Golf Formats

Match Play Competition

One side playing against another over a stipulated round with the number of holes won or lost governing the result of the match. One of the more favourable golf formats played between amateur golfers playing a friendly game.

A hole is won by the side with the lowest net score recorded on the hole. If each side scores an equal number of strokes on a particular hole, the hole is said to be ‘halved’.

The match is won by the side leading with the number of holes won greater than the number of holes remaining.

If the score is all square at the end of the stipulated round, further holes are played. The side who first wins one of the extra holes becomes the winner of the match.

One of the golf formats where players may practice on the course holding the competition prior to the competition round.

The side that gains the honour at the first tee, either by way of draw order or by drawing lots, keeps the honour on subsequent holes until a hole is lost. The honour then passes over to the other side.

After leaving the teeing ground, the side whose ball lies further from the hole plays first. If a player plays his shot out of turn his opponent may request that the stroke be cancelled and the correct order established. There is, however, no penalty stroke for playing out of turn in a match play competition.

Stroke Play Competition

The player that gains the honour at the first tee is determined either by way of draw order or by drawing lots. Order of play at subsequent holes is determined by the scores recorded at the previous hole, lowest scorer playing first followed by second lowest scorer etc. If scores on a hole are tied then the playing order remains the same as that from the previous hole.

After leaving the teeing ground, the player, whose ball lies further from the hole, plays first. If a player plays a stroke out of turn, no penalty is incurred and the ball is played as it lies.

The number of strokes taken on each hole of a stipulated round(s) are recorded and accumulated. The competitor who has totalled the fewest net strokes over the stipulated round(s) is deemed the winner.

The player is responsible for the authenticity of the score recorded on each hole. The Committee is responsible for the addition of scores and subtracting of the recorded handicap.

Stroke play is one of the golf formats requiring good concentration throughout the whole round as a bad score on just one hole can ruin your total score and not give a true reflection of how you have played over the rest of the round.

Players may not practice on the competition course on the same day before a round of a stroke play competition.

Single

A match where one player plays against another either in match play format or stroke play format.

Foursome

A match in which two play against two with each side playing one ball and players taking alternate tee shots and alternate strokes during the play of a hole. Penalty strokes do not affect the order of play. A member of a side must never play two strokes in succession.

Fourball

A match in which two players play their better ball against the better ball of two other players. It is not necessary for all partners to be present and it is within the rules for a partner to join the match between the play of two holes.



Stableford Competition

In Stableford Competitions, points are awarded relative to a score on each hole. One of the more popular golf formats because players may have a bad hole and still record a good final total.

If a player records a net score of one over par he collects one point, with par he collects two points, with one under par he collects three points, with two under par he collects four points etc., etc. With a net score of more than one over par the points awarded is zero. The winner of the competition is the player with highest points total.

Bogey or Par Competitions

Scoring for Bogey and Par competitions is similar to match play but players are playing against the par of each hole. If a player scores a net par he has halved the hole. If he scores better than net par then he has won the hole, worse than a net par then he loses the hole. Each hole that he wins is recorded as a plus, each that he loses is recorded as a minus and each hole that is halved is recorded as a half. Scores fall in the range of -18 to +18, the highest score being the winner. One of the less favoured golf formats due to the fact that a net score of two under par on a hole is recognised the same as a score of a net score of one under par.


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