Golf Games, Formats, and Types of Play
🏌 Common Golf Games
| Game | How It’s Played |
|---|---|
| Scramble | In a scramble, all players tee off, the group selects the best shot, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot. This continues until the ball is holed. It is the most popular team golf format, commonly used in charity and corporate tournaments. |
| Shamble | All tee off, pick the best drive, then everyone plays their own ball from that spot. |
| Best Ball | Each player plays their own ball; the best score per hole counts for the team. |
| Alternate Shot (Foursomes) | Two-player teams alternate shots using one ball; players also alternate tee shots. |
| Chapman (Pinehurst) | Both players tee off, switch balls for second shots, pick the best, and alternate shots in. |
| Stableford | Points are awarded based on score relative to par on each hole (e.g., 1 point for bogey, 2 for par, 3 for birdie, 4 for eagle); the player or team with the most points wins. |
| Match Play | In match play, golfers compete hole by hole. The player who wins the most holes wins the match, regardless of total stroke count. A match can end before 18 holes if one player has an insurmountable lead. |
| Skins | In a skins game, each hole is worth a designated prize or point value called a “skin.” The player with the lowest score on that hole wins the skin. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over and is added to the next hole's value. |
| Wolf | Players rotate as “Wolf” on each hole, deciding after each tee shot whether to play solo against the group or choose a partner. Typically played with 4 players. |
🏆 Common Tournament Formats
| Tournament Type | How It’s Played |
|---|---|
| Stroke Play | Players count their total strokes for the round or entire event; the player with the lowest total wins. |
| Match Play Tournament | Bracket-style head-to-head matches; winner advances to the next round. |
| Stableford Tournament | Players earn points per hole based on performance; highest total points win. |
| Four-Ball Tournament | Teams of two; each plays own ball, best score per hole counts for the team. |
| Foursomes Tournament | Teams of two players alternate shots using a single shared ball. |
| Pro-Am | A team event pairing professional golfers with amateurs; typically uses a best ball or scramble format. Common in charity and sponsor events. |
| Ryder Cup Style | A team competition format inspired by the Ryder Cup, combining foursomes, four-ball, and singles matches, where points are awarded for each match won. |
⛳ Types of Play Formats
| Format | How It’s Played |
|---|---|
| Individual | Each player plays their own ball throughout the round and competes independently. |
| Team Play | Teams of two or more combine scores or use team formats like best ball or scramble. |
| Medal Play | Medal play is another term for stroke play; the player with the fewest total strokes over the round or rounds wins. |
| Net vs. Gross | Gross score is your total actual strokes played; net score is your gross score minus your handicap allowance. |