Team Scoring:
Foursomes: a simple scoring method for team play, whereby two teams of two compete against each other. Swapping between each shot per player; for example, in team one, the first player tees off, then the second player takes the next shot and so on. This is a fun way to play golf with friends and can be scored using either match play or stroke play scoring methods.
Scramble: usually played with four per team; each member of the team takes a tee shot and the best tee shot is chosen and marked. All members of the team then continue with their shot from the chosen marked tee shot. You should allow for much lower scores this way, as the team can play from three best tee shot each time. Therefore, this means that the handicap is vastly reduced to one tenth of the teams combined overall handicap. This style of play is scored using stroke play!
Texas Scramble: very similar to scramble, however Texas scramble adds in an additional rule. The team must take four tee shots from each member of the team, stopping the opportunity for the person who has the best tee shot always taking the tee shot.
Greensomes: like foursomes, however each player tees off and the better shot out of the two is chosen to follow up. This then results in the player who took the worse shot out of the two to then take the second shot and then alternates from there. This type of scoring method allows for players to take more risk for their team, as there is two options to take from the tee!
Bloodsomes: like greensomes, however the power is held by the opposition, with the opponent choosing which shot is carried forward for their opposition. This is a fun spin on greensomes, as you can make it more challenging for your competitor.
Four Ball Better Ball: like foursomes, however each player has their own ball, with the score taken of the lowest score of the hole out of the two members of the team. Therefore, if a player is on form and one is not having a great day, they can still be carried to victory!
Individual Scoring:
Match Play: a scoring method which is favoured by many golfers around the world, particularly for less competitive contests, as it allows for the contest to be carried right up to the final hole. It also means that if you have a ‘bad hole’, then you have not necessarily been ruled out of the competition! So, how does this method work? Each hole is decided individually, with the player who hit the least shots being the winner of that hole. The player with the most points at the end of the competition is then considered the winner!
Here’s where it gets a little more complicated; if the hole is drawn by two or more players, it is split between the winners of the hole e.g. two winners means half a point each. Often, a situation can occur where a player who is leading makes it impossible for his score to be overtaken – in this case, the game is therefore called to a halt with this player being crowned champion.
Stroke Play: scoring is a more straightforward method of scoring, ie with no complex maths required! This method of scoring is a great way for new golf fans to be able to focus on the action, rather than trying to work out who is positioned where during the competition. Scoring is done by the person who achieved the least number of strokes during the round being crowned the winner and so on, with the table being decided in order of least shots all the way down to the most taken to complete the round.
Stableford: is contrary to the above individual scoring methods, with players aiming to score the highest points possible to win. This is a less popular method of golf scoring; however, it is used on the PGA tour in the Barracuda Championship. Having been around over one hundred years, this method is not new to golfers, but is not often favoured.
So how does stableford scoring work? Every score up to par is equal to a number of points, which is pre-determined before the competition. This style of play is particularly fun, as it allows players to take bigger risks – essentially, there is no penalty incurred for taking a large number of shots on a hole. The original system of points is as follows:
Four stokes under = 6 points
Three strokes under = 5 points
Two strokes under = 4 points
One strokes under = 3 point
Even par = 2 points
One stroke over = 1 point
Two strokes over = 0 points
Hopefully this has been useful, whether you are playing golf or spectating this year, and gives you a greater understanding over scoring methods. Now that you understand how golf scoring works, why not check out one of our golf experiences we have on offer HERE.