How To: Scoring Formats

Strokeplay:
Also known as Medal Play, Stroke Play involves counting the total number of strokes taken on each hole during a given round, or series of rounds. The winner is the player who has taken the fewest number of strokes over the course of the round, or rounds.

Stableford: 
In this type of competition points are awarded depending on the score for each hole. It was designed to speed up play - as soon as a player can no longer score a point he can pick up his ball.

• A player scores one point for a nett (minus their handicap) bogey, two for par, three for a birdie, four for an eagle and five for an albatross.

• You win a competition by scoring the most points overall.

• Normal stableford system Albatross: Five points Eagle: Four points Birdie: Three points Par: Two points Bogey: One point.

• On an amateur level, if a player takes six shots on a par-four hole but is entitled to a shot because of his handicap, his net score is five.

Match Play:
Match play scoring consists of individual holes won, halved or lost. On each hole, the most that can be gained is one point. Golfers play as normal, counting the strokes taken on a given hole. The golfer with the lowest score on a given hole receives one point. If the golfers tie, then the hole is halved. 

Better Ball:
Better Ball is used in match play competitions, consists of two teams of two golf players competing directly against each other. Each golfer plays his or her own ball throughout the round, such that four balls are in play. A team's number of strokes for a given hole is that of the lower scoring team member.

Foursomes:
Golfers compete in teams of two, each using one ball, and taking alternate shots until the hole is completed. Team members also take turns in teeing off on each hole, i.e. one player will take the tee shot on odd-numbered holes, and the other on even-numbered holes.  Foursomes is commonly played as match play, with each hole being won by the team that completes it in the fewest shots. This form of golf is often played in team golf competitions such as the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Seve Trophy and the Presidents Cup. Foursomes can also be played in stroke play competitions, with the winners being the team who have taken the fewest number of strokes to complete a set number of holes.

Scramble:
Each player in a team tees off on each hole, and the players decide which shot was best. Every player then plays their second shot from within a clublength of where the best shot has come to rest (and no closer to the hole), and the procedure is repeated until the hole is finished. This system is very common at informal tournaments such as for charity, as it speeds play (due to the reduced number of shots taken from bad lies), allows teams of varying sizes, and allows players of widely varying skill levels to participate without a profoundly negative impact on team score.