Par
A hole is classified by its par, meaning the number of strokes a skilled golfer should require to complete play of the hole. For example, a skilled golfer expects to reach the green on a par-4 hole in two strokes: one from the tee (the ‘drive’) and another, second, stroke to the green (the ‘approach’); and then roll the ball into the hole in two putts for par. This would be termed a ‘green in regulation’ (GIR). A hole is either a par-3, −4 or −5. Par-6 holes are extremely rare.
The key factor for classifying the par of a hole is the distance from the tee to the green. A typical par-3 hole is less than 250 yards (225 m) in length, with a par-4 hole ranging between 251 and 475 yards (225–434 m), and a par-5 hole being longer than 475 yards (435 m). The rare par-6s can stretch well over 650 yards (595 m).
The gradient of the hole can also affect its par. If the tee-to-green distance on a hole is predominantly downhill, it will play shorter than its physical length and may be given a lower par; the opposite is true for uphill holes. Par ratings are also affected by factors such as the placement of hazards or the shape of the green, which can affect the play of a hole by requiring an extra stroke to avoid playing into hazards.
Eighteen-hole courses may typically comprise four par-3, ten par-4, and four par-5 holes, though other combinations exist and are not less worthy than courses of par-72. Many major championships are contested on courses playing to a par of 70, 71, or 72. Additionally, in some countries, courses are classified according to their play difficulty, which may be used to calculate a golfer’s playing handicap for a given course.
Stableford
Stableford is the scoring type used by many casual competitions and social clubs. Stableford is based on the principle that you earn points depending on your score for each hole.
Points are scored as follows:
- An Eagle (two under par) equals 4 points
- A Birdie (one under par) equals 3 points
- A Par equals 2 Points
- A Bogey (one over par) equals 1 point
- A Double Bogey or more equals 0 points
Depending on your handicap at the start of the round you may credited with bonus strokes. Simply put, for someone playing off a handicap of 18 you would receive one stroke on every hole and a different golfer with a handicap of 36 would receive two strokes on every hole.
It is calculated by using the courses’ stroke/stableford index column which is typically displayed on the scorecard, or index rating column if there is no stableford. This column rates every hole from easiest to hardest, with rating one being the hardest and 18 being deemed the easiest. These are determined by assessing previous cards that have been submitted for handicap by members of the course or other golfers playing the course.
For someone playing off a handicap of 27 he/she would receive one bonus stroke on every hole, PLUS an extra bonus stroke on the nine hardest rated holes. Therefore, if they had 5 shots on a Par 4 that is rated as the 15th hardest hole for the course then they would score 2 points, also known as “net par”. But, if the hole was rated 7th hardest they would receive 2 bonus strokes instead of just one, therefore their stableford score would actually be 3 points for that hole, also known as “net birdie”.
Some examples of stableford results for different golfers with different handicaps include:
- A golfer with a handicap of 15 receives 1 bonus stroke on the course’s 15 hardest holes.
- A golfer with a handicap of 19 receives 1 bonus stroke on every hole and 2 bonus strokes on the course’s hardest hole.
- A golfer with a handicap of 25 receives 1 bonus stroke on every hole and 2 bonus strokes on the course’s 7 hardest holes.
- A golfer with a handicap of 34 receives 2 bonus strokes on every hole except for the course’s 2 easiest holes (rated 17 and 18) which they only receive 1 bonus stroke.
Each player should mark the holes they receive one or two shots on prior to commencing their round. This makes calculation of your score much easier as you play. On your scorecard you should register you actual strokes for each hole and the number of stableford points you scored next to it, taking into consideration your handicap. Your total points is your final stableford score.
The advantages of this form of scoring (stableford) is that if a golfer has one or two bad holes it does not ruin the entire round as they can make up for them by scoring 3 or more points on other holes. If your final stableford score is 36 points then you have played to your handicap. The other factor is that it makes for a faster game than stroke play in that once you can no longer score on a particular hole then you pick up your ball and move to the next tee. You only need to finish a hole if it is still possible to score a point.
For Overall Golf members, it is recommended (if possible) to finish all strokes on all holes, even if playing under a stableford point scoring system because this allows Overall Golf to calculate your stableford, stroke and par scores and add them to your career stats profile.
Match play
In match play, two players (or two teams) play each hole as a separate contest against each other. The party with the lower score wins that hole, or if the scores of both players or teams are equal the hole is ‘halved’ (or tied). The game is won by the party that wins more holes than the other. In the case that one team or player has taken a lead that cannot be overcome in the number of holes remaining to be played, the match is deemed to be won by the party in the lead, and the remainder of the holes are not played. For example, if one party already has a lead of six holes, and only five holes remain to be played on the course, the match is over and the winning party is deemed to have won “6 & 5”. At any given point, if the lead is equal to the number of holes remaining, the party leading the match is said to be ‘dormie’, and the match is continued until the party increases the lead by one hole or ties any of the remaining holes, thereby winning the match, or until the match ends in a tie with the lead player’s opponent winning all remaining holes. When the game is tied after the predetermined number of holes have been played, it may be continued until one side takes a one-hole lead.
Stroke play
In stroke play, the score achieved for each and every hole of the round or tournament is added to produce the total score, and the player with the lowest score wins. Stroke play is the game most commonly played by professional golfers. If there is a tie after the regulation number of holes in a professional tournament, a playoff takes place between all tied players. Playoffs are either sudden death or employ a pre-determined number of holes, anywhere from three to a full 18. In sudden death, a player who scores lower on a hole than all of his opponents wins the match. If at least two players remain tied after such a playoff using a pre-determined number of holes, then play continues in sudden death format, where the first player to win a hole wins the tournament.