Blog · 14 posts
Golf Rules and Formats
The rules of golf, penalties and etiquette, plus how to play and score formats like Stableford, scrambles, match play, Nassau and skins.
- Rules Alternate Shot Golf (Foursomes): Rules, Tee Order and Tips In alternate shot golf, or foursomes, two partners share one ball and take turns hitting it. Here's the tee order, penalties, handicaps and the main variations. · 5 min read
- Rules Best Ball Golf Format: How Four-Ball and Better Ball Work In best ball golf, partners each play their own ball and the team takes the lower score on every hole. Here's how four-ball works, with handicaps and examples. · 5 min read
- Rules Bingo Bango Bongo Golf Game: Rules, Scoring and Tips Bingo Bango Bongo is a golf game with three points per hole: first on the green, closest to the pin, and first in the hole. Here's how to play it. · 5 min read
- Rules Golf Etiquette for Beginners: 15 Unwritten Rules to Know Golf etiquette for beginners: how to stay safe, keep pace, care for the course and behave on the green, so you feel at home on your first round. · 5 min read
- Rules Golf Penalty Strokes Explained: One Stroke, Two Strokes and DQ Golf penalty strokes come in three sizes: one stroke, the two-stroke general penalty, and disqualification. Here's what each breach costs under the Rules. · 5 min read
- Rules Golf Tie-Breakers Explained: Card Countback and Last 9, 6, 3, 1 Golf ties in club competitions are usually settled by card countback: the best last 9, then last 6, last 3 and last hole. Here's how it works, with handicaps. · 5 min read
- Rules How to Keep Score in Golf: A Simple Scorecard Guide How to keep score in golf: count every stroke and penalty on each hole, write it on the card and add up the total. A step-by-step guide with an example. · 5 min read
- Rules Penalty Areas in Golf: Red vs Yellow and Your Relief Options Penalty areas replaced water hazards in golf. Here's the difference between red and yellow penalty areas and every relief option under the 2023 Rules. · 5 min read
- Rules What Is a Gimme in Golf? Conceded Putts Explained A gimme in golf is a short putt your opponent concedes, so you pick up without hitting it. Here's when gimmes are allowed, how long they are and the etiquette. · 5 min read
- Rules What Is a Mulligan in Golf? Meaning, Rules and Etiquette A mulligan in golf is a do-over: you replay a bad shot without counting it. It isn't in the Rules, but here's how friendly groups use them and why. · 5 min read
- Rules Scramble Golf Rules for 2, 3 and 4 Players How a golf scramble works, with simple rules for 2, 3 and 4-player teams, handicap allowances, ball placement, and the Texas and Florida scramble variations. · 6 min read
- Rules Stableford Scoring Explained (With a Worked Example) Stableford scoring gives points for each hole instead of counting strokes: 2 for a par, 3 for a birdie, 1 for a bogey. Here's how it works, with handicaps and a worked example. · 5 min read
- Rules The Nassau Bet Explained: How It Works, Presses and Payouts A Nassau is three golf bets in one: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18. Here's how it works, how presses work, and how to settle up, with examples. · 5 min read
- Rules Wolf and Skins: Two Golf Games for a Foursome Wolf golf rules and skins rules explained: how to pick the Wolf, go Lone Wolf, score points, carry over skins, and settle up after a round with four players. · 6 min read
Nine short holes. Irons, chips and putts.
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