Games and formats to play

Stableford

Score points on each hole instead of counting strokes. Net double bogey or worse scores 0. Net bogey scores 1, par 2, birdie 3, eagle 4. A bad hole costs you nothing more than a zero, which keeps the round fun. Try our Stableford helper.

Scramble

Teams of two to four. Everyone hits, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays from there. A great format for mixed abilities.

Skins

Each hole is worth a “skin”. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins it. Tie, and the skin carries over to the next hole.

Match play

Win the hole, win a point. The player who wins the most holes wins the match. A great head-to-head format.

Closest to the pin

On a par 3, everyone hits. The closest ball to the hole on the green wins. Good for a mini competition within your round.

Two-ball challenge

Play two balls on each hole and count the better one. See how your best score compares to your usual.

The Mulligan rule

Agree how many mulligans each player gets, for example one per nine holes. Fun in friendly games. Not for competitions.

General guidance for casual golfers. For personal coaching, book a lesson with a golf professional at your club or range.