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Different Types of Golf Games and Formats

ByMichael Reeves

← Golf Gameplay & Rules | Fundamentals of Golf Rules


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Quick Answer

  • Golf games are called by their scoring system and how players are grouped.
  • You’ll see names like Stroke Play, Match Play, Best Ball, and Scramble.
  • These names tell you how scores are kept and who’s playing with whom.

Understanding these different golf scoring formats is key to enjoying the game, and there are many resources available to help you learn them all.

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Who This Is For

  • Anyone hitting the links who wants to know what game they’re playing.
  • Folks organizing a friendly foursome or a serious tournament.

What Golf Games Are Called: Key Formats to Check First

  • Stroke Play: This is the OG. You’re just counting every single stroke you take from tee to green. It’s the most straightforward way to keep score.
  • What to check: The total number of strokes for the whole round. This is your final score.
  • Mistake to avoid: Thinking you’re playing match play where you win holes. In stroke play, the lowest total score wins.
  • Match Play: Here, you’re competing hole by hole. It’s about winning more holes than your opponent. You can be down by several holes but still come back to win the match.
  • What to check: How many holes each player or team has won. The winner is the one who is “up” by more holes than there are remaining.
  • Mistake to avoid: Getting bogged down in total strokes; focus on winning individual holes. A player could shoot a 90 but win every hole and beat someone who shot an 80 but lost more holes.
  • Best Ball (or Four-Ball): This is a team game, usually with two players per side. Your team counts the best score on each hole. It’s a great way for players of different skill levels to compete together.
  • What to check: How the team’s lowest score is recorded for each hole. This is the score that counts for the team on that hole.
  • Mistake to avoid: Confusing it with Aggregate (where you add up all scores) or Foursomes (where you alternate shots).
  • Scramble: Another team format, but way more relaxed and often a blast. Everyone tees off, pick the best shot, everyone hits from there, and repeat. It’s all about getting the ball in the hole quickly and having fun.
  • What to check: How many times you have to use each player’s tee shot. Most rules require a minimum number of tee shots from each player.
  • Mistake to avoid: Thinking you’re playing your own ball all the way. You’re all playing the same ball after the tee shot.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the strategic nuances of competing hole-by-hole, exploring resources dedicated to match play golf can be incredibly beneficial.

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Step-by-Step Plan for Understanding Different Golf Game Formats

1. Learn Stroke Play:

  • Action: Understand the definition of stroke play. This is the foundation of most competitive golf.
  • What to look for: Total strokes per player over the entire round. The player with the fewest strokes wins.
  • Mistake to avoid: Confusing it with match play where you win holes. Stroke play is about the overall score.

2. Grasp Match Play:

  • Action: Identify the objective of match play. This format is a direct contest against an opponent.
  • What to look for: The number of holes won by each competitor. You win a hole by having a lower score than your opponent on that specific hole.
  • Mistake to avoid: Focusing on the overall stroke count instead of winning individual holes. You can win a match even if your opponent takes fewer total strokes.

3. Decipher Best Ball:

  • Action: Research how best ball scoring works. This is a popular team format for casual play and some tournaments.
  • What to look for: The lowest score from your team members on each hole. This score is what is recorded for the team on that hole.
  • Mistake to avoid: Assuming it’s the same as other team formats like Foursomes. In Best Ball, everyone plays their own ball.

4. Get the Scramble Vibe:

  • Action: Understand the core mechanic of a scramble. This format emphasizes teamwork and fun.
  • What to look for: How players choose the best shot and then everyone hits from that spot. This process is repeated until the ball is in the hole.
  • Mistake to avoid: Thinking you have to play your own ball all the way through. You’re all playing the same ball from the chosen spot.

5. Explore Foursomes (Alternate Shot):

  • Action: Learn the alternating shot rule. This is a true test of partnership and skill.
  • What to look for: Players taking turns hitting the same ball. One player hits off the tee, the other hits the second shot, and so on.
  • Mistake to avoid: One player hitting multiple shots in a row. This breaks the fundamental rule of Foursomes.

