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 cool formats.
Match play
Actually, Match Play is believed to be the original form of golf. The terms of the format are pretty straightforward;
- The game is played by holes.
- A hole is won by a player (or team / pair) who makes the fewest strokes on each hole.
- If both sides score the same number of strokes, the hole is considered ‘halved’.
- Each game begins, ‘all square’ or ‘even’.
So, for example, if you birdie (-1) on the first hole and your opponent makes a pair (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 ‘halve’ the hole, you are still ‘one up’.
On the third hole, your opponent wins the hole, so he is considered “all square”.
The game is played throughout each hole, while the score is kept cumulatively. The outcome of the game is determined when you are “up” or “down” for more holes than there are left to play.
So, for example, you play Match Play for one round, and you’re ‘three up’ with only two holes left to play. He is considered to have won the match by a margin of 3 and 2.
Another example; you are one down with two holes to play and you lose the next hole. Now you have two less, with one to play. Therefore, it is considered to have lost and the result is 2 and 1.
“Dormie” is a term used when you or your opponent are “down” for the same number of holes left to play. So, for example, you are ‘five up’, with five to play with. That’s ‘dormie’ or ‘dormie 5’.
If a competition decision states that a winning result must be achieved (not halved), then a sudden death tiebreaker occurs. Players will return to the first tee and play until one player wins a hole.
What’s so interesting about Match Play? The most intriguing aspect of Match Play is the “concession” ruling. Where your opponent can “concede”, or “give” you a putt that is too close or they feel you will not miss. You can also make the same offers to your opponent.
It’s a huge time saver and there is also a strategy that players can use in competitive matches; trust me, I’ve seen him do it many times in team games. You keep the pressure off your opponent for most of the round, “giving them putts,” which are about 2-3 feet. Then later in the round when it’s the ‘pivotal moment’ you can build up the pressure by having them throw that short putt, hoping they haven’t had any short putts (or a very low amount) the entire game, they follow go ahead and fail.
Be careful though, as this can happen to you too!
Advice! In fourball betterball, which is the term used for Match Play 2v2, you can mix the order of honor with your partner (who comes first) whenever you want between holes. The first player can get one out safely, leaving his partner a chance to really spread his shoulders.
Similarly, in Match Play you can mix the order of who shoots first on the green with your partner. So, for example, a player near the hole could hit in his par, leaving his playing partner a completely free birdie putt where we can be aggressive without worrying about the putt back.
Stroke play
The most popular competitive golf format in the world.
- It’s you, your clubs, and a scorecard.
- 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, the order of play is used, ie furthest from the hole, and there are no “gimmie / concession” putts in this format.
What’s so interesting about Stroke Play? You can use the handicaps and make it a true level playing field for any golfer of any skill level, as long as the handicap is a real handicap.
Other interesting formats?
Texas Scramble – Easily my number 1 format for playing golf. All 4-player teams hit the first hit and then decide which is the best hit. Then all the players on the team all play their second shot one after another from this position. And so on until the ball is pocketed.
Some really low scores shoot up here and my old golf club ran regularly, ‘Shotgun Start’, where each hole was filled with game equipment. Then a shotgun is fired and everyone goes out. The idea is for everyone to finish at the same time, eat at the same time and be all together for the day’s presentation.
Green – 2v2 game in which each pair comes out and then takes 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 – Like Greensomes, however, the catch is that opponents can choose which shot you play. So of course they will take the worst shot! So consider yourself lucky if you and your partner hit the fairway after your drive!
Stableford – A very popular golf format. The basic thing is that you are rewarded with a certain amount of points, depending 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, if you had a handicap of 14, you would get 1 shot on each of the 14 most difficult holes (hit index 1-14). He then takes his raw score and minus 1 for each hole he gets a shot at. So you earn the points accordingly.
A player who “plays” his handicap would reach 36 points (18 pairs of 2 points each).
What makes this format so great is that, unlike stroke play, a hole or two of poorly scored strokes can leave you winning. How? Let’s say you hit 10 strokes on a hole, in Stroke Play it would damage your card a lot, in Stableford you only get 0 points, the same as if you had hit a double bogey.
There are many other golf formats for you to enjoy and what better time than now to get out there and start mixing your formats!