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Competitions take two basic forms –
match play or stroke play. In match play two players or sides
compete against each other on a hole by hole basis. In stroke
play a player or side competes against the whole field on their
score over the whole round or rounds.
MATCH PLAY
1. SINGLES
Format
One player competes directly
against one other player
Handicap allowance
The player with the higher
handicap of the two receives strokes amounting to the full
difference between the two handicaps. These strokes are taken at
the holes indicated by the stroke index.
2. PAIRS (FOUR BALL-BETTER
BALL)
Format
Two players form a side, each
playing their own ball throughout. The better score of the
partners is the score for the side.
Handicap allowance.
The three players with the
highest handicaps of the four each receive strokes amounting to
three quarters of the difference between their own handicap and
that of the lowest handicap of the four. Their strokes are taken
at the holes indicated by the stroke index.
3. FOURSOME
Format
Two players form a side and hit
alternate shots with the one ball. The two players drive
alternately from successive tees.
Handicap Allowance
The two players on each side add
their handicap together. The partners, with the higher combined
handicap, receive strokes amounting to a half of the difference
between the combined handicaps of the two sides. These strokes
are taken at the holes indicated by the stroke index.
4. GREENSOME
Format
Two players form a side and both
drive off each tee. Either ball may be selected to continue the
hole and subsequent shots are played alternately until the hole
is completed.
Handicap Allowance
Multiply the lower handicap of
the two partners by 0.6 and the higher handicap by 0.4, and add
the two figures together to give the full Greensome handicap of
the side. The partners, with the higher Greensome handicap,
receive strokes amounting to the full difference between the
Greensome handicaps of the two sides. These strokes are taken at
the holes indicated by the stroke index.
N.B. – If in any match it is all
square after 18 holes and play continues to determine a winner,
strokes are taken at subsequent holes as though the match had
re-started.
STROKE PLAY
1. MEDALS
Format
In Medal Competitions the number
of shots that a golfer takes to play a hole is recorded for each
hole. This is recorded as the gross score.
Handicap Allowance
The full handicap is deducted
from the total gross score for 18 holes to determine the net
score. The player recording the best net score is the winner of
the competition.
2. STABLEFORD
Format
A Stableford Competition is a
form of stroke play where the gross score on each hole is
translated into a points value after application of the players
handicap allowance. A score of 2 over par or more on a hole = 0
points; one over par = 1 point; par = 2 points; one under par =
3 points; and two under par = 4 points.
Handicap Allowance
Players receive their full
handicap allowance and the strokes are taken at the holes
indicated by the stroke index. The player with the highest
number of points is the winner of the competition.
3. ECLECTIC
Format
Competitors play one or more
rounds, choosing their best score at each hole to make up their
eclectic score. Handicap Allowance
If played over two rounds, each
competitor deducts 5/6ths of the full handicap from the Eclectic
score for the two rounds. If played over three rounds deduct
4/5ths of the handicap from the Eclectic score. If played over
four rounds deduct ¾, five rounds 2/3 and six or more rounds, a
half.
4. BOGEY (PAR)
Each player plays against the par
for each hole, counting a win if the player holes out in less
than the par for the hole, zero if it is equalled, and a loss if
the ball is held out in more than par. The aggregate of wins and
losses is taken to give a final score of so many holes up or
down as the case may be to Bogey or (par).
Handicap Allowance
Each player receives their full
handicap and the strokes are taken at the holes indicated by the
stroke index.
5. TEXAS SCRAMBLE
Format
Usually played by a team of four.
Each golfer tees off and the best shot is selected (it may be
stipulated that a minimum number of drives must be taken from
each member of the team). The position is marked and each member
of the team places their ball within 12 inches of that position,
but not nearer the hole and plays their shot. The best shot is
again selected and the process repeated. When the ball is on the
green, it is marked. The other balls are placed within 6 inches
of the marker but not nearer the hole. The first ball to be
holed is the score that counts for the team.
Handicap Allowance
The combined handicap for the
team is divided by the number of team players(x2),8 for a
fourball 6 for three and 4 for a two ball, to provide the
handicap for the team, the strokes are taken at the holes
indicated by the stroke index.
COUNTBACK
In a stroke play competition
where the scores are equal, the winner is normally determined by
a “countback”. This is conducted sequentially, best back 9, best
back 6, best back 3, best back 1, the winner being the first to
be ahead on each of these counts.
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