The Monthly Medal is one of the most prestigious and challenging events at any golf club, a true test of your golfing ability where every single shot counts. This article is your guide to understanding exactly what a Monthly Medal is, how the format differs from other competitions, and most importantly, how to prepare and play your best when the scorecard is in your hand.
At its heart, a Monthly Medal is a classic stroke play competition. The concept is refreshingly simple: you play a full 18-hole round, and you count every single stroke you take. There are no do-overs, no picking up your ball after too many shots, and no relief from a bad patch of play. From the first tee shot to the final putt, every swing is recorded on your scorecard.
The player who completes the 18 holes in the fewest number of strokes is the scratch winner, often called the “Gross” winner. However, because this is a club event for golfers of all abilities, the main competition is almost always based on your handicap. This levels the playing field, creating a “Nett” score competition where every participant has a real chance to win, regardless of whether they’re a seasoned low-handicapper or a determined beginner. We'll touch more on how the Nett score is calculated later, but the fundamental point remains: your goal is to post the lowest total score possible.
Many club golfers are more familiar with the Stableford format, where you get points for your score on each hole relative to par. In Stableford, a disastrous hole - a dreaded 9 or 10 - simply results in zero points for that hole, and you can mentally reset and move on. You can essentially "wipe" the hole from your card and it won't completely sink your round.
This is the fundamental difference that makes a Monthly Medal so mentally demanding. In medal play (another name for stroke play), there is no wiping the hole. If you take nine shots, a "9" goes on the scorecard. If you take ten, a "10" goes on the scorecard. A single "blow-up" hole can feel like it destroys your entire round, adding five or six shots to your total score that you can never get back. This is why you’ll often hear experienced golfers say that Medal play is the purest form of the game, it rewards consistency and exposes even the smallest weaknesses over 18 holes.
Playing in a Monthly Medal feels more formal than a regular weekend game with friends, but the process is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the day usually goes:
As a coach, I see more golfers defeated by their own mindset in a Monthly Medal than by their actual swings. The a "no second chances" format can create a lot of pressure. Here's how to build a stronger mental game for Medals.
The biggest mental mistake is adding up your score as you go or dwelling on a bad hole. If you make a double bogey on the 3rd, you can't carry that frustration to the 4th tee. Professional athletes often talk about having a "short memory," and this is the perfect arena to practice it. Once a hole is over - good or bad - it’s over. Your entire focus should be singular: the very next shot you are about to play. Thinking about a previous bad shot or worrying about your final score is a waste of mental energy.
Medal play is not the time for hero shots. The player who wins a Medal is often not the one who hit the most spectacular shots, but the one who made the fewest big mistakes. "Boring" golf means hitting to the fat part of the green instead of hunting for pins tucked behind bunkers. It means laying up on a risky par-5 instead of trying to hit the green in two over water. It means playing for bogey to avoid a triple-bogey. Playing conservatively and avoiding penalties is the blueprint for a good medal score.
Walking to the first tee thinking "I have to shoot my best score ever" is a recipe for disappointment. A better mindset is to focus on a process-oriented goal. For instance, "My goal today is to make a committed swing on every shot" or "I am going to hit the middle of every green I can today." This takes the pressure off the outcome (the final score) and puts it on something you can actually control (your decisions and commitment).
Great strategy can save you more shots in a medal than a perfect swing. It's about thinking your way around the course and understanding risk vs. reward.
Once all the scorecards are in, the competition committee gets to work. This is where your handicap becomes your best friend.
The calculation is simple: Your Nett Score = Your Gross Score - Your Playing Handicap.
For example:
The player with the lowest Nett Score for the day is declared the Monthly Medal winner. The medal is often presented at a club dinner or ceremony, and in many clubs, earning a Monthly Medal gets your name on a prestigious honours board in the clubhouse for all to see - a fantastic achievement for any club golfer.
The Monthly Medal is more than just a competition, it's a measure of your overall game, testing your swing, strategy, and mental resilience. By playing smart, managing your emotions, and focusing on avoiding big mistakes rather than chasing birdies, you can turn this daunting format into one of the most rewarding experiences in golf.
The strategic challenges of medal play - like choosing the right club and knowing the smart shot to avoid a blow-up hole - are exactly where our technology comes in handy. You can use your phone to ask questions and get on-course guidance, for instance, you could describe a tough hole and get an immediate, smart strategy for how to play it. Even better, if you find yourself in a terrible lie in the rough, instead of guessing, you can take a picture of your ball and its surroundings, Caddie AI will analyze the situation and recommend the smartest way to play the shot, helping you turn a potential 8 into a respectable 5.
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