Golf Formats

Many variations on the game of golf have been devised throughout the history of the game. They are, however, only variations of the two main formats: stroke play and match play. Stroke play allows you to compete against everyone else on the course while match play is a hole by hole contest between two players (or pairs). Below are the most common formats.

Stroke Play (also referred to as Medal) – the most commonly played competition, where the number of strokes taken by a player at each hole is entered on the card. The winner is determined by the lowest score for each round. Stroke Play can be played scratch, where only the gross score is used, but more commonly handicap is taken into account, where the nett score is the score after the handicap is deducted.

Match Play - a form of competition in which each hole is a separate competition; the winner is determined by the number of holes won rather that the total score. If the number of holes runs out, the match finishes (i.e. if a player is 3 up with 2 holes left, the player has won 3 & 2).

Stableford - a form of stroke play. The game is based on a points system where points are determined by the net score on each hole (eagle 4 pts, birdie 3 pts, par 2 pts, bogie 1 pt, double bogey or worse 0 pts). In this form it is good etiquette for players to pick up their ball if points can no longer be scored on a hole. Stroke holes come into play here. A player scoring 5 on a par 4 hole at which they receive a shot would score a net 4, for 2 points.

The stableford system was devised by Dr Frank Stableford (above) and was first used at Wallasey Golf Club in 1932.

Par (also referred to as Bogey) – a match play format where a player plays against par on each hole. For a nett birdie or better a player records a win as a ‘+’ sign, a par is recorded as a half and a ‘0’ sign, and for a bogey or worse a player records a loss as a ‘–‘ sign.

Fourball better ball (4BBB) – The name is confusing as teams are of two players playing as two pairs, either against each other in match play or marking each others card in stroke play. For each hole, the better score of the pair is taken. So in Match Play

Foursomes – can also be played as Stroke play or Match play. Teams are comprised of two players each, and the players alternate hitting the same ball. The first player tees off, the second player hits the second shot, the first player hits the third shot, and so on until the ball is holed. Players alternate hitting tee shots so that the same player doesn't hit every drive.

Greensomes - a competition format that is a variation of foursomes. Both players on a team tee off, the better of the two shots is selected and that ball is then played alternately until holed.

Texas Scramble - involves a team of two, three or four, with each shot coming from the same spot. The best of the drives is chosen, the other players pick up their balls and all team members then hit from that spot, and so on. Rules usually allow players to place the ball on the fairway and green but must drop within a club length of the chosen ball in the rough and hazards. A variation in a Texas Scramble is that at least four drives of each member of the team must be used during the course of the round. The team with the least number of strokes is the winner.