6. Check Out Stableford:

  • Action: Understand how points are awarded. This format encourages aggressive play.
  • What to look for: Points assigned based on score relative to par (e.g., birdie = 3 pts, par = 2 pts, bogey = 1 pt). The player with the most points wins.
  • Mistake to avoid: Treating it like stroke play and just counting strokes. Stableford is all about accumulating points.

7. Understand Greensomes:

  • Action: Learn the specific rules of Greensomes. It’s a hybrid format.
  • What to look for: Both players on a team tee off, then they choose the better tee shot and play the same ball alternately from there.
  • Mistake to avoid: Confusing it with Foursomes or Scrambles. It has its own unique combination of rules.

8. Familiarize Yourself with Chapman (Pinehurst):

  • Action: Study the Chapman system. It’s another interesting team format.
  • What to look for: Both players tee off, then they switch balls and play the second shot. After the second shot, they choose the better ball and play that ball alternately into the hole.
  • Mistake to avoid: Mixing up the ball switching. This is the key differentiator for Chapman.

Exploring Different Golf Game Names and Their Nuances

The world of golf games is vast, and understanding what golf games are called can feel like learning a new language. But once you get the hang of the core concepts, it opens up a whole new level of enjoyment and strategic thinking on the course. We’ve touched on the basics, but let’s dive a bit deeper into some of these popular formats, because knowing the names is just the first step.

Stroke Play: The Purest Test

Stroke play is the backbone of professional golf for a reason. It’s simple: count every single swing you make from the moment you address the ball on the first tee until you tap in your final putt on the 18th. The player with the lowest cumulative score over the stipulated rounds (usually 18 or 72 holes) wins. This format demands consistency, mental fortitude, and the ability to manage your game over an extended period.

  • What to Look For: Your total score for the round. Did you make more birdies than bogeys? How many “blow-up” holes did you have? Managing these details is key to success in stroke play.
  • Mistake to Avoid: Getting discouraged by one bad hole. In stroke play, you have to play through it and focus on the remaining holes. A triple bogey can be overcome with solid play on other holes, unlike in match play where that hole is simply lost. I remember one time I was having a terrible round, about 10 over par through 12 holes. But I managed to birdie three of the last six and salvaged a decent score. It’s all about perspective.

Match Play: Head-to-Head Competition

Match play is golf with a more direct rivalry. Instead of accumulating strokes, you’re competing to win individual holes. The player who takes fewer strokes on a given hole wins that hole. If scores are tied, the hole is halved. The match is won by the player who is “up” by more holes than there are remaining on the course. For example, if you win the 15th hole and are now “3 up with 3 to play,” you’ve won the match.

  • What to Look For: The “state of the match” – how many holes you are up or down. This dictates your strategy. If you’re down, you might need to take more risks. If you’re up, you might play more conservatively.
  • Mistake to Avoid: Not understanding the momentum shifts. A match can turn on a single hole. A player might be down by several holes but can quickly turn it around with a few consecutive wins. It’s also easy to get caught up in your opponent’s play and forget your own game plan.

Common Mistakes in Understanding Golf Game Names

Navigating the different golf game names can sometimes feel like a minefield. People often use terms interchangeably, leading to confusion. Here’s a breakdown of common mix-ups and how to fix them.

