Basic Rules
...for the various forms of the game commonly used in Club competitionsMedal (Single Stroke)
Single Stroke or Medal play is the simplest of all variations. The game requires all strokes to be counted and players are unable to pick up the ball without penalty. The lowest score wins.Net Medal (Handicap Single Stroke)
Played the same as Medal except that the score for the 18 holes is tallied and the handicap is deducted from that total. The lowest net score wins.Four-Ball Better-Ball Stroke
Played the same as the single version but you have a partner. The best net score on each hole is used and only the gross and the best net need to be scored on each hole.Once a player cannot beat his partner's net score, then the ball may be picked up (see notes below). If both players record the same net score, then the player who first holed-out is marked on the card as scoring.
Both player's names and handicaps must be on the card. The card need only to be signed by one marker and one player from each pair. The lowest point score wins.
Single Stableford
Each player scores stableford points on a hole based on their handicap and the stroke index for the hole. During the round, each player and marker has to calculate the points allocated to each score on a hole based on the stroke index. A player on a handicap of 12 receives a shot on the 12 hardest holes, while a player on a 27 handicap receives 2 shots on 9 holes and 1 shot on 9 holes, based on the course index.
You mark both the stroke score and stableford points on the card, and the highest point score wins. Only the stableford points are tallied.
Four-Ball Better-Ball Stableford
The team version of a single stableford. The scoring is the same as the single event but only one player can score for each team on a hole. The score is the best result in the team. When the two partners score the same result then the score is marked for the player who holes out first. If a player cannot beat the partner's score the ball may be picked up to speed up play (see notes below).The stableford points only are tallied and the highest score wins. Only one player and one marker from each team need sign the card.
Combined Stableford
(4-ball Aggregate Stableford)A team (pairs) version of single stableford where all scores count on every hole. Each player must record a score on each hole and the scores of both players are added together for the total points each hole. The result for the round is then calculated and recording by adding the total point scores for each pair. The points scoring system is the same for a single stableford.
The pair with the highest point score wins the competition.
Single Par (Single Versus Par)
Scores are recorded only as plus (+), Minus (-) or halved (0). An easy way to understand it is to compare it with stableford scoring.
The scores are recorded by marking down the player's stroke score with the appropriate symbol (+/ -/ 0). If a player is unable to score a Plus (+) or Half (0) then the player should pick up and mark the hole as Minus (-). The final score is calculated by comparing the pluses and minuses as they negate each other. Thus a player with 6 pluses and 3 minuses would score +3 for the round.
The highest score wins the competition.
Combined Par
Played under the same rules as the single version but this team game allows both partners to contribute according to their handicaps and score on a hole.The results of both players on each hole are combined. They may be combined hole-by-hole together thus:
Then the team hole-by-hole score is calculated in the same manner as Single Par.
— OR —
Or the (single par) totals for each partner may be combined with pluses and minuses negating each other.
The final result will be the same.
4BBB Par (Four-Ball Better-Ball Versus Par)
Played under the same rules as the single version but this team game allows both partners to contribute according to their handicaps and score on a hole.Only the best result on each hole is counted and if the two players have the same result only the score of the player who holes out first needs to be recorded.
The highest score wins the competition.
Ambrose
Ambrose is usually played in teams of two, three or four — sometimes six. The team selects a captain on the tee (usually the lowest handicap) and they decide on the order of play. Every subsequent shot must be played in the same order. The players then play a shot from the tee and proceed to their ball. The captain then decides on the best positioned ball and the other players retrieve their balls. (The Committee may rule that each player must have a minimum number of tee shots used in the round.)The player whose ball was chosen has the first shot and then each remaining player drops their ball within one club length of the spot, but no nearer the hole, and plays their next shot in the order originally decided by the captain. This procedure continues irrespective of whether the ball is on the fairway, in the rough or in a hazard, until the play reaches the green.
On the green, the best position is again decided upon and marked. Each player the places their ball within a card length (maximum 15cm) of this spot and has one putt in turn. They must not putt out, but each ball position must again be marked and the procedure repeated until a ball is holed, or a score cannot be bettered.
The card is marked as for a single stroke round and the lowest score wins the competition. It is important to note that every player must have their handicap marked on the card. Only one score is kept for the entire team, regardless of the number of members. Handicaps are usually calculated by adding those of all players and dividing the total by: 4 in a two-ball event, 6 in a three-ball event and 8 in a four-ball or six-ball event. (Or whatever other values the Committee decides for the day.) The net score is calculated by subtracting the exact resulting handicap so all those fractions count.
