4 Clubs Plus Putter
Format: The 4 Clubs plus Putter game is played as an individual event exactly the same as a regular Stableford competition, the only difference is you are only allowed four clubs (plus a putter).
Playing Handicap: 95% of Course Handicap.
Rules of Play: Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in Stroke Play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
Scoring: The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Bingo Bango Bongo
Format: Can be played from any number of players from 2 up.
Playing Handicap: There is no handicap involved with this game.
Rules of Play: Bingo Bango Bongo offers three opportunities for points on each hole. The first point is awarded for the first player to reach the green, bingo. The second point goes to the player who is closest to the pin once all balls are on the green, bango. The final point is for the person who holes out first, bongo. All shots are taken in order of which player is furthest away from the hole. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Order of Play: Strict etiquette must be enforced. The player who is furthest away always plays first, so gets the first crack at claiming the bingo point. Likewise, once all balls are on the green, if you are farthest away from the hole you putt first, again getting the first crack at the point. If a player goes out of turn to win the “bingo” or “bongo” point, the point on the hole is awarded to the second player to achieve either.
Scoring: The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. As a bonus, any player who manages to win all three points available on a single hole will be awarded double points.
Bloodsomes or Gruesomes
Format: Two-person team.
Playing Handicap: 60% of Course Handicap for the low handicapper plus 40% of the high handicapper.
Rules of Play: A match played in bloodsomes (or gruesomes) will see golfers engage in a competition much like they would in a greensomes. Contrary to greensomes though where the best drive is elected as the location for the second shot, it is the opposing team who will decide which ball their opponents will play next. Consequently, golfers will normally play from the drives that are in the worst lies rather than in the best.
All four golfers will hit from the first tee box. Teammates from team A will then elect which one of the two balls from team B that team will have to hit next. Likewise, team B will also decide which ball team A will have to hit next. The golfers whose balls are chosen will let their teammates hit the second shot and they will alternate from there until their one ball is holed out. The same process will be followed on each of the holes afterwards.
Scoring: The team that wins the most number of holes will be declared the winners. In the event of a tie, count back of the number of holes won will be used to declare the winners.
Bogey Competition
Format: A Bogey competition is a matchplay format played by individuals against the course.
Playing Handicap: Each player plays off their full handicap.
Rules of Play: The competition is played hole by hole. If a player makes a nett birdie or better he wins that hole and marks it with a +. If a player makes a nett bogey or worse he loses the hole and marks it down with a -. A player halves the hole if they score a nett par and this is marked with a 0.
Scoring: The winner of the competition is the player with the highest differential of holes “won” to holes “lost”, with the result on each hole normally based on the player’s handicap-adjusted score.
Canadian Foursomes
Format: Teams of two players.
Playing Handicap: Played with a partner off 50% combined Course Handicaps.
Rules of Play: Both partners A and B drive on every hole and then take their second shot with their own ball.They then decide which of the two balls they prefer to take for the third shot. The remaining ball is picked up. If player A’s ball is selected, player B hits the third shot with the selected ball. Play then proceeds on an alternate shot basis with the selected ball until the hole is completed.Penalty shots do not affect the order of play.
Scoring: Identical to stroke play with the number of shots taken at each hole entered on the card and totalled for the eighteen holes to obtain the gross score. The handicap allowance is deducted to obtain the net score. The pair with the lowest net score being the winners.
ChaChaCha
Format: The Cha Cha Cha game is a team game for 4 players and is played exactly the same as a regular Stableford competition, with the only difference being that from hole 1, the best individual score is counted, on hole 2 the best two scores are counted, on hole 3 all Stableford scores are counted. The process repeats so that you only count the best score on the 4th and so on.
Playing Handicap: Each player plays off 85% of their handicap.
Rules of Play: Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in Stroke Play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
Scoring: The winners are the team with the best Stableford points total over 18 holes.
Chinese Greensomes
Format: Two-person team.
Playing Handicap: 60% of Course Handicap for the low handicapper plus 40% of the high handicapper.
Rules of Play: Chinese Greensomes is a stroke play competition for two-person teams. Before starting the first hole of the round players decide which player will play the second stroke on all odd-numbered holes and the other player plays the second stroke on all even-numbered holes. This selection of player applies irrespective of whose tee shot is used on that hole. Each subsequent stroke on a hole is made in alternating order.
Scoring: The team that posts the lowest round net of their playing handicap wins. To calculate a net score you simply deduct your playing handicap number from your gross score.
Four Ball, Better Ball or Best Ball
Format: Four-ball is a pairs playing format that is usually played as match play.
Playing Handicap: 90% of Course Handicap for a team game.
Rules of Play: Each golfer plays their own golf ball throughout, and the lower of the partners’ scores counts as the team score on each hole.
