Different Types of Golf: Master Formats, Courses & Games

Ever stood on the first tee and had someone ask, “Are we playing a scramble or best ball today?” The confusion is common, as the world of golf extends far beyond just hitting a ball into a hole. Understanding the different types of golf can feel like deciphering a secret language, leading to scoring confusion and missed opportunities for more fun on the course.

The different types of golf encompass scoring formats (like stroke play and match play), team games (such as scramble and best ball), and entirely separate disciplines (including disc golf, footgolf, and miniature golf). These variations exist to accommodate different skill levels, group sizes, and competitive goals, from professional tournaments to casual weekend rounds. They provide solutions for common problems like handicap disparity and slow pace of play.

Drawing from comprehensive analysis of established golf rules and popular recreational formats, this guide provides a clear roadmap. We will explore the foundational formats governed by the USGA and R&A, fun team games perfect for any outing, and even alternative disciplines that share the spirit of the sport. You’ll discover how to choose the perfect game for any situation, ensuring every round of golf is enjoyable and competitive.

What Are the Different Types of Golf? A Complete Guide to Formats, Courses & Games

The vast world of golf can be broken down into three main categories: scoring formats, game variations, and distinct disciplines. Scoring formats, like stroke play and match play, are the fundamental rules of competition that dictate how a winner is determined. Game variations, such as the popular scramble format or a skins game, are specific rule sets often layered on top of standard scoring to make a round more social, solve for a large skill gap between players, or simply add excitement. Finally, distinct disciplines like disc golf or miniature golf use the core principles of golf—starting at a point and trying to get an object into a target in the fewest strokes—but change the equipment and playing field entirely. Understanding these categories is the first step to mastering the many ways to enjoy the sport.

9 Different Types of Golf to Master (From Formats to Fun Games)

From the high-stakes pressure of individual competition to the relaxed fun of a team-based charity event, there is a golf format for every occasion. This list moves from the two foundational formats that define all of professional and amateur golf to the most popular team games and fun side bets you can play with your friends. Finally, we’ll explore popular disciplines that take the spirit of golf off the traditional course. Mastering these golf game types will make you a more versatile and knowledgeable player.

1. Play Stroke Play: The Foundation of Individual Competition

Pin this fundamental format to your ‘Golf Tips’ board!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: 1 or more (played individually).
• Core Concept: The player with the lowest total number of strokes over a set number of holes (usually 18) wins.
• Best For: Competitive rounds, tracking personal progress, and official tournaments.
• Equipment: Standard golf clubs, balls, and a reliable golf stroke counter or scorecard.

How to Play & Score

1. Tee Off: Each player plays their own ball from the tee box.
2. Play the Hole: Continue playing your own ball until it is holed out.
3. Count Every Stroke: You must track and record every single swing, including penalty strokes (e.g., for hitting into a water hazard).
4. Calculate Total Score: At the end of the round of golf, sum the scores from all 18 holes.
5. Determine the Winner: The player with the lowest total score is the winner. For handicap play, this is the lowest “net” score after adjusting for handicaps.

Pro-Tip: For handicap tournaments, understand your course rating and slope rating. These numbers, used in what’s called Equitable Stroke Control, adjust your maximum score per hole to keep handicaps fair and prevent a single disastrous hole from ruining your net score.

2. Master Match Play: The Art of Head-to-Head Dueling

Save this guide to understand stroke play vs match play!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: Typically 2 players or 2 teams.
• Core Concept: You compete to win individual holes. The player or team who wins the most holes wins the match, regardless of total score.
• Best For: Head-to-head competition, managing skill gap (a bad hole doesn’t ruin the round), and faster decisions.
• Equipment: Standard clubs and balls. A golf ball marker is crucial for marking your ball when another player is putting.

How to Play & Score

1. Play Hole 1: Both players play the first hole. The player with the lower score wins the hole. They are now “1 up.” If they tie the hole (a “half”), the score remains “all square.”
2. Proceed to Hole 2: The winner of the previous hole has the “honor” and tees off first. You repeat the process.
3. Track the Match Score: The score is kept relative to who is winning. For example, if you win the first two holes, you are “2 up.” If your opponent then wins a hole, you become “1 up.”
4. Concede Putts: In match play, you can concede a short putt to your opponent. This speeds up play and is a key part of the format’s strategy.
5. Winning the Match: The match is over when one player is “up” by more holes than there are left to play. For example, being “4 up” with only 3 holes remaining (a “4 and 3” victory).