  • Mistake: Confusing “Best Ball” with “Four-Ball”.
  • Why it matters: While often used synonymously, there can be subtle distinctions in how the game is played and scored, particularly in formal tournament settings.
  • Fix: In Four-Ball (often played in Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup formats), two players on a team each play their own ball throughout the hole, and the lowest score of the two is the team’s score for that hole. In a casual “Best Ball,” the emphasis is still on the lowest score, but the play might be slightly more relaxed. The key is to confirm the specific rules of the competition.
  • Mistake: Not understanding the “Alternate Shot” concept in Foursomes.
  • Why it matters: This is a critical rule that dictates the entire flow of the game. Incorrectly playing Foursomes can lead to disqualification or significant scoring errors.
  • Fix: Ensure players strictly alternate hitting the same ball. One player hits the tee shot, the other hits the second shot, the first player hits the third, and so on. They must also hit from where the ball lies. This requires immense communication and strategy between partners.
  • Mistake: Misinterpreting Stableford points.
  • Why it matters: Stableford is designed to reward aggressive play and penalize poor play more heavily than stroke play. Misunderstanding the point system means you’re not playing the game as intended and will likely have an incorrect understanding of your score.
  • Fix: Memorize the point values for each score relative to par. A common system is: Double Bogey or worse = 0 points, Bogey = 1 point, Par = 2 points, Birdie = 3 points, Eagle = 4 points. The goal is to accumulate the highest point total.
  • Mistake: Thinking every team game is a Scramble.
  • Why it matters: Scrambles are a specific format with unique rules. Other team formats like Foursomes, Best Ball, or Chapman have distinct ways of playing and scoring.
  • Fix: Always confirm the specific team format before playing. If it’s not a scramble, you’ll likely be playing your own ball or alternating shots, and the strategy will change significantly.
  • Mistake: Confusing Aggregate scoring with Best Ball.
  • Why it matters: These are fundamentally opposite ways of scoring for a team.
  • Fix: Aggregate scoring means you add up the scores of all players on the team for each hole, and then sum those totals for the round. Best Ball (or Four-Ball) means you take the lowest score of the team members on each hole.
  • Mistake: Not understanding the “use each drive” rule in a Scramble.
  • Why it matters: This rule ensures that all players contribute throughout the round and prevents one player from dominating the tee shots.
  • Fix: Keep track of whose drive was selected. Most scramble formats require each player to have their tee shot used a minimum number of times (e.g., four times in an 18-hole round). This is crucial for fair play.

FAQ

  • What is the most common type of golf game?
  • Stroke play is the most common format for professional tournaments and many serious amateur events due to its clear and objective scoring. However, for casual rounds among friends, match play, best ball, and scrambles are extremely popular because they offer different dynamics and often more social interaction.
  • How does stroke play differ from match play?
  • Stroke play focuses on the total number of strokes taken over the entire round. The player with the lowest total score wins. Match play, on the other hand, is won hole by hole. The player who wins the most holes wins the match, regardless of the total stroke count. You can win a match play event even if your opponent takes fewer strokes overall.
  • What is the objective in a scramble?
  • The objective in a scramble is for the team to achieve the lowest possible score for the hole. All players on the team tee off, the team selects the best tee shot, and then all players hit their second shot from that chosen spot. This process is repeated until the ball is holed out. The goal is to combine the strengths of all players to get the ball into the hole as quickly as possible.
  • Is Four-Ball the same as Best Ball?
  • While the terms are often used interchangeably in casual golf, there can be subtle differences, especially in formal tournament play. Generally, Four-Ball means two players on a team each play their own ball, and the lowest score of the two is the team’s score for that hole. Best Ball typically implies the same thing: the best score among the team members on each hole counts. For most amateur golfers, they mean the same thing: count the best score on each hole.
  • What does “Aggregate” scoring mean?
  • Aggregate scoring means the total strokes of all players on a team are added together for each hole. These individual hole totals are then summed up for the entire round to determine the team’s final score. It’s the opposite of formats like Best Ball or Four-Ball where only the lowest score counts.
  • What is Foursomes?
  • Foursomes, also known as “alternate shot,” is a team format where two players play as a single team, but they share one ball and alternate hitting shots. One player hits the tee shot, the partner hits the second shot, the first player hits the third, and so on. They continue alternating until the ball is holed. This format requires strong communication and a deep understanding between partners.
  • How is Greensomes different from Foursomes?
  • In Greensomes, both players on a team tee off. Then, they choose the better of the two tee shots, and the player who hit that better shot does not hit the next shot. The other player hits the second shot, and then they alternate from there. This is a key difference from Foursomes, where the same player hits the tee shot and the next player hits the subsequent shot.

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