Scoring: In a stroke-play four ball game, the two golfers on a side mark down the lower of their two scores on each hole, then tally it up at the end of the round and compare that total to the field. The team with the lowest score at the end of the round wins.
Foursomes
Format: Foursomes is a type of golf game played between four players. Players compete in teams of two, using only one ball per team. It can be played as either match play or stroke play.
Playing Handicap: 50% of combined team handicap.
Rules of Play: Golfer A tees off, Golfer B hits the second shot, Golfer A plays the third shot, Golfer B hits the fourth shot, and so on until the ball is holed. The two golfers on a side also alternate hitting tee shots so that the same player doesn’t hit every drive (if Golfer A hits the drive on the first hole, then Golfer B plays the drive on Hole 2).
Here’s a hint for foursomes strategy: Try to determine before the round which are the toughest driving holes on the course being played. Factor that into the decision on who hits the tee ball on the first hole. You want your best driver to be teeing off on as many of the toughest driving holes as possible. The golfer who tees off No. 1 will continue teeing off on odd-numbered holes.
Scoring: The team that completes the hole in the fewest shots wins.
Greensomes
Format: Two-person team.
Playing Handicap: 60% of Course Handicap for the low handicapper plus 40% of the high handicapper.
Rules of Play: Greensomes is a variation of Foursomes where both partners play from the teeing area and one of the two tee shots is selected. The partner whose tee shot was not selected then plays the next stroke and each subsequent stroke is made in alternating order until the ball is holed.
Scoring: The team that posts the lowest round net of their playing handicap wins. To calculate a net score you simply deduct your playing handicap number from your gross score.
Matchplay
Format: A Matchplay competition is a form of play where a player (or players) plays directly against an opponent (or opponents) in a head-to-head match.
Playing Handicap: Individuals play off their full handicap and in four-ball each player plays off 90% of their handicap.
Rules of Play: In match play, the player or team with the lowest total score for the hole wins the hole and is awarded a point. In the event of a tie, each is awarded a half-point, meaning the hole is “halved.” At the end of the round, the player or team with the most points is declared the winner.
Scoring: At the end of the round, the player or team with the most points is declared the winner.
Medford
Format: Individual.
Playing Handicap: 95% of Course Handicap.
Rules of Play: Play the front nine (holes 1 to 9) as a medal and the back nine (holes 10 to 18) as a Stableford. Deduct the Stableford points from the net medal score. Example: If you have a net 45 on the front nine and 20 points on the back nine, your score would be 25.
Scoring: The competitor with the lowest score being the winner.
Monthly Medal
Format: Individual.
Playing Handicap: 95% of Course Handicap. NOTE: The maximum playing handicap for Monthly Medals is 36.
Rules of Play: In a stroke play round each golfer records every one of his strokes (and penalty strokes if any) on every hole. In medal play players are not to accept nor offer gimmies and must instead sink every one of their putts, however long that takes.
Scoring: The player who posts the lowest round net of their playing handicap wins. To calculate a net score you simply deduct your playing handicap number from your gross score. Usually there will be 8 Monthly Medals (March to October).
New Zealand Stableford
Format: The New Zealand Stableford format is a stroke play tournament that is played in teams of two using the same points system as a regular Stableford Competition. The goal is for the team to gain the highest score.
Playing Handicap: 85% of of Course Handicap for team games.
Rules of Play: Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in Stroke Play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
Scoring: Multiply your own & your partners Stableford points score together. The pair with the highest points wins.
For example, if Player A gets 1 point and Player B gets 3 points you score 3. If you both get 2 points your score is 4. If Player A gets a 5 pointer and Player B doesn’t score you get a big fat Zero.
Pinehurst sometimes called American Foursomes or Chapman
Format: Teams of two players.
Playing Handicap: Played with 60% of the low handicap + 40% of the high handicap from your Course Handicaps.
Rules of Play: Both partners A and B drive on every hole and then take their partners ball for the second shot. They then decide which of the two balls they prefer to take for the third shot. The remaining ball is picked up. If player A’s ball is selected, player B hits the third shot with the selected ball. Play then proceeds on an alternate shot basis with the selected ball until the hole is completed. Penalty shots do not affect the order of play.
Scoring: Identical to stroke play with the number of shots taken at each hole entered on the scorecard and totalled for the eighteen holes to obtain the gross score. The handicap allowance is deducted to obtain the net score. The pair with the lowest net score being the winners.
Shamble
Format: Team game with 4 players.
Playing Handicap: 85% of Course Handicap for a team game.
Rules of Play: A “shamble” is a type of stroke play golf format in which a team of golfers selects the one best drive among them after teeing off, then all four play their own golf balls from that position into the hole.
Scoring: The 2 best scores of the team count to the team score.
Stableford
Format: The Stableford format is a stroke play tournament that can be played as an individual or as a team game using a points system in which the goal is to gain the highest score.