Pro-Tip: Strategy in match play is completely different. You might play more aggressively to win a hole if your opponent is in trouble, or play conservatively to ensure a “half.” It’s a mental game of risk assessment on every shot, not just managing a total score.

3. Organize a Scramble: The Ultimate Team-Friendly Game

Pin this idea for your next charity or social golf outing!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: Teams of 2, 3, or (most commonly) 4.
• Core Concept: Everyone tees off, the team chooses the best shot, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot. This process repeats until the ball is holed.
• Best For: Charity tournaments, corporate events, and groups with a wide skill gap. It’s very beginner friendly.
• Supplies Needed: Standard clubs, balls, and markers to indicate the position of the chosen shot.

How to Play & Score

1. Everyone Tees Off: All four players on the team hit their drive from the tee box.
2. Select the Best Drive: The team walks or drives to the balls and decides which single drive is in the best position.
3. Play from the Best Spot: The other three players pick up their balls and move them to the location of the best drive. All four players then hit their second shot from this spot (within one club-length).
4. Repeat the Process: You continue this sequence for every shot—fairway shots, chipping, and putting. The team selects the best ball each time until one player sinks a putt.
5. Record One Team Score: The team records a single score for the hole (e.g., a “4” if it took four team shots to hole out).

Pro-Tip: A common variation is the Texas Scramble, which often requires the team to use a certain number of drives from each player (e.g., at least 3 drives from each member of a 4-person team). This prevents the team from relying solely on one great driver.

4. Play Best Ball / Four-Ball: Blend Individual and Team Play

Pin this to understand the difference between best ball vs scramble!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: Teams of 2, 3, or 4 players. A 2v2 match is called Four-Ball.
• Core Concept: Every player plays their own ball from tee to green. At the end of the hole, the team uses only the single lowest score from its members.
• Best For: Groups who want a team game but still prefer to play their own ball. It balances team camaraderie with individual performance.
• Supplies Needed: Standard equipment. Using colored golf balls can make it easier to identify each player’s ball.

How to Play & Score

1. Everyone Plays Their Own Ball: Unlike a scramble, all players play their own ball for the entire hole, from tee to cup.
2. Complete the Hole Individually: Each player finishes the hole and determines their own individual score (e.g., Player A gets a 4, Player B gets a 5).
3. Select the Best Score: The team compares their individual scores for that hole and takes only the lowest one. In the example above, the team score is 4.
4. Record One Team Score: Write down that single best score on the team’s scorecard for the hole.
5. Sum the Scores: The team with the lowest total of “best ball” scores at the end of the round wins.

Pro-Tip: The beauty of Best Ball is strategic freedom. If your partner is safely on the green, you can be more aggressive and try for a birdie, knowing their par is a safe backup. This allows for more risk-taking than individual stroke play.

5. Use Stableford Scoring: A Point-Based System to Reward Risk

Pin this guide to finally understand how Stableford scoring works!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: 1 or more (scored individually).
• Core Concept: Instead of counting strokes, you earn points based on your score relative to par on each hole. The goal is to get the highest total score.
• Best For: Encouraging aggressive play, speeding up pace of play (players can pick up their ball), and mitigating the impact of a disastrous hole.
• Supplies Needed: A scorecard and a clear understanding of the point system. A golf GPS watch with scoring features makes tracking easy.

How to Play & Score

1. Play Each Hole: Play the hole as you normally would, counting your strokes.
2. Compare Score to Par: Once you hole out, compare your stroke score to the par for that hole (e.g., you got a 4 on a Par 4, which is a Par).
3. Award Points: Convert your score to points using the standard Stableford system:
   • Double Bogey or worse: 0 points
   • Bogey: 1 point
   • Par: 2 points
   • Birdie: 3 points
   • Eagle: 4 points
4. Record Points, Not Strokes: On your scorecard, you write down the points earned for the hole, not your stroke count.
5. Sum the Points: The player with the highest total point score at the end of the round wins.

Pro-Tip: The PGA Tour uses a Modified Stableford format for some events, which is even more risk/reward. It might award 5 points for a birdie but subtract 3 points for a double bogey, making for dramatic swings in the leaderboard.

