Are you thinking of hosting a golf match? Maybe you want to make the game more interesting the next time you go out to play with your friends, or you’re curious about the type of formats you’ll have to play if you attend a golf school. Whatever the reason, we’ve outlined a few popular match-play formats below.
Stroke Play
Stroke play is one of the most popular match-play formats you’ll come across again and again. Stroke play involves playing 18 holes and adding up your cumulative scores. The golfer who has the best score after you play an 18-hole round of golf wins. You’re trying to outplay your fellow competitors, and you’re trying to outplay the posted course score.
Scramble
A Scramble involves playing on teams of two, three, or four golfers. Each team member will tee off every hole. After the first hole, the team will decide on the best shot and play all of their balls from this point. This keeps going throughout every shot of the round. A player can place their ball anywhere within a club-length of the best shot. The team with the lowest cumulative score at the end of 18 holes wins.
Alternative Shot
Alternative Shot play uses teams of two golfers. On each hole, the golfers on each team will alternate shots until they finish the 18 holes. Each team member alternates who hit the tee shot on each hole. So, if you hit the tee shot on the first hole, your partner would hit next. You alternate shots until you finish.
Four Ball
This format uses the better ball scoring format and teams of two. You can play it as a stroke or match play, and every golfer will play their own ball throughout the 18 holes. If you choose match play, the golfer with the lowest score at the end of each hole wins the hole for their team. This earns you a point. Whichever team has the most points by the end of the round wins.
Shamble
A Shamble uses teams of two, three, or four golfers. Every golfer will tee off at every hole. Then, the team picks the best drive out of their team. The team will then play their second shot from this point. After the second shot on each hole, each golfer will play their own ball for the remainder of the hole. You continue this pattern throughout all 18 holes.
Bingo, Bango, Bongo
This is a points-based format that you can play individually or as a team. You get three different opportunities to earn points for each hole. The first point is bingo, and the player who gets their ball to the green first gets it. The second point is bango, and this goes to the player who gets closest to the pin when everyone’s ball is on the green. The third point is bongo, and this goes to the person who holes our first. The player with the most points wins.
Bottom Line
It’s fun and easy to try out different playing styles to help switch up your golf game. Grab a few buddies, hit the course, and see which one works better for your group.
