Stroke Play
may be the most common and best-known form of competition in the
world of golf, but other scoring methods can make the game more
exciting and challenging while narrowing the gap in skill level
between the players. Try some of these variations next time you
hit the links.
Individual
Stroke Play
This format is played
with an individual counting every stroke and playing his or her
own ball throughout the competition. The player competes against
the rest of the players in his or her flight of field. Scoring is
based on one ball gross or net which ever is preferred. If players
are competing in a net stroke play event the player will then subtract
the course handicap from the gross score.
Four
Ball Stroke Play
Two competitors
play as partners, each playing his or her own ball. The lower net
score of the partners is the score for the hole. Each player receives
a tournament percentage of their handicap and takes their strokes
where they fall on the card.
Individual
Match Play
Match play creates
an atmosphere of head to head competition on a hole by hole basis
with the winner each hole being the player having the lower score
on that particular hole. Matches by flight- are set up by using
formulas for eight, sixteen, Thirty-two, or sixty- four players.
If multiple rounds are played, the losing player of the round is
flagged as lost match and is dropped from the subsequent rounds
of play. The total gross score does not enter into the competition
at all, except for the respected posting for handicap purposes.
Pinehurst
A team consists of two players. On each hole
the player and his partner drive form the teeing ground. On the
second stroke, player A will play players B's ball while player
B will play player A's ball. Prior to the third stroke, the partners
must make a choice as to which ball they will play. There will be
only one ball played by each team after the second stroke. Penalty
strokes do not affect order of play. The team handicap is the addition
of 50% of the lower handicap of the partners or 20% of the higher
handicap of the partners. Both players post the same tournament
score.
Foursomes
(Scotch Stroke or Foursomes Point)
Two
players play as partners during any stipulated round. The partners
shall play alternately from the teeing ground and during the play
of each hole. Penalty strokes do not affect order of play. The team
handicap consists of tournament percentage of the partners combined
handicaps. Scoring is based on one ball gross, net or points with
both players receiving the same score.
Foursome
Match Play
This format is a
match in which two play against two and each team plays one ball.
During any stipulated round the partners shall play alternately
from the teeing grounds and during the play of each hole. Penalty
strokes do not affect order of play. The higher handicapped team
receives the tournament percentage of the difference between the
combined handicapped of the members of each team. Match play is
limited to first 128 players (64 two-man teams). The flights should
be set up for eight, sixteen, or thirty-two or sixty-four, hundred
twenty-eight players to use the latter listing properly.
Best Ball of Four (First
and Second Balls of Four)
A, B,
C, D play their net best ball or best two balls against the field
in a stroke play competition. Each receives a percentage of their
regular handicap and takes their strokes where they fall on the
card.
Stableford
Stableford is popular in European clubs. This
format is not quick, so your tournament will usually take longer
using the Stableford format. Players score points on each hole according
to a point system that takes into consideration each player's handicap
(the best players are rated A, the poorest D). Unlike other golf
games, the winner in a Stableford tournament is the player with
the highest score. Points are earned on the following scale:
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
Double Eagle |
8 |
11 |
14 |
17 |
Eagle |
5 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
Birdie |
2 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
Par |
0 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
Bogey |
-1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
Double Bogey |
-3 |
-1 |
0 |
2 |
Triple Bogey |
-3 |
-3 |
-1 |
0 |
Others |
-3 |
-3 |
-3 |
-1 |
1,2,3 Best Ball
Four players play as a team. The first hole,
the 1 lowest score is used. the 2nd hole, the 2 lowest scores are
used and the 3rd hole the 3 lowest scores are used. The 4th hole
goes back to 1 lowest score. This can be used for net and gross
scores.
2 person
Best Ball
2 players each play
their own ball and the best score on each hole is used for the team
score.
Skins
A skins game puts players in a type of match
play in which each hole has a set value (usually in money or points).
The player who wins the hole is said to win the "skin," and whatever
that skin is worth. Skins games are often more dramatic than standard
match play because holes are not halved. When players tie on a given
hole, the value of that hole is carried over and added to the value
of the following hole. The more ties, the greater the value of the
skin and the bigger the eventual payoff.
