Popular Golf Formats Explained (From Casual To Competitive)
Golf can be played in several different formats, each with its own set of rules and challenges.
Whether you’re playing for fun or competing in a tournament, understanding these different golf styles can add excitement and fun to your round.
Here are several reasons why there are different golf formats:
Players of different skill levels are able to compete together.
They promote teamwork and encourage meeting new people.
Each style has unique twists and challenges.
Can be adapted to a variety of events and player preferences.
They are a big part of golf's history and traditions.
They work well for players who have different amounts of time to play.
They add variety to keep the game fun and interesting.
RELATED: Benefits Of Golf
In this guide, we’ll explore 14 popular golf formats, including games for single players, twosomes, threesomes, foursomes, and other variations.
Individual Golf Formats
1. Stroke Play
Stroke Play, also known as Medal Play, is the most common format in professional and competitive golf tournaments.
In Stroke Play, each golfer tries to complete the course with the fewest total strokes. It’s an individual competition where getting a good golf score depends only on your own shots, and every shot counts.
Variations In Play:
Solo:
Playing alone is great for practice or fun and allows you to focus on improving your golf skills.
Groups:
Casual Rounds: Often played in groups of 1 to 4 players, with most courses preferring up to 4 players for a smooth pace.
Tournaments: Generally start in groups of 2 or 3. Groupings might change based on scores as the tournament goes on.
Club Competitions: Usually begin with groups of 2 to 4 players, depending on the event’s size and structure.
Key Points:
Your score is based only on your total number of strokes (including any penalty strokes) on each hole.
You compete against all players in the event, not just those in your group.
The focus is on personal strategy and skill, with no direct competition against other players.
2. Match Play
Match Play is a format where golfers compete to win each hole, and the player with the most holes won at the end of the round is the winner.
It is different than Stroke Play because the total number of strokes on each hole doesn’t matter, you just need to get a better score than your opponent does to win that hole.
Read More: Match Play vs. Stroke Play
Variations In Play:
Solo:
Solo Match Play is one-on-one. This format works great for head-to-head competitions, especially in club or friendly matches.
Team:
Team formats are common in tournaments and events. In Team Match Play, groups of players compete against each other, with each match counting towards the team’s overall score.
The match continues until one team has won enough holes that make it impossible for the other team to catch up. For example, being up 3 holes with only 2 left to play.
The match can be over in a single round (18 holes) or multiple rounds, depending on the tournament rules.
RELATED: Ladies Golf Team Names
Key Points:
Each hole is a separate contest.
The number of strokes per hole determines the winner of that hole, not the entire round.
Can be a more aggressive style of play since you’re trying to beat your opponent’s score on every hole.
Great for an exciting golf experience because the team in the lead can change frequently.
3. Stableford
Often used in clubs to encourage aggressive play, since the scoring system rewards birdies and better scores on each hole.
Description:
In Stableford, you are awarded points on each hole based on your score as it relates to a fixed score, which is usually par. The goal is to accumulate as many points as possible.
For example, you might get 1 point for a bogey, 2 for a par, 3 for a birdie, and so on. The better your score, the more points you earn, with the total points at the end of the round determining the winner.
Key Points:
Unlike Stroke Play where you are aiming for the lowest golf score, this point-based scoring system rewards higher scores.
Players are incentivized to play more aggressively by chasing birdies and avoiding bogeys since better scores on each hole lead to more points.
If you end up with a bad score on a single hole, you earn 0 points for that hole. This would be much worse in Stroke Play where all of those strokes would count against your total score.
This format can be adjusted for different skill levels by changing the fixed score used for calculating points.
Read More: Stableford Scoring Guide: Everything You Need To Know
Formats Of Golf For Pairs (Two Players)
4. Foursomes
Foursomes, also known as Alternate Shot, is a popular format in team events and club competitions. In golf, “Foursomes" refers to a team of two players, despite the presence of four players in total.
RELATED: Funny Golf Team Names
Description:
In Foursomes, teams of 2 players alternate hitting the same ball. One player tees off on odd-numbered holes, while the other takes the even-numbered holes.
After each tee shot, they continue to alternate shots until they complete the hole. The team with the lowest score on a hole wins it, and whichever team wins the most holes overall wins the round.
Key Points:
Foursomes require a high level of teamwork and strategy since each player’s shot sets up the next for their partner.
This format usually results in a faster round since there is only one ball being played by two golfers.
With players taking turns, there’s added pressure on each stroke for the other player to perform well.
It’s important to pair players strategically, taking into consideration their strengths and weaknesses for the best possible team performance.
