Table of Contents
Last updated Nov 07, 2023
The Ultimate Glossary of Golf Scoring Formats (9 Terms, A-Z)
Golf can be played with many different scoring formats including stroke play, match play, a scramble, fourball, and many more.
Written By: Zach Gollwitzer
Golf Scoring Formats Starting With ‘A’
Alternate Shot
Alternate shot, a popular Ryder Cup golf format, is when two golfers take turns hitting the ball every other shot. For example, player 1 hits the tee shot, player 2 hits the approach shot, and player 1 hits the putt. This continues until the hole is completed.
For today's match, we will be playing the alternate shot format.
Read more: Alternate Shot
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘B’:
Golf Scoring Formats Starting With ‘C’
Chapman System
A team format where both players tee off, then they switch balls and play each other's second shot. After that, they choose the best ball and alternate shots until the hole is completed.
Let's play a similar game to alternate shot called the Chapman system.
Read more: Chapman System
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘D’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘E’:
Golf Scoring Formats Starting With ‘F’
Fourball
Also known as "better ball" or "best ball", each golfer on a team plays their own ball, and the lowest score among the team members is recorded for each hole.
For today's round, we will play the fourball format.
Read more: Fourball
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘G’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘H’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘I’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘J’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘K’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘L’:
Golf Scoring Formats Starting With ‘M’
Match Play
In this golf format, golfers compete against each other on a hole-by-hole basis. The golfer who wins the most holes wins the match. The most popular examples of this include the Solheim Cup (women) and Ryder Cup (men). Second to these well-known tournaments, the Presidents Cup and WGC Match Play are also popular pro tournaments that use this format.
The Ryder cup is one of the most exciting match-play tournaments in golf!
Read more: Match Play
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘N’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘O’:
Golf Scoring Formats Starting With ‘P’
Peoria System
A handicapping system where a golfer can allocate their handicap strokes on any hole before the round starts. The golfer can choose when to use these strokes during the round.
Let's play the Peoria system today so I can get some strokes on my least favorite hole!
Read more: Peoria System
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘Q’:
Golf Scoring Formats Beginning With ‘R’:
Golf Scoring Formats Starting With ‘S’
Scramble
A team format where all players tee off, then they choose the best shot and all play their next shots from that spot. This continues until the ball is holed. A scramble is the most common format for corporate and charity golf tournaments where there are lots of players on the course of all different skill levels. This helps speed up play and make the round more fun for everyone!
Do you want to play in my company's annual golf scramble next week?
Read more: Scramble
Shamble
Similar to a scramble, but in this golf format, after selecting the best drive, each player plays their own ball for the remainder of the hole.
A shamble is a bit harder than a scramble because a player must play their own ball for most of the round!
Read more: Shamble
Stableford
In this golf format, points are awarded based on the number of strokes taken on each hole. Golfers earn more points for fewer strokes, with the goal of achieving the highest point total.
Want to play stableford for our match today?
Read more: Stableford
Stroke Play
Also called "medal play", this golf format requires each golfer to play their own ball the entire round. The total number of strokes taken is recorded, and the golfer with the lowest total wins. Most professional and competitive golf tournaments are played in this format.
We are playing stroke play format for this tournament.
Read more: Stroke Play