For simplicity the explanation below will use the 32-player setup.
Each player will play in a foursome. Only three of the players will play at any given time, but they are competing with all other players of their foursome. The foursomes do not compete. The self-seeding aspect of this format comes from players moving about between the foursomes.
A player's performance in the first two rounds will determine what foursome they play in for the 3rd-round. So by the 3rd-round they are playing against players more-or-less on their level.
The 1st-round is seeded by random draw. In the 1st-round the foursomes are split into two pools; one called RED, the other called GREEN. The first round reseeds players for the 2nd-round by moving them about the foursomes of their respective pool. A player's performance in the first two rounds will determine how they are grouped with players of the same relative performance from the other pool for 3rd-round play.
In the 3rd-round players are no longer in a RED or GREEN pool, but are now in an "A" or "B" division. A player's performance in the 3rd-round also determines their seed in the 4th-, semi-final, round. This seeding may change a player's foursome but will not change the division they play in. Only 1/2 of the 3rd-round players will go on to the semi-final round.
The semi-final round will see the field cut in half again.
The final-round will see each division with one foursome. The players in these foursomes will be playing for their rank in the tournament.
The different rounds of the tournament use games of differing times. See Round Time Schedules for the charts and which rounds they apply to.
Below are sample schedules for various number of: players, tables, and days.