5. Four-Ball (Best Ball)
Four-Ball, also known as Best Ball, is a popular format in team competitions and club play. This style combines individual performance with team strategy.
Description:
In Four-Ball, each player on a two-person team plays their own ball throughout the round. On each hole, the lower of the two scores (the “best ball”) is counted as the team’s score for that hole.
For example, if one player scores a 4 and their partner scores a 5, the team’s score for that hole would be a 4.
Key Points:
While each golfer plays their own ball, only the best score of the two counts for the team.
Choosing a partner whose skill level complements yours can be a strategic advantage.
If one player is having a rough time (golf pun alert), the other’s score can be counted instead which reduces pressure on each player.
This format is suitable for all skill levels which makes it popular in club play as well as casual play.
6. Greensomes
Greensomes is similar to Foursomes but with a unique twist, which makes it popular in club events and casual golf.
Description:
In Greensomes, both players on a two-person team tee off, and then they choose the better of the two shots to use while continuing to play the hole. From there, they alternate shots using the selected ball until the hole is completed.
Key Points:
Greensomes require teamwork since both players contribute from the tee, but also allow for individual skills to shine since you’re choosing to move forward from the best shot.
The tee shot is crucial since the better shot will be chosen to use for the remainder of the hole.
This format works well for teams made up of players with different skill levels. Someone might be stronger at driving the ball which sets up the rest of the hole, while the other player might play better from shorter distances.
Since both players tee off, there’s a higher chance that the ball will land in a good position for the next shot, which could speed up play compared to traditional Foursomes.
Golf Formats For Three Players
7. Skins
Skins is a popular format for casual rounds due to its unique way of scoring and betting.
Description:
In Skins, each hole has a value, called a “skin.” The player with the lowest score on a hole wins that skin. If the hole is tied, the skin carries over to the next hole, increasing its value.
The game ends after the last hole and the player with the most skins, or the highest total value of skins, wins the round!
This format can be played with any number of golfers but works really well with 3, adding an element of excitement and competition to each hole.
Key Points:
Each hole is a separate contest, and the player with the best score on that hole wins.
Usually, each skin has a monetary or point value, which adds a fun betting aspect to the game.
If there’s a tie on a hole, no one wins that skin, and its value gets added to the next hole. This can lead to high-stakes holes, especially towards the end of a round.
Skins is great for all golfers and skill levels. Even if you don’t win many holes, just a few good ones can earn you a lot of skins, especially on holes where skins have carried over from ties.
The main objective is to win skins on as many holes as possible.
Read More: Golf Skins Game Explained For Beginners
Like funny golf quotes? Here’s a good one for Skins:
“You don’t know what pressure is until you play for five bucks with only two bucks in your pocket.”
― Lee Trevino (Professional Golfer)
8. Flags (Flag Competition)
Flags, also known as Flag Competition, is less common but still seen in club events and fun tournaments.
Description:
In Flags, players are given a fixed number of strokes based on their handicap. They play the course until their strokes run out and mark the final spot with a flag.
The object is to get farther around the course than anyone else before running out of strokes.
Key Points:
Each player starts with a fixed number of strokes and plays until they use them up.
The goal is to cover as much of the course as possible before running out of strokes, not to finish with the lowest score.
Players must strategize to get the best golf club distance per stroke, changing up their typical golf strategies.
This game is fair for players of all different abilities since your stroke limit is adjusted according to your handicap.
The game ends in a unique way for each player at the location of their final stroke, marked by their flag. Whoever plants their flag the furthest from the starting point wins.
9. Nassau
Nassau is popular in friendly matches and club play, essentially offering three competitions in a single round.
Description:
During Nassau, the round is divided into three separate bets: The front nine, the back nine, and the entire 18 holes. Each is scored independently, and players can win or lose any of these segments.
Key features:
Three games in one round - front nine, back nine, and the full round.
Often involves friendly wagers on each of the three segments, adding a fun, competitive aspect to the game.
If a player loses the first round, they can come back and win the second or third.
It can be played in different formats like Stroke Play, Match Play, or Stableford within the Nassau structure.
Suitable for players of different skill levels since there are three chances to win.
Golf Formats For Four Players
10. Scramble
Scramble is a favorite format in casual play, charity events, and corporate outings.
Description:
In Scramble, each member of a four-player team tees off on every hole from the tee box. After the tee shots, the team selects the best one, and all team members play their next shot from that location.
This process repeats for every shot on the hole. The team’s score is the total number of strokes taken from the selected best shots, and only one score is recorded per hole.
