Competition Types Explained

Strokeplay   |   Matchplay   |   Stableford   
Foursomes   |   Four Ball Better Ball   |   Greensomes
American Greensome   |   Bogey   |   Bisque Bogey
Flag   |   Texas Scramble

Strokeplay

The player totals his score for each of the 18 holes, giving a gross score before the deduction of the handicap. The full handicap is deducted from the gross score to give the net score. This is usually considered the most testing form of golf.

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Matchplay

This is a head-to-head match between two players, or two pairs. If played off handicap, the lower handicap player gives 3/4 of the handicap difference to the higher handicap player - the strokes being taken by following the stroke index column on the scorecard.  If a player wins a hole a '+' is marked on the card and the loser marks their card with a '-'.  A hole that is shared or 'halved' is marked with 'o'.  If you win the first two holes you go '2 up', if you lose the next you become '1 up' and so on.  The match is over when one player (or pair) has won overall more holes than there are left to play, eg. after 15 holes they are 4 up with only 3 to play - the match is scored as 4 & 3.

Most matches continue until one player or pair has won and may involve having to play the 1st, 2nd or 3rd again until a hole is won and the match is finished.  In team events matches may be halved, ie if the score is equal after playing the 18th the match is halved.

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Stableford

This is a popular form of competition against the par.  Each player takes his or her handicap against par, according to the Stroke Index of the holes on the course.

Stroke Index indicates the rank of difficulty of a hole on the course and is shown on the scorecard usually in the column marked "S.I." or "SI".  A player gets strokes per round equalling his/her handicap which are then allocated by hole according to Stroke Index starting with SI 1.

Examples:

Once the player has used up all their allowed shots on a hole and therefore cannot score, she should pick up her ball so as not to delay play

On the card the marker fills in the gross score and then, after mentally calculating the par plus the allowed extra strokes, counts two points for a hole completed in nett par and one point for a score of one over nett par.  Three points are awarded for a nett birdie, four for a nett eagle, and so on. The player with the most points for the 18 holes wins, with the winning scores usually ranging from 35 to 42 points.

The Stableford form of competition can be played in singles, foursomes, four balls or greensomes.

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Foursomes

In this game, four golfers play together in pairs, but use one ball between a pair and take alternate shots for each hole. One player elects to drive the first hole and will then drive on every odd numbered hole; the other takes the even ones. This can then be played on a Matchplay or Strokeplay format. In America this is usually referred to as "Scottish Foursomes" or "Alternate" play.

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Four Ball Better Ball

This is a form of play in which four players play together, each playing their own ball. It is played in pairs, the lower score of the pair at each hole counting. matching the lower score for each of the partnerships . Four Ball Better Ball can  be played in a Matchplay format and also Strokeplay. In a match, the handicapping is taken on a 3/4 basis, the players taking handicap strokes from the lower handicap of the four.

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Greensomes

In this competition, players go out in fours, made up of two pairs. All four players drive on each hole. Each pair choose their better drive of the two and finish the hole playing alternate shots with the selected ball. The player whose drive was not taken plays the second shot. Some clubs use a handicap system for this, just taking the average of the two handicaps, others use what is generally a fairer system, taking six tenths of the lower handicap plus four tenths of the higher handicap. A Greensome can then be played as a match, a medal or a Stableford.

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American Greensomes

The American Greensomes is similar to ordinary Greensomes in that both players drive but then they play each others ball for the second shot.  Only then do they select the ball to continue with and play alternate shots from this point.

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Bogey Competition

This is an alternative to the Stableford and is, in effect, a Matchplay competition in which the golfer plays a hole-by-hole match against par (bogey). The player receives 3/4 of his handicap and takes those in the form of strokes from par according to the stroke index. Unlike a true match, the whole round is completed and the player records on each hole whether, after receipt of the stroke, he has won or lost the hole against bogey. At the end of the round he records how many up or down he is against par, for example three up or six down. This is a difficult form of competition with winning scores anything from two up to two down.

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Bisque Bogey

In a match or bogey competition, an adaptation is to use "bisques". These are, in effect, strokes that can be taken where a player chooses, instead of at an allotted hole. In a Bisque Bogey the player would, for example, receive perhaps 15 strokes and can elect, after playing the hole, whether or not to take one of his bisques. In a similar way, a match can be played in which one player gives another six bisques and he can decide when he wants to take them.

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Flag Competition

Here the player is allotted a certain number of strokes to use for the round, being the par of the course plus his handicap. In other words, a 20 handicap golfer playing on a par 70 course is given 90 strokes to use. He starts off from the first tee and, after playing 90 strokes, places a small flag with his name on where the 90th shot finishes. The person who finishes nearest the 18th hole or farthest up the first or second fairway for the second time round is the winner.

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Texas Scramble

This is a team competition, usually with four team members. Each player drives off the first tee. The team captain then chooses the best drive and all the players take their ball to this position. They all then hit a shot from there. The captain again chooses the best second shot. Everyone else takes their ball to that spot and continues until the first player has holed out.

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