Scramble
All four team members tee off on each hole.
The team decides which tee shot it likes best and marks that position.
Balls from other three tee shots are picked up. Each team member
then places their ball within 1 club length of the marker but no
closer to the hole and takes their next shot.
This procedure is followed on every shot for the remainder of the
hole, including putts. However, when the chosen shot is marked on
the green, players must take their shot from that marked position.
The first ball to go in the hole is counted for the team score.
For instance, if a player taps their 2nd putt in before all other
players have taken their first putt, the score is counted as 2 putts
even if the next player makes their first putt.
If the ball the team chooses (or is forced…see rule 6) to play is
in a hazard (sand, water, bushes...), in the rough or Out of Bounds,
you cannot drop the ball outside of the hazard or rough even if
relief is within one club length.
Each team must use at least 1 of each team member's tee shots on
each nine (minimum two tee shots from each player after 18) and
be able to show on the scorecard where that has been done.
Men tee off from the white tees and women from the red tees.
Nassau
This
is the most popular gambling game in golf today so you probably
already know how it goes. You may want to read on for some possible
variations to the basic "Nassau". If you don't know this game, the
next time someone says, "2 - 2 - 2", they are referring to a 2 dollar
Nassau. A Nassau is really three games in one. The front nine being
one, the back nine being the second and the entire 18 being the
third. '2 - 2 - 2' would mean (in my circle of friends, anyway)
a two dollar wager on the front nine, a two dollar wager on the
back nine and a third, two dollar wager on the entire 18. If you
are playing with strangers you want to ensure that everyone understands
exactly what the wagers are before starting.
Nassau can be played between two players or teams of two or more
players. 'Match Play' is the most popular method for keeping score.
Match play means that the score is kept based only on whether holes
are won or lost with no consideration given to the winning margin
on each hole. Players' net scores (after handicap) are generally
used and the most popular format in foursomes is ' Best Ball'. This
means that each team's better net score on each hole is used against
the opposing team's better score. A team that has won 2 holes and
lost 1 hole is said to be "1 up". A team wins one of the three wagers
when they are more holes up than there are holes remaining on the
9 or 18.
Variations
The first variation that a lot of golfers use to add spice to their
Nassau games is "The Press". Groups that allow "Pressing" give the
team that is down on one of the wagers the option of starting a
new wager from the time of the press, to the end of the original
bet, for the same stakes as the original wager. For example, if
a team is 2 holes down on the 7th Tee, they may choose to "Press"
the front 9 wager. This means a new wager is started on the 7th
Tee for the same amount as the front 9 wager and will also finish
on the 9th hole (it will be a 3 hole match). Both matches carry
on until the ninth hole is over. If your group does not already
allow pressing you should set some guidelines for when pressing
will be allowed. Here are some suggestions:
Presses allowed only on the 9th or 18th Tees.
Presses only allowed when a team has already won the original wager.
Presses only allowed when a team is down by at least 2 holes.
Pressing allowed any time a team that is down feels like it. This
format requires some strategy as well as some courage.
Some hyper-aggressive groups allow pressing at any time and for
any amount a team is losing. This format can result in a serious
escalation of the stakes. If you're not familiar with exponential
growth you should look it up before you agree to this last format
with strangers.
Scoring Variations:
HIGH - LOW: Each team's low score is matched against the other team's
low score for 1 point and likewise for the two high scores. As you
can see, there are two points up for grabs on each hole and the
team with more points is in the lead.
TOTAL SCORE: Each team adds their two scores together and the total
is used in a match play format.
TIE BREAKER: This is close to Best Ball with an interesting twist.
Each team uses their better score unless those scores tie. In the
case of a tie, each teams' high score is used in a tie-breaker
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Golf Game Variations
Individual Stroke Play
Four Ball Stroke Play
Individual Match Play
Pinehurst
Foursomes(Scotch Stroke)
Foursomes
Match Play
Best Ball of Four
Stableford
1-2-3
Best Ball
2 Person Best Ball
Skins
Scramble
Nassau
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