Whether you are heading to your first company scramble or wondering what the scoreboard means at a charity tournament, this guide explains every major golf tournament format in plain English — no golf background required.
Everyone hits from the tee. The team picks the best shot location and all players hit their next shot from there. Repeat until holed. Bad shots vanish instantly because teammates bail you out. Typical scramble scores can run 10–20 strokes under par for a good team.
The simplest concept but the least forgiving format. You count every single stroke you take and add them all up at the end. Lowest total wins. This is the format used in virtually every professional tournament (PGA Tour, LPGA, etc.) and is the standard for establishing handicap indexes.
You play against one opponent, hole by hole. Win a hole by taking fewer shots — you go 1 up. Tie a hole — both halve. The match ends when one player leads by more holes than remain (example: 3 and 2 means 3 holes ahead with 2 left to play). A blowup hole is just one hole lost, not a ruined round.
Instead of counting strokes, you earn points on each hole based on how well you play it relative to par. Double bogeys and worse score zero — they cannot drag your total down further. This keeps beginners engaged on every hole rather than mentally quitting after a bad start.
Every player plays their own ball from tee to hole on every shot. At the end of each hole, the team records only the lowest score among them. Unlike a scramble, you never share a ball. Your partners cannot rescue a shot already taken, but a single great performance on any hole wins it for the team.
Each hole is worth one skin (a set dollar or point value). The player who scores lowest on a hole wins that skin outright. If two or more players tie, no one wins the skin — it carries over and the next hole is worth two skins. This creates high-pressure carry-over moments and keeps interest alive all 18 holes.
💡 Quick rule of thumb: If someone invites you to a scramble, say yes — it is the most fun, least stressful format for beginners. If you are playing in a stroke play event, count every shot honestly (including penalty strokes). If you are in a skins game, anything can happen on carry-over holes.
Start with the scramble for your first tournaments. You will hit your own shots, feel the pressure of the tee box, and still see great scores because teammates cover your misses. Once you are comfortable, move to Stableford — it rewards good holes without punishing disasters. Stroke play is the gold standard once you want an honest measure of your game.
Track your game with Chip — free AI caddie →The scramble is the most beginner-friendly tournament format. Every player in the team of 4 hits each shot, the team picks the best ball, and everyone plays from that spot. Weak shots are always saved by a teammate, so beginners can enjoy a round without pressure or high scores.
Stroke play counts every single shot across the full round — lowest total wins. Match play counts holes, not strokes — you win a hole by taking fewer shots on that hole, and the player who wins the most holes wins the match. A terrible single hole can eliminate you in stroke play but only cost you one hole in match play.
A scramble is a team format (usually 2 or 4 players) where everyone tees off, the team selects the best drive, and then everyone plays their next shot from that spot. This repeats until the ball is holed. It is popular for charity and corporate golf events because it keeps pace of play fast and lets beginners contribute.
Instead of counting total strokes, Stableford awards points per hole: 1 point for a bogey, 2 for par, 3 for birdie, 4 for eagle, 0 for double bogey or worse. The highest point total wins. The big advantage: a disaster hole only costs you the points for that hole instead of ruining your entire round score.
A skins game assigns a monetary or point value (a skin) to each hole. The player with the lowest score on that hole wins the skin. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over to the next hole — so the value grows until someone wins a hole outright. It creates big moments of pressure on carry-over holes.
In best ball (also called four-ball), each player plays their own ball the entire hole and the team records the lowest individual score. In a scramble, everyone plays from the same chosen spot on every shot. Best ball rewards individual brilliance; scramble rescues bad shots with teamwork.
Absolutely. Scramble tournaments are designed to include players of all skill levels. Your best drives and solid putts help the team regardless of your handicap. Most charity scrambles, company outings, and club fundraisers use this format precisely because it makes the game fun for everyone.
A handicap is a number that represents how many strokes above par a player typically shoots. In handicap events, weaker players receive stroke allowances so they can compete fairly against better players. For example, a player with a 20 handicap gets to subtract 20 strokes from their total, evening the playing field.
Related guides: Beginner Tips · Rules for Beginners · Handicap Explained · Golf Etiquette