Key Points:
Every player contributes from the tee shot to the green, making it a great format for teamwork.
Choosing the best shot after each stroke adds a fun and strategic component to the game.
Players of all skill levels can enjoy Scramble since the best shots are chosen.
This format has less pressure on individual players because not every shot impacts the team’s score.
There’s usually no need for penalty shots or playing from tough spots like woods or bunkers, as one team member typically hits the ball into a good position.
Since the team moves on from the best-positioned shot, this often leads to quicker rounds of play.
11. Shamble
Shamble is a golf format that is gaining popularity, combining aspects of Scramble and Stroke Play.
Description:
In Shamble, similar to Scramble, all team members tee off on each hole. The team selects the best tee shot, and from that spot, each player continues playing their own ball for the rest of the hole, like in Stroke Play.
The team’s score for the hole is typically the lowest score or the sum of the lowest scores from that chosen position.
Key Points:
Starts like Scramble with everyone teeing off, but then shifts to Stroke Play after the best drive is chosen.
After the tee shot selection, each player’s skill level comes into play to complete the hole.
Choosing the best drive is an important decision since everyone continues on from that spot.
Combines teamwork with individual strategy.
Appeals to players of all skill levels since this format can be slightly less intimidating for beginner golfers but still challenging for experienced players.
12. Wolf
Wolf is a really fun and social golf game, great for playing with friends in a group of 4. Bring your golf jokes because there is a great mix of strategy and laughter.
Description:
In Wolf, each player takes turns being the “wolf” for each hole. The wolf watches everyone’s tee shots and then has two choices:
Play the hole alone against the other three
Pick one of them as a partner based on who had the best shot
Scoring is usually based on a point system, and groups set their own rules before starting the game.
Here Are Examples:
Wolf’s Choice: If the wolf plays the hole alone and wins, they earn 4 points. If they lose, the other players each get 1 point.
Teaming Up: When the wolf teams up with a partner and they win the hole, both earn 2 points. If they lose, the other two players each get 3 points.
Ties: Sometimes, if there's a tie, the points can carry over to make the next hole worth more.
Riskier Move: The wolf can choose to play alone for double points before anyone tees off, but it’s riskier.
Key Points:
The wolf gets to decide whether to go solo or team up after seeing the tee shots of all players.
You never know who will team up, making each hole like a new game.
Whether you’re experienced or new, everyone gets a chance to shine.
Players set rules on a point system for scoring before the game starts.
It’s a lot of fun for friends, combining laughter and friendly competition.
Read More: How To Play The Wolf Game In Golf - And Win
Other Golfing Formats
13. Texas Scramble
Texas Scramble is like the regular Scramble format, with a twist. It’s popular in both casual and competitive events.
Description:
In Texas Scramble, each player on a team tees off, and the best shot is chosen, just like in regular Scramble. The twist is that the player whose shot is chosen can’t play the next shot.
This means they would sit out the second shot but be back for the third. This continues through the round, adding a layer of strategy since teams decide whose shot to use and who should sit out.
Scoring is the same as in Scramble, where the team’s score for each hole is the number of strokes taken to hole the ball, using the best shots selected. Only one score gets recorded for the entire team on each hole.
Key Points:
Choosing the best shot involves more strategy because that player sits out the next one. Since they say “The hardest shot in golf is the next one”, maybe that’s not a bad thing.
Can be played with teams of various sizes, usually four, but can be fewer.
At the end of the round, the team’s scores for each hole are added up to get a total score. The team with the lowest total score wins the game.
Handicaps are used sometimes to adjust scores, making the competition fair for teams of different skill levels.
Good for all skill levels, Texas Scramble requires a mix of teamwork and individual skill.
14. Bingo Bango Bongo
Bingo Bango Bongo is a fun, casual golf game that’s great for a relaxed day on the course with friends. Since it’s more about having a good time than a serious competition, you could even turn it into a golf drinking game!
Description: Players earn a point on each hole from completing three objectives. These are:
Bingo: First player to get their ball to the green.
Bango: Player whose ball is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green.
Bongo: First player to sink their ball.
This game can be played alongside standard play, so it doesn’t disrupt the usual flow.
Key Points:
Players can earn points in three different ways on each hole, adding variety and excitement.
Since it’s not just about the lowest score, all skill levels can have fun with this game.
Bingo Bango Bongo rewards not only long shots, but accuracy and putting skills as well.
You can play with any number of players and it fits in with a regular round of golf.
Groups sometimes play for $1 per point.
