Golf has a remarkably straightforward scoring system based on the number of strokes taken during a hole, round or tournament. Each swing a golfer takes and hits the ball counts as a stroke. Penalty strokes can also be assessed for various infractions, including hitting a ball out of bounds, losing a ball, playing the wrong ball and taking a drop from an unplayable lie. The two most common scoring or match systems in golf are stroke play and match play.
Stroke Play
Step 1
At the end of each hole, add the number of strokes taken, including penalty strokes, and note them on the scorecard.
Step 2
Calculate the number of strokes under par for the hole by deducting the par for the hole from the total strokes taken, including penalty strokes. Notate under par with a “-” sign in front of the number, and over par with a “+” sign.
Step 3
Add the number of strokes taken and the total over/under par for each hole to get the respective totals for the match at the end of the round. The player or team with the lowest number of strokes is the winner for the round.
Match Play
Step 1
Add the total strokes for each team or player on every hole. The team or player with the lowest total strokes on a hole wins that hole. With match play, the object is to win a hole, not have the fewest total strokes per round.
Step 2
Write the winner of the hole on the scorecard. Each hole won by a team or player is good for one point. If the teams or players tie on the hole, it is “halved” and neither team scores points for the hole. Scores generally indicate the team/player winning, how many holes they are in the lead and the number of holes remaining.
Step 3
End the match when a player or team clinches. In match play tournaments, matches usually end when one team can no longer win. An example would be a team/player that is up by four holes with only three holes to play. This team/player would be said to have won the match “4 and 3.” A team that is leading by the exact number of holes left in a match is “dormie.”
Step 4
Use a tiebreaker, or call the match a draw, if it finishes all 18 holes in a tie. A match play competition is “all square” when both teams have won the same number of holes. In competitive or tournament match play, a match ending all square may be settled with a sudden death tie-breaker. In sudden death, match play usually continues from the first hole on the course until one team or player wins a hole.
Tips and Warnings
- Before beginning a match, make sure all participants are in agreement on what scoring system and rules you will use.
Things You'll Need
- Golf scorecard
- Pencil
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