6. Try a Skins Game: The High-Stakes Hole-by-Hole Challenge

Looking for a fun golf betting game? Pin this skins game guide!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: 2 to 4 players.
• Core Concept: Each hole is assigned a value (a “skin”), either in points or money. To win the skin for a hole, a player must have the lowest score on that hole outright.
• Best For: Small groups of friends, adding excitement to a casual round, and games where every hole matters.
• Supplies Needed: A custom golf poker chip set or cash to track the wagers.

How to Play & Score

1. Assign a Value: Before the round, decide the value of each skin (e.g., $1 per hole).
2. Play the Hole: All players play the first hole.
3. Check for an Outright Winner: Compare scores. If one player has a lower score than all other players, they win the skin for that hole.
4. Handle Ties (Halves): If two or more players tie for the lowest score, the hole is “halved.” No one wins the skin for that hole.
5. Carry Over the Skin: When a hole is halved, its skin value is added to the next hole. So, hole #2 is now worth two skins. This continues until a hole has an outright winner, who then collects all the accrued skins.
6. Settle Up: At the end of the round, you calculate who won the most skins.

Pro-Tip: To keep things fair with players of different abilities, Skins is often played using net (handicapped) scores. This gives higher-handicap players a legitimate chance to win holes with their handicap strokes.

7. Play Bingo Bango Bongo: A Fun Game for All Skill Levels

Pin this perfect game for players with a wide handicap disparity!

Format Essentials

• Player Count: 2 to 4 players.
• Core Concept: A points game where three points (or “skins”) are available on every hole, completely independent of the actual stroke score.
• Best For: Groups with a wide handicap disparity, as it doesn’t reward low scores but rather specific achievements. It’s extremely beginner friendly.
• Supplies Needed: Standard equipment. A small notebook is handy to track the points.

How to Play & Score

On every hole, there are three points up for grabs:
1. BINGO (First player onto the green): The first player whose ball comes to rest on the putting surface wins one point. This rewards good iron play.
2. BANGO (Closest to the pin): Once all balls are on the green, the player whose ball is closest to the hole wins one point. This rewards accurate approach shots.
3. BONGO (First player to hole out): The first player to sink their putt and finish the hole wins one point. This doesn’t necessarily mean the player with the fewest putts.

The player with the most points at the end of the round wins the game.

Pro-Tip: Strict golf etiquette is essential for this game to work. The player furthest from the hole must always play next. You cannot play out of turn. This also adds a layer of strategy—you might intentionally hit a shot short of the green to ensure you have a chance to chip on and win the Bingo point.

8. Explore Disc Golf: The Most Popular Alternative Golf Discipline

Thinking about trying disc golf? Pin this beginner’s guide!

What You Need

• Discs: You don’t use clubs or balls. You use a set of specialized discs, typically a driver (for long distance), a mid-range (for approach shots), and a putter (for shots near the basket). A disc golf starter set is the perfect way to begin.
• Course: Most disc golf courses are located in public parks and are free to play.
• Target: The “hole” is a metal basket with hanging chains designed to catch the disc.

How to Play & Score

1. Tee Off: Start at the designated tee pad for each hole and throw your “driver” disc towards the basket.
2. Play Your Lie: Walk to where your disc landed. This is your “lie.” Throw your next shot from directly behind that spot.
3. Use Different Discs: Just like in golf, you’ll use different discs for different shots. A mid-range for your second shot, and a putter when you get close.
4. Hole Out: The hole is complete when your disc comes to rest in the basket or the chains.
5. Score Like Golf: You count each throw as one “stroke.” You can play stroke play or match play, and the concepts of par, birdie, and bogey are all the same.

Pro-Tip: Don’t try to throw as hard as you can at first. Hands-on testing shows that smooth, controlled form is far more important for accuracy and distance in disc golf than raw power. Focus on getting a clean “snap” of the wrist upon release.

9. Enjoy Miniature Golf & Pitch and Putt: Hone Your Short Game

A fun family outing! Pin these tips for your next round of miniature golf.

What You Need

• Miniature Golf:
  • Equipment: Just a putter and a golf ball, usually provided by the course.
  • Course: A purpose-built course with artificial turf, obstacles (windmills, ramps), and creative hole designs.
• Pitch and Putt:
  • Equipment: Typically just a putter and one or two wedges (e.g., a pitching wedge and a sand wedge).
  • Course: A shorter version of a real golf course, with holes generally under 100 yards.

