What Are the Different Golf Formats?

Walking up to the first tee doesn't have to mean another 18 holes of silently grinding out a score. Golf offers a brilliant variety of games and competitions that can transform a standard round into a strategic, fun, and highly social experience. This guide will walk you through the most popular golf formats, explaining the rules and offering simple tips so you can add some excitement to your next round, whether you're playing for bragging rights or just for fun.

Solo Challenges: Formats for the Individual Golfer

While golf is a great social game, sometimes the purest challenge is you against the course, or you against a single opponent. These formats are the foundation of competitive golf.

Stroke Play (Medal Play)

This is the game you see the pros play most weeks on TV and likely the first format you ever learned. It's the simplest and most brutal test in golf. The goal is to complete a round, or tournament, in the fewest number of strokes possible.

• How it Works: Every single shot counts, from the first drive to the last tap-in. You add up your total strokes for all 18 holes, and the lowest score wins. Handicaps can be used to determine a "net" winner, making it fair for players of all abilities.
• Coach's Tip: The key to good stroke play is damage control. One terrible hole (a "blow-up") can ruin your entire score. Don't be a hero. If you hit a bad shot, take your medicine, play a safe recovery B, and try to make a bogey. Avoiding the dreaded "other" (double bogey or worse) is how you post a good score.

Match Play

If stroke play is a marathon, match play is a series of 18 individual sprints. It's a head-to-head showdown where your total score doesn't matter, what matters is winning more holes than your opponent.

• How it Works: You compete to win each hole individually. If you score a 4 and your opponent scores a 5, you go "1-up." If you both score a 5, the hole is "halved" (tied), and the score remains the same. The game ends when one player is up by more holes than there are left to play (e.g., "4 & 3," meaning 4-up with 3 holes to go).
• Coach's Tip: Be aggressive! Because one bad hole won't sink your entire round, you can afford to take more risks. Go for that par-5 in two. Aim for a tight pin. If it doesn't work out and you lose the hole, you can start fresh on the next tee. It's a game of momentum and mental toughness.

Stableford

The Stableford format is a fantastic, stress-free game that rewards you for good shots without harshly penalizing you for bad ones. It’s perfect for casual rounds and high-handicap players.

• How it Works: Instead of counting strokes, you score points based on your score relative to par on each hole (using your handicap). A common point system is:
  • Double Bogey or worse: 0 points
  • Bogey: 1 point
  • Par: 2 points
  • Birdie: 3 points
  • Eagle: 4 points
  The player with the most points at the end wins. If you're having a nightmare on a hole, you can simply pick up your ball, take your zero points, and move on with a clear head.
• Coach's Tip: This format encourages gutsy play. Since you can't get negative points, there’s no big penalty for trying to carry that water hazard or driving that short par-4. A birdie is much more valuable than a bogey is punishing, so focus on the chances to score big.

Team Harmony: The Best Two-Player Formats

Playing with a partner adds a whole new layer of strategy and camaraderie to the game. These are some of the most popular ways to team up.

Scramble

A scramble is the ultimate team-friendly format, perfect for corporate outings, charity events, and any group with varying skill levels. It's all about teamwork and capitalizing on the best shot.

• How it Works: All players on the team (usually two or four) tee off. The team then chooses the best drive. From that spot, everyone hits their second shot. They again choose the best shot, and everyone plays from there. This continues until the ball is in the hole.
• Coach's Tip: Strategy is simple but important. Let the higher-handicap player or less consistent player hit first. This takes the pressure off. The most reliable player should generally hit last, as they can play aggressively knowing there's already a safe shot "in the fairway" or "on the green."

Fourball (Better Ball)

Often seen in iconic events like the Ryder Cup, Fourball is a fantastic partner game that still lets you play your own ball. It’s a 2-vs-2 format.

• How it Works: You and your partner each play your own golf ball from tee to green. On each hole, you simply take the lower of your two scores as your team's score. If you make a 4 and your partner makes a 5, the team score is 4. If your opponents make a 5 and a 6, their team score is 5, and your team wins the hole.
• Coach's Tip: The classic "ham and egg" strategy works best. One player can be the steady, conservative "par machine," ensuring the team is always in the hole. This frees up the other player to be more aggressive, firing at pins and trying to make birdies, knowing their partner has them covered.

