The inaugural GolfSixes event is being staged at the Centurion Club this weekend as golf searches for its own version of cricket's Twenty20.

Here is an explanation of the format and some of the unique features involved in the competition taking place at the St Albans club.

  • 16 two-man teams will represent their country and compete for the 1million euro (£850,000) prize pool, with the winning team walking away with 100,000 euros (£85,000) each.
  • Matches are played over six holes in a greensomes match-play format, where the teams select their best tee shot and then play alternate shots thereafter.
  • The teams have been split into four groups of four, with the top two from each advancing to the knockout stages, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all contested on Sunday.
  • One point is awarded for each hole won, with teams claiming three points for a win and one for a draw. A play-off will be used to determine qualifiers from the group stage if required, or the result of matches in the knockout stages.
  • If one play-off hole does not produce a winner, the match will be decided by a nearest-the-pin competition on the play-off hole.
  • Each of the six holes - two par threes, two par fours and two par fives - has its own theme, including a long-drive contest, nearest the pin and shot clock, where players will be penalised a shot for exceeding a 40-second time limit.
  • Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen and actress Denise van Outen will act as guest commentators alongside host Vernon Kay.