Other Forms of Stroke Play & Match Play

Rule 21.1 - Stableford

What You Need to Know

A very common form of competition, stableford is a form of stroke play in which a player/side is awarded points per hole based on a comparison of their strokes taken and a fixed target score.

Scoring - The fixed target score is par unless the Committee states otherwise (there can be modifications to points awarded as well). If the player does not hole out, or their score results in zero points for a hole, their scorecard must show no score or any score that results in zero points being awarded.

Rule 21.2 - Maximum Score

What You Need to Know

A form of stroke play in which the Committee may adopt a maximum score that is allowable per hole. Once a player reaches that maximum score limit on any given hole, they may discontinue play of that hole to speed-up play. That player's score for the hole will then be the maximum score that is set by the committee.

Examples of maximum score - can be a limit of non-handicapped strokes a hole (i.e. 8, 9, 10, etc.), or it could include handicapped strokes per hole (i.e. net double-bogey).

Rule 21.3 - Par/Bogey

What You Need to Know

A mixture of stroke play and match play. The player/side either wins or loses a hole by completing a hole in more or fewer strokes than the target score for that hole set by the Committee.

Example - The target score for hole 1 is 4 strokes; player A finishes hole 1 in a total of 3 strokes (player A won hole 1). Player B finishes hole 1 in a total of 4 strokes (player B tied hole 1). Player C has a putt for 5 on hole 1 and decides not to hole out because they will lose the hole no matter what (player B lost hole 1).

Scoring - Based solely on the comparison of the player's score per hole versus the target score per hole. After the play of a round, scoring may look like this:

• Player A wins 10 holes, ties 4, and loses 4 -> player A finishes 6 up
• Player B wins 9 holes, ties, 7, and loses 2 -> player B finishes 7 up
• Player C wins 2 holes, ties 10, and loses 6 -> player C finishes 4 down

Rule 21.4 - Three-Ball Match Play

What You Need to Know

Three players play a single match against the other two players at the same time. Each player plays only one ball that is used in both of their matches.

Playing out of turn in one of the matches

• The opponent who should have played first may cancel the player's stroke
• The player will then play one ball from the original spot after the cancellation
• The other ball played prior to cancellation will remain the player's ball in play for their other match

Playing out of turn in both matches

• Either or both opponents may cancel the player's stroke
• If both opponents cancel the player's stroke, then the ball played after the cancellation will be the player's ball in play for both matches
• If only one player cancels the player's stroke, then the player will play two balls the rest of the hole as in the above example

Rule 22 - Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot)

What You Need to Know

Foursomes (can be either stroke play or match play) is a form of play where partners play one ball in alternating order on each hole. Either partner may act for the side; in other words, either partner has all the authority the other has except making the stroke when it is the other partner's turn to play.

Side Must Alternate in Making Strokes - When both player A and player B are partners:

• if player A tees off on all odd holes, player B must tee off on all even holes and visa versa
• strokes will alternate from the teeing area until ball is holed (penalty strokes do not affect order of play)
• any mistake made in alternating of strokes results in the general penalty - mistake must be corrected in stroke play
• if mistake made in alternating of strokes is not corrected before side tees off on the next hole or returns their scorecard when it is their final hole of the round, the side is disqualified
• all stokes made with ball after mistake is made in alternating of strokes do not count

Partners may share clubs - so long as the total number of clubs shared between the side does not exceed the 14 club limit.

Rule 23 - Four-Ball

What You Need to Know

Two partners compete as a side, they play their own ball through during each hole. The side's score for the hole is the lower score of the two on that hole. Either partner may act for the side; in other words, either partner has all the authority the other has except making a stroke for the partner. One partner may represent the side, and the other partner may join at the start of any hole during the round.

23.2 Scoring in Four-Ball

Stroke Play

• At least one partner must hole out on each hole
• Failure to hole out and correct in time will result in a penalty of disqualification
• Scores for each hole must be individually identifiable to the partner that made the score (breach -> disqualification)
• Order of play is determined by which side has honours or is away; either partner may play first as long as one of them (the side) is next to play

Match Play

• If neither partner holes out, assuming their opponents have a score for the hole, the side loses that hole
• Order of play is determined by which side has honours or is away; either partner may play first as long as one of them (the side) is next to play

23.8 When Penalty Applies to One Partner Only or Applies to Both

To see when a penalty will apply to one partner or both, reference Rule 23.8 in the Rules of Golf.

Partners may share clubs - so long as the total number of clubs shared between the side does not exceed the 14 club limit.