Playing Handicap: 95% of Course Handicap for Individual and 85% of Course Handicap for team games.
Rules of Play: Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in Stroke Play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
Scoring: Points in Stableford are awarded as follows:
- 6 points – Four strokes under
- 5 points – Three strokes under
- 4 points – Two strokes under
- 3 points – One stroke under
- 2 points – Level par
- 1 point – One stroke over
- 0 points – Two strokes or more over
The player or team who has the highest score after 18 holes is the winner.
Stableford Waltz with the Ladies
Format: A Stableford Waltz with the Ladies game is a team game for 4 players and is played exactly the same as a regular Stableford competition, with the only difference being that from hole 1, the best individual score is counted, on hole 2 the best two scores are counted, on hole 3 all Stableford scores are counted.
Playing Handicap: Each player plays off their full handicap.
Rules of Play: Rather than counting the total number of strokes taken, as in Stroke Play, it involves scoring points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole.
Scoring: The winners are the team with the best Stableford points total over 18 holes.
Texas Scramble
Format: A Texas Scramble game is played in teams of 4 players (or 3 dependant on number of entrants).
Playing Handicap: 25% / 20% / 15% / 10% from lowest to highest handicap.
Rules of Play: The team selects their best drive and the ball is marked. The player whose ball is selected plays his ball as it lies; the remaining players’ play from this marker and this continues for all subsequent shots until the ball is finally holed. If the selected ball lies on the fairway, the other team players place their balls within a scorecard’s length distance from the marker, no nearer the hole. If the selected ball lies in the rough, the other team players’ must also play from the rough, taking a drop within one club length of the marker no nearer the hole.
NOTE: From the marked ball, at no point in the game must the placement or drop of the team’s balls gain advantage of a better lie.
Scoring: Please mark the scorecard clearly indicating which player’s drive was selected on each hole. The team with the lowest net score being the winners.
Texas Scramble – Delaney
Format: Teams of 4 (or 3 depending on the number of entrants).
Playing Handicap: 25%, 20%, 15%, 10% from the lowest to the highest handicap (40%, 25%, 15% for teams of 3). Combined Playing Handicaps to be deducted from the gross score.
Drives: Minimum of FOUR drives to be taken by each team player, leaving 2 to be taken by any player. (Minimum of FIVE drives for a three ball team.)
Rules of Play:
- The team select their best drive and the ball is marked and lifted. The remaining players play from this marker.
- The player whose drive is selected for the first shot cannot use his ball for the second shot. Play is continued in this way, whereby the player who has his ball selected anywhere on the course up to the green, may not use his ball for the following shot.
- Once on the green, all players can putt. If the selected ball lies on the fairway, the other team players’ place their balls within a scorecards length distance from the marker, no nearer the hole.
- If the selected ball lies in the rough, the other team players must also play from the rough, taking a drop within one club length of the marker, no nearer the hole.
NOTE: From the marked ball, at no point in the game must the placement or drop of the team’s balls gain advantage of a better lie.
Scoring: Please mark the scorecard clearly indicating which player’s drive was selected on each hole. The team with the lowest net score being the winners.
Yellow Ball Competition
Format: Teams of three players. Stableford.
Playing Handicap: 95% Course Handicap.
Rules of Play:
- One Yellow Ball will be provided for each team.
- Each team starts with a Yellow Ball – Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
- Each team player will play the Yellow Ball in turn from each consecutive tee. (Player A will play the Yellow Ball from tees 1,4,7 etc, Player B will play the Yellow Ball from tees 2,5,8, etc. and Player C will play the Yellow Ball from tees 3,6,9 etc.)
- The two best scores count on each hole, one of which must be the player playing the Yellow Ball which counts for double points.
- All three members to score on par threes – one double for the Yellow Ball and two singles.
- Should the Yellow Ball be lost, continue playing with two single scores and three single scores on par 3’s. Mark the card where the Yellow Ball is lost and this team will be eligible for the Non Yellow Ball competition.
Scoring: Please mark the scorecard clearly indicating which player scored on each hole. The team with the highest score being the winners.
Yellow Lady
Format: The Yellow Lady competition is played in teams of four players using the Stableford scoring system. Also known as MoneyBall, Lone Ranger or Pink Ball.
Playing Handicap: 85% of Course Handicap.
Rules of Play:
On each hole one team member is designated to use the Yellow Lady.’ The money ball position is rotated throughout the round; so player A starts with it at the 1st hole, B on the 2nd, C on the 3rd, D on the 4th, and then back to A on the 5th, etc.
The team takes two scores per hole to count towards the team score, one of which must be the score of the golfer using the ‘Yellow Lady.’ So each hole the team’s score will be that of the ‘Yellow Lady’ ball player and the lowest score of the other three.
Scoring: The team with the lowest total team score at the end of the round wins.