Great Games for Golf
Traditional Formats
A brief explanation of some of the best known
competitive formats
Stroke Play
Total score for the round versus your opponent(s)
Also known as Medal play, compete against your opponent for the lowest total score for the round. (The same way the pros play) Handicaps can be used to create parity between the players. Each player’s handicap is subtracted from the gross score to result in a net score that is compared with the net score of the other player(s) at the completion of the round.
There are several ways you can play partners using Stroke Play. For example, partners can use their best low net best-ball* on each hole to make a team score to compete against another team.
Or, play a “High/Low” two person team game. To score this format, the net lower individual scores compete against the net individual higher scores on each hole. Handicaps are used by adding each teams handicaps together and subtracting the difference. The team who has more handicap strokes use them for the high ball* score on the hardest holes as indicated on the scorecard.
Players can bet a set amount of money for the low net 18 hole score. Or, as a team, bet on the difference between each teams score with a dollar value on each stroke.
*Note: The term Best Ball is often misunderstood. In this book, “best ball” means the lowest score posted on any given hole by an individual or team. Conversely, High Ball will always refer to the highest score for the team on each hole.
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