Golf scoring systems explained (stroke play, match play, Stableford and more)

The main golf scoring systems are stroke play (count every stroke; lowest total wins), match play (win holes, not strokes) and Stableford (earn points on each hole based on your score versus par). Casual team formats include the scramble and best ball. Handicaps let different abilities compete fairly. Beginners only need to count strokes.

What is stroke play in golf?

Stroke play is the default. You count every stroke on every hole, including penalty strokes, and add them up. Lowest total wins. It’s what pros play most weeks and what you’ll do on a casual nine. The basics of filling in the card are in how to read a golf scorecard and how to keep score.

What is match play?

In match play, you compete hole by hole. Lower score on a hole wins that hole; a tie “halves” it. The player who wins more holes wins the match. Scores are described by how many holes you’re ahead (“2 up”). When a player is ahead by more holes than are left, the match ends: “3 and 2” means three holes ahead with two to play. A bad hole only costs you that one hole, which is why many beginners find match play less stressful. Opponents can also concede a short putt (a “gimme”), which is allowed in match play but not in stroke play.

How does Stableford scoring work?

Stableford gives you points on each hole based on your score compared with a fixed score, usually par:

Score on the hole	Points
Double bogey or worse (or no score)	0
Bogey (1 over)	1
Par	2
Birdie (1 under)	3
Eagle (2 under)	4
Albatross (3 under)	5

Highest total wins. In net Stableford, your handicap strokes are applied first, so a higher-handicap player can earn points on harder holes. Stableford is friendly to beginners because once you can’t score a point on a hole, you can pick up and move on. One blow-up hole doesn’t wreck the round.

What is a scramble in golf?

A scramble is a team format, common at charity days and work outings. Everyone tees off, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot. Repeat until the ball is holed. One team score per hole. It’s the most beginner-friendly event format there is: your bad shots simply don’t get used. Scramble scores aren’t accepted for handicap purposes.

What is best ball (four-ball)?

In best ball, every player plays their own ball the whole hole, and the team counts the lowest score on each hole. With two-person teams, the official name is four-ball. Often played with handicaps.

What is alternate shot (foursomes)?

Two partners share one ball and take turns hitting it. Partners also alternate who tees off on each hole. Fun, social, and a good test of nerves — probably not your first-week format.

Is there a maximum score per hole?

The Rules of Golf include a Maximum Score format, where the organizer caps each hole (for example at double par or a fixed number). Casual groups do something similar informally: pick up at double par, write the cap down, keep moving. For handicap purposes, the most a hole can count is a net double bogey: par, plus two, plus any handicap strokes you get on that hole.

How do golf handicaps work?

Most of the golf world uses the World Handicap System. In short:

• Your Handicap Index is a number that reflects your demonstrated ability, calculated from your best recent scores.
• Before a round, it converts to a Course Handicap for the tees you’re playing, using that course’s rating and slope. That’s how many strokes you receive.
• Those strokes are given out on the hardest holes first, using the handicap (stroke index) row on the scorecard.
• Net score = your actual (gross) score minus your handicap strokes.
• You need scores from 54 holes (any mix of nine- and 18-hole rounds) to get a first Handicap Index. The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0.

You don’t need a handicap to enjoy golf, book tee times or play with friends. When you’re curious: golf handicap explained.

Which scoring system should a beginner use?

Plain stroke play with a personal maximum per hole. Count every stroke honestly, pick up at your cap, write the number down, and keep pace. Learn the words par, bogey and double bogey, and you can follow any format. If friends invite you to a scramble, say yes; it’s the gentlest way into a group round.

From a given tee and pin, your score is a record of the decisions you made against the course the architect designed and the greenskeeper set up that day. Good targets lower your score faster than harder swings. That’s the thinking behind how to break 100.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main scoring systems in golf?

Stroke play, match play and Stableford are the main ones. Popular team formats include the scramble, best ball (four-ball) and alternate shot (foursomes).

What is the difference between stroke play and match play?

Stroke play counts your total strokes for the round. Match play is decided hole by hole, and the player who wins the most holes wins.

How many points do you get in Stableford?

Usually 0 for double bogey or worse, 1 for bogey, 2 for par, 3 for birdie, 4 for eagle and 5 for albatross. The highest total wins.

What is a scramble in golf?

A team format where every player hits, the team chooses the best shot, and everyone plays the next shot from there until the ball is holed.

Do beginners need a handicap?

No. A handicap is useful for competitions and fair matches, but you can play, book tee times and enjoy golf without one.

What is net double bogey?

The maximum score a hole can count for handicap purposes: par plus two, plus any handicap strokes you receive on that hole.

Related guides

• How to read a golf scorecard
• How to keep score
• What is par in golf?
• What is a bogey?
• Double bogey explained
• Golf handicap explained
• What is a mulligan?
• Golf rules for beginners

Everything in one place: Golf for beginners — start here.