Foursomes
This a team game played in pairs with only one ball in play. Players alternate between shots after teeing off. The tee shots are also taken alternately so that one player tees off on all the even numbered holes and the other player tees off on all the odd numbered holes.In mixed competitions ladies tee off from their own tees. It is played and recorded as if a single stroke event. The handicaps of both players are added and half the total is the team handicap for the day. The order of play is not changed if a player incurs a penalty. (Out-of-bounds off the tee, the penalty tee shot must be played from the same tee block.
Greensome (Canadian Foursomes)
Played on half combined handicaps. The players both tee off every hole and then select the best positioned ball to play alternately from there. Rules are the same as for foursomes.Matchplay
Holes are either won, halved or lost, based on the (gross) score of each hole. No handicaps are considered; the match is played "off the stick". Sometimes called "Scratch Matchplay", this format is often played when the field has been separated into divisions of similar handicaps, eg: Senior, Intermediate, Junior, C-Grade.When a player is ahead on wins more than there are holes left to play, that player is declared the winner. It's important to remember in matchplay that the player farthest from the hole always plays first. This is especially true on the putting green. You must not putt out if your opponent's ball is still "live" and farthest 'away' from the cup.
You may pick your ball up if your opponent is heard to "give you the putt" (see notes below). Cards must be submitted for handicap purposes if the match reached 13 or more holes.
Handicap Matchplay
Played the same as “Gross” or “Stratch” Matchplay except that the course handicaps are applied using the stroke index on the scorecard. The two competitors’ course handicaps are compared and the difference e.g. 14 - 6 = 8, is the number of strokes given away. The number of holes where one stroke is allocated is then decided, according to the stroke index.Four-Ball Handicap Matchplay
The rules are the same as with single handicap matchplay, but the handicap differences are based on the lowest handicapped player in each of the two pairs.The lowest marker goes back to scratch. Then the other players have their handicaps lowered by subtracting the handicap of the low marker. For example, four players with the following handicaps would be treated like this:
A: 15 handicap
B: 13 handicap
C: 3 handicap
D: 22 handicap
C is the low marker and would play on a new handicap of Zero
The other new matchplay handicaps would then be:
A: 15 – 3 = 12
B: 13 – 3 = 10
D: 22 – 3 = 19
The side which wins a hole is then the side with the best net score on a hole after comparing the adjusted matchplay handicaps to the matchplay index on the holes (see Handicap Matchplay, above)
Combined Stableford Matchplay
A team (pairs) matchplay format where all scores count on every hole. Each player must record a Stableford score on each hole and the scores of both players are added together for the total points each hole — the best Combined Stableford score deciding which team wins each hole, or, where the points are equal, the hole is halved. The points scoring system is the same for a single stableford.
The pair with the highest point score wins the competition.
NOTES:
Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes
A player who starts but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke, must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score consists of the number of strokes already taken plus, in the player’s best judgement, the number of strokes that the player would need to complete the hole from that position more than half the time. This number may not exceed the player’s ESC limit. The “most likely” score should be entered on your scorecard followed by an X, e.g. “6 X”
There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation.
Examples
- A and B are partners in a four-ball stroke play competition. On a hole on which neither receives a handicap stroke, Player A lies two, 18 feet from the hole, Player B lies two, 25 feet from the hole. B holes the putt for a three, therefore A picks up because B’s score cannot be beaten. Player A records a “4 X” on the score card because that was the most likely score.
- A and B are playing a match. On a hole which neither player receives a handicap stroke, A has holed out in four, B has a 30 foot putt for five. B has lost the hole, and picks up. B records a “6 X” on the score card because that was the most likely score.
- A and B are playing a match. A drives straight down the fairway, but B hits into the trees and fails to find the ball. Rather than return to the tee B concedes the hole. In this case Player A records par plus any handicap shots received on the hole, and B records the maximum score on the hole allowable under ESC.
Holes not played
For handicapping purposes record a score of par plus any handicap stroke(s) to which you are entitled. This hole score, when recorded, should be entered on your scorecard followed by an X, e.g. “6 X”
N.B. You must play 13 holes or more in order for the scorecard to be accepted for handicapping purposes. If your match finishes at the 12th hole or earlier, your card is NOT acceptable for handicapping. However you must hand the scorecard in for recording purposes with a clear indication that it is not to be used for handicapping.