Breaking Down the Basics: Understanding How Golf Scoring Works

Golf is a fascinating sport that boasts a rich history stretching back over 600 years. Over this time, many different types of golf games have emerged, each influencing the scoring rules in their unique way.

It's not uncommon for casual golfers to only understand the basic scoring rules of 'Stroke Play', the most common form of golf where every swing counts toward the player's overall score. However, being familiar with how the different types of golf games influence the scoring rules can make the golfing experience more engaging and exciting.

Let’s dive into some of these golf variations and understand how they influence scoring rules.

1. Match Play:
In Match Play, the scoring system is perhaps the most fundamentally different from Stroke Play. In this type of golf game, players or teams compete per hole instead of the total number of strokes throughout the game. The golfer with the fewest strokes on a hole wins that hole. If both golfers make the same number of strokes, the hole is 'halved'. The game continues until one player is up by more holes than there are remaining to play.

2. Stableford:
Invented by Dr. Frank Barney Gorton Stableford in 1898, this scoring system aims to inject an element of offense into the golf game. Points are awarded based on the number of strokes taken at each hole, with fewer strokes earning more points. A player who exceeds a predetermined number of strokes per hole gets no points and can move onto the next hole, thus speeding up play. The aim is to accumulate the highest score possible instead of the lowest, as in traditional Stroke Play.

3. Fourball:
In the Fourball format, two teams of two players compete against one another. Each player plays his or her own ball, and the lowest score on each hole for each team is used. This format can make the game more exciting and reduce the pressure on individual players, as one bad hole would not necessarily ruin their team's chances of winning.

4. Greensomes:
Also known as Scotch Foursomes, this format is a type of Match Play or Stroke Play where two teams of two players compete against each other. Each player on a team tees off, then the team selects the best drive and plays alternating shots from there. The popularity of this format is attributed to its team-centric approach, which places great importance on strategy and collaboration.

5.

Golf, like any other sport, comes with its own unique jargon. Whether you’re a beginner attempting to master the game, or an individual trying to understand the sport better when watching it, becoming familiar with the various golf terms can truly enhance your overall experience. Here are some key golf scoring terminologies that will help you grasp the game better.

Initial Distinctions: Stroke Play Vs Match Play

One of the first things you need to understand about golf scoring is the distinction between Stroke Play and Match Play. In stroke play, the player with the lowest total number of strokes over the entire course is deemed the winner. On the contrary, in match play, the game is broken down into individual holes. The player who takes the fewer shots to complete each hole wins that hole, and the player who wins the most holes wins the game.

Golfer’s Main Goal: Par

Par is basically the standard number of strokes that a golfer should make to get the ball into the hole. Each hole on a golf course is assigned ‘a par’ – typically ranging from 3 to 5, this is based on the hole distance. For instance, Par-3 references a hole that is expected to be completed in three strokes, a Par-4 hole in four strokes, and so forth.

Taking One Extra Shot: Bogey

A bogey occurs when you take one stroke more than the hole’s par. So if you're playing on a Par-4 hole and you take five strokes to get the ball into the hole, that’s a bogey. If you took six strokes, it would be a double bogey, seven strokes would be a triple bogey, and so on.

The Coveted Score: Birdie

A birdie refers to a score of one stroke under par on any particular hole. So if the hole is a par-4, and the player makes it in three strokes, it’s referred to as a birdie.

The Rare Accomplishment: Eagle

Achieving an eagle is a rarity and denotes that a player has scored two strokes under the par. For example, if you make it in three strokes on a par-5 hole, that’s an eagle.

The Ultimate Achievement: Hole In One

A 'hole in one' (or an 'ace') occurs when a player gets his ball into the hole in just one stroke. This is the dream shot for most golf players and is a source of great pride and accomplishment.