txt file in your "data" folder.
I call mine orignames.txt. Then save your new names
list as names.txt and place it in the "data" folder.
Once you have started a season the names are "locked
in". Any changes you make to the names.txt file
will NOT affect a season in progress.
