There are two main game formats in golf: match play and stroke play. The first is a match play, in which the basis for scoring is the holes, and the second is a scoring competition, in which the number of strokes is recorded. Outwardly similar, these formats imply a different order of action and penalty system. But in addition to the main game types, there are many popular variations of official and unofficial competitions.
MATCH PLAY
This variant of the game is a tournament between two teams, which takes place during a predetermined round. Scores are scored by the hole, meaning the team that shoots the ball with the least amount of shots wins. If, at the end of the game, one team has more holes won than they have left on the course, they are considered the winner. In this case, the position of the teams is determined on the basis of the number of holes passed and not passed. A position in which one of the teams has a preponderance equal to the remaining holes is called a dormy. If the game is played with a handicap, the team with the lowest net score wins.
Types of match play
There are several formats in match play:
Single – A single match in which two players compete against each other.
Trisom is a variant of match play in which one athlete plays against two using a single ball.
Forsom is a variation of match play in which the game is played 2/2 with one ball and the shots are alternated.
Tribal – a variation in which three competitors play a match against each other. At the same time, each of the athletes plays two games with his one ball.
Bestball is a game format in which one athlete tries to outscore the best of two or three players.
Forball is a type of match play in which the game is played in a 2 on 2 format and the winner is determined based on the best scores.
These varieties of golf are categorized as official.
STROKE PLAY
In a scoring contest, the player who plays the predetermined round with the minimum number of strokes is the winner. If a handicap is taken into account, the competitor with the lowest “net” score obtained during the round is the best.
Stroke Play Formats
In competitions on the score there are three types: bogey, par and stableford. Scoring in the first two types is conducted as in match play – by the holes passed.
And in the format of Stableford, the player who scores more points wins. Counting is performed as follows:
The contestant who hits the ball two or more times higher than par gets 0 points.
At one “extra” hit the athlete receives 1 point.
The player who showed the result equal to the pair, assigns himself 2 points.
If a participant has coped in one stroke less than pairs, he gets 3 points.
And so on in ascending order: the fewer strokes it took the athlete on the hole, the more points he earns.