A very attractive aspect of golf for many players is the large number of different formats in which it can be played. Let’s start with the two main formats; Match Play and Stroke Play, and then we’ll share some other interesting formats.
starting game
Actually, Match Play is believed to be the original form of golf. The format terms are pretty straightforward;
- The game is played by holes.
- A hole is won by a player (or team/pair) taking the fewest strokes on each given hole.
- If both sides get the same number of hits, the hole is considered ‘halved’.
- Each game begins, ‘all square’ or ‘even’.
So, for example, if you birdie (-1) the first hole and your opponent makes a par (E), then you win the first hole. He is described as ‘one up’, while his opponent is said to be ‘one down’.
If then on the second hole, you and your opponent both ‘halve’ the hole, you are still ‘one up’.
On the third hole, your opponent wins the hole, so you are considered ‘all tied’.
The game is played throughout each hole, while the score is kept cumulative. The outcome of the game is determined when you are ‘up’ or ‘down’ by more holes than there are left to play.
So, for example, you play match play in one round and you are ‘up three’ with only two holes to play. He is considered to have won the match with a margin of 3 and 2.
Another example; you’re one down with two holes to play and you lose the next hole. Now you’re down two, with one to play with. Therefore, it is considered that you have lost with the result of 2&1.
‘Sleep’ is a term used when you or your opponent are ‘down’ by the same number of holes to play. So, for example, you are ‘up five’, with five to play. That’s ‘sleep’ or ‘sleep 5’.
If a competition rule states that a winning (not halved) result must be achieved, then a sudden death tiebreaker occurs. Players will then return to the first teeing ground and play until one player wins a hole.
What’s interesting about Match Play? The most intriguing aspect of Match Play is the ‘concession’ decision. Where your opponent can ‘concede’ or ‘give’ you a putt that he is too close to or if he feels you will not miss. You can also make the same offerings to your opponent.
This is a huge time saver and there is also a strategy that players can use in competitive matches. Believe me, I’ve seen it many times in team games. You keep the pressure off your opponent for most of the round, ‘giving’ them putts, which are around 2-3 feet. Then, later in the round, when it’s the “essential moment,” you can increase the pressure by having them putt that short putt, hoping they haven’t had any (or very few) short putts the entire game. they go ahead and fail.
However, be careful, as this can happen to you too!
Advice! In fourball betterball, which is the term used for 2v2 match play, you can mix up the order of honor with your partner (who tees off) whenever you want between holes. The first player can safely escape, leaving his partner a chance to really open his shoulders.
Similarly, in Match Play you can mix the order of who puts first on the green with your partner. So, for example, a player near the hole could hit par for himself, leaving his playing partner a completely free birdie putt where we can be aggressive without worrying about the return putt.
stroke play
The most popular competitive golf format in the world.
- It’s you, your clubs and a score card.
- The winner is the player with the fewest hits.
- The result is based on the raw score (without taking into account the handicap) or the net score (the total score minus the handicap of the players).
Unlike Match Play, order of play is used, ie farthest from the hole, and there are no ‘gimmie/concession’ putts in this format.
What’s interesting about Stroke Play? You can use handicaps and make the playing field truly level for any golfer of any ability, as long as the handicap is a true handicap.
Other interesting formats?
Texas Scramble- Easily my number 1 format for playing golf. Teams of 4 players all tee off and then decide which is the better shot. Then all the players on the team all play their second shot one after the other from this position. And so on until the ball is holed.
Some really low scores are thrown here and my old golf club would run regularly, ‘Shotgun Start’, where each hole was filled with play equipment. Then a shotgun is fired and everyone gets out. The idea is that everyone finishes at the same time, eats at the same time and is all together for the presentation of the day.
Greensomes- 2v2 game in which each couple tees off and then alternate shots, once they choose which ball they think is better of the two. Scoring is used the same as Match Play and is a great game of fun and pressure.
Yellowsomes- Same as Greensomes, however, the problem is that opponents get to choose which shot to play. Then of course they will choose the worst shot! So consider yourself lucky if you and your partner hit the fairway from your hit!
Stableford- A very popular format of golf. The basic thing is that you are rewarded with a certain amount of points, based on the score you get on the hole. Par = 2. Birdie = 3. Eagle = 4. Bogey = 1. Your handicap can be used within the format, and most players do.
For example, with a handicap of 14, you would get 1 stroke on each of the 14 hardest holes (stroke rating 1-14). He then takes his gross minus 1 from each hole he gets a shot at. Then you earn the corresponding points.
A player who ‘plays’ his handicap will hit 36 points, (18 pairs of 2 points each).
What makes this format so great is that, unlike stroke play, one or two hit holes with high and low scores can still leave you winning. How? Let’s say you hit 10 shots on a hole, on stroke play it would do a lot of damage to your card, on Stableford you only get 0 points, the same as you would if you had hit a double bogey.
There are plenty of other golf formats for you to enjoy and what better time than now to get out there and start mixing your formats.