Foursomes (Alternate Shot)

This is the ultimate test of a partnership. Foursomes demands good communication, strong strategy, and the ability to forgive your partner's occasional miss-hit!

• How it Works: You and your partner play one ball, taking turns hitting each shot. One player will tee off on the odd-numbered holes, and the other will tee off on the even-numbered holes. If your partner tees off, you hit the second shot, they hit the third, and so on until the ball is holed.
• Coach's Tip: Your main goal is simple: don't leave your partner in a tough spot. Play for the middle of greens, avoid deep bunkers, and think two shots ahead. Before the round, have a candid conversation about your strengths to decide who should tee off on which holes (e.g., have your best driver of the ball tee off on the tough driving holes).

Greensomes (Modified Alternate Shot)

If Foursomes sounds a little too intense, Greensomes is a gentler, more forgiving version that’s a lot of fun.

• How it Works: On every hole, both you and your partner tee off. You then look at both drives and choose the best one. From there, you play alternate shot for the rest of the hole. The player whose drive was *not* chosen hits the second shot.
• Coach's Tip: This format takes the biggest pressure point - the tee shot - out of the Foursomes equation. The strategy often involves choosing the drive that gives you the best angle or lie for the second shot, not just the longest one.

Just for Fun: Casual Games for Any Group

Looking to put a small wager on the line or just inject some friendly competition? These points-based games are perennial favorites.

Nassau

The Nassau is a classic golf bet and one of the most popular side games in the world. It’s essentially three bets in one.

• How it Works: You have a bet for the front nine, a bet for the back nine, and a bet for the overall 18 holes. You can play it using match play or stroke play. For example, in a $2 Nassau, the person who wins the front nine gets $2, the winner of the back nine gets $2, and the overall winner gets $2. It keeps things interesting because even if you have a terrible front nine, you can start fresh on the 10th tee and still win two bets.

Bingo Bango Bongo

This is a fantastic game for groups with a wide range of handicaps because it doesn't reward only low scores. It rewards being good at different aspects of the game.

• How it Works: Three points are available on every hole.
  • Bingo: The first player in the group to get their ball on the putting green.
  • Bango: The player whose ball is closest to the pin after everyone is on the green.
  • Bongo: The first player to hole out.
  The player with the most points at the end of the round wins the pot. Proper etiquette is important here (the player furthest away plays first) for the game to work correctly.

Wolf

Wolf is an outstanding 4-player game that is all about strategy, shifting allegiances, and a bit of risk-taking. It’s perfect for a regular foursome.

• How it Works: The order of tee shots is determined on the first hole and rotates every hole after that (Player A, B, C, D on hole 1, Player B, C, D, A on hole 2, etc.). The player who tees off first is the "Wolf." After they hit their drive, they watch the other players tee off. At any point, the Wolf can choose one of the other players as their partner for that hole, making it a 2-vs-2 match. Or, the Wolf can be greedy, decline a partner, and play as the "Lone Wolf" 1-vs-3 for a bigger payout. If the Wolf waits until all three players have hit and doesn't pick anyone, they are automatically a Lone Wolf.

Final Thoughts

Golf is so much more versatile than just standard stroke play. From the tactical back-and-forth of Match Play to the teamwork of a Scramble or the raw pressure of Foursomes, there's a format out there to fit any group and any mood. Trying out these different games is a great way to improve your course management, sharpen your mental game, and most of all, have a lot more fun on the course.

No matter which format you are playing, making smart strategic decisions is what turns a good round into a great one. Understanding when to play safe in Foursomes or when to attack the pin in a Scramble makes a huge difference. With Caddie AI, you can get instant advice for any situation on the course. Whether you need a simple plan for playing a difficult long par-4 or want a quick analysis of how to play from a tricky lie in the trees, you have an expert opinion right there to help you make a more confident swing.