Golf Format Variants¶

thecomp scores 27 golf formats across three families (Individual, Pairs, and Teams). Each has its own scoring rules; this section explains them one at a time. Every format below links to its own guide.

Individual (8)¶

• Stableford · points each hole against par; highest total wins.
• Stroke play · count every stroke; lowest total wins.
• Match play · one-on-one, hole by hole; win the most holes.
• Bogey competition · match play against a fixed target score.
• Skins · win a hole outright to take the skin; ties carry over.
• Modified Stableford · Stableford with steeper rewards and penalties.
• Nassau · three match-play bets in one: front nine, back nine, and overall.
• Banker · one player takes on the rest of the group each hole.

Pairs (12)¶

• Better ball · Stroke · pairs of two; the lower score in the pair counts each hole.
• Better ball · Stableford · pairs of two; the higher Stableford in the pair counts each hole.
• Better ball · Match play · two pairs play match play on their better ball.
• Scramble · Stroke · both partners hit, play the better shot, and repeat; lowest total wins.
• Scramble · Stableford · a scramble scored as Stableford points each hole.
• Scramble · Match play · two pairs play a scramble as match play.
• Foursome · Stroke · partners share one ball, alternating every shot; lowest total wins.
• Foursome · Match play · alternate-shot foursomes played as match play.
• Greensome · Stroke · both drive, pick one, then alternate to the hole; lowest total wins.
• Greensome · Match play · a greensome played as match play.
• Shamble · Stroke · both drive, pick one, then play own balls; the lower score counts.
• Shamble · Stableford · a shamble scored as Stableford; the higher points count.

Teams (7)¶

• Best ball · Stroke · teams of three or more; the team's lowest score counts each hole.
• Best ball · Stableford · the team's highest Stableford counts each hole.
• Scramble · Stroke · the whole team hits, plays the best shot, and repeats; lowest total wins.
• Scramble · Stableford · a team scramble scored as Stableford points.
• Low scratch/net · Stroke · the team's lowest gross or net scores combined across the round.
• Irish rumble · teams of four; the number of scores that count rises through the round, from one early to all four on the last hole.
• Team Match Play · Ryder Cup style: two sides play multiple sub-matches that add up into one team total.

Related features¶

• Golf · the sport and how a round is set up and played.
• Scoring Engine · scores every format below.

Last updated: 2026-05-04