How to Play & Score

1. Understand the Goal: Both games are scored like stroke play. The goal is to get the ball in the hole in the fewest possible strokes.
2. Mini Golf Play: Navigate your ball from the teeing area, through or around the obstacles, and into the hole using only your putter. Most courses have a stroke limit per hole (e.g., 6 strokes).
3. Pitch and Putt Play: Tee off using a wedge to “pitch” the ball onto the green. Once on the green, use your putter to “putt” the ball into the hole.
4. Count Your Strokes: Keep track of your score on each hole and total them up at the end. The lowest score wins.

Pro-Tip: While miniature golf seems like just a game, it’s excellent practice for controlling your putter face. The small, defined angles required to navigate obstacles teach you how to aim your putter precisely, a skill that translates directly to a real putting green.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Different Types of Golf

• Formats Dictate Scoring: The two fundamental forms of golf are Stroke Play (lowest total score wins) and Match Play (most holes won wins). All other formats are variations of these.
• Scramble is for Fun & Inclusivity: For charity events or groups with beginners, the Scramble format is the best choice. Everyone plays from the best shot, which minimizes pressure and is a great solution for handicap disparity.
• Best Ball is a Competitive Team Game: If your group wants a team game but is more competitive, choose Best Ball. Everyone plays their own ball, and the team just takes the best score per hole.
• Points Games Equalize Skill: Formats like Stableford Scoring and Bingo Bango Bongo are excellent for groups with a wide skill gap, as they reward specific achievements rather than just low scores.
• “Golf” Extends Beyond the Course: Don’t forget alternative disciplines like Disc Golf. They follow similar rules, are extremely accessible, and offer a fun, athletic twist on the traditional game.

People Also Ask About Different Types of Golf

What is the difference between a Scramble and a Shamble?

In a Scramble, every shot is played from the location of the best previous shot. If you choose Player A’s drive, everyone hits their second shot from that spot. In a Shamble, only the tee shot is a scramble. After everyone tees off and you select the best drive, each player then plays their own ball individually from that point until they hole out. A Shamble is a hybrid of a Scramble and a Best Ball format.

What is the most popular golf format?

Stroke play is overwhelmingly the most popular and common golf format. It is the standard for almost all professional tournaments you see on TV, including the major championships, and it’s the default way most individual golfers track their score and handicap. For social and charity events, the Scramble format is the most popular due to its team-friendly and beginner-friendly nature.

What are the main types of golf courses?

The three main types of golf courses are Links, Parkland, and Desert. Links courses are coastal, sandy, and have few trees (like St. Andrews). Parkland courses are lush, inland courses with lots of trees and manicured fairways (like Augusta National). Desert courses are built in arid climates, with fairways surrounded by sand and native desert landscape. There are also shorter Executive and Pitch and Putt courses.

How does a golf handicap work?

A golf handicap is a number that represents a player’s approximate skill level, allowing players of different abilities to compete fairly. It is calculated based on a player’s recent scores in relation to the course rating and slope rating of the courses they played. In a handicapped match, a player subtracts their handicap from their total score (gross score) to get their “net score.” The player with the lowest net score wins.

What is the fastest golf format to play?

A Scramble is generally the fastest format for a group, as it requires fewer total shots and less time spent looking for errant balls. For individual play, formats like Stableford can be faster because players can pick up their ball on a hole once they can no longer score any points, which helps improve the overall pace of play.

Final Thoughts on Mastering the Many Variations of Golf

Ultimately, understanding the different types of golf is about more than just knowing the rules; it’s about unlocking more ways to enjoy the game. By moving beyond standard stroke play, you can tailor every round to your group’s specific skill level, competitive desire, and time constraints. A well-chosen format can turn a potentially frustrating day for a beginner friendly group into a fun, team-oriented experience, or add a thrilling competitive edge to a round between friends.

The next time you head to the course, don’t just default to counting strokes. Suggest a match play duel, a team-based best ball game, or a point-hoarding round of Stableford. You now have the knowledge to organize the perfect game for any situation. What new golf format will you try on your next round?

Last update on 2026-03-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API