Tournament Ideas & Recommendations

Match play is best known for hole-by-hole competition where the golfer who scores best on the individual hole, wins that hole. Instead of going by an entire round basis, you are facing your opponent head-on with this type of tournament.  Can be played Gross and/or Net formats.

This type of competition is the opposite of match play where instead you are competing against the entire 18-hole course. You are playing an entire round against your competitors and trying to beat them by having a better score.  Can be played in Gross and/or Net formats.

In Stableford, players earn points for their score on each hole. The number of points awarded is determined by the player’s score relative to par.

For example:

If a player shoots a birdie (one under par) on a hole, they might earn three points

If they shoot a bogey (one over par), they will lose one point

If they shoot an eagle (two under par), they could earn five points.

At the end of the round, the player with the most points wins the tournament.

Stableford is a great format for players of all skill levels, as it provides an enjoyable and fair way to compete. It is also easy to understand, as points are awarded based on the score relative to par.

If you’re looking for a fun and competitive golf tournament, Stableford is a great option.  Can be played as Gross and/or Net format.

One of the more popular golf formats, scramble is played in teams of either 2,3, or 4. The premise of the game is to choose one best shot from each hole and have every team member play from that spot again. Scramble is also known as Texas Scramble and Florida Scramble.

In a shamble, each team member tees off, and then the team selects the best shot. From there, each player plays his or her own ball for the rest of the hole. The lowest score on each hole is the score that the team uses.

A shamble is a great format for a fun, relaxed round of golf with friends. It levels the playing field a bit and makes it more likely that everyone will have at least a few good shots during the round. And, since it’s based on the low score, it’s still possible to have a competitive round.

So if you’re looking for a format that’s somewhere between a regular game and a scramble, a shamble might be right for you.

Alternate shot is a tournament format in which players on a team take turns hitting the same ball. For example, if Player A hits the ball on the first shot, Player B would hit it on the second shot, and so on until the hole is finished.

Tournament hosts can use this format with teams of two or four players. It is often used in professional tournaments as it tests both teamwork and individual skill.

Alternate shot can be an excellent format for casual players, as it encourages them to work together and strategize. It’s a lot of fun, too, because players must count on their teammates to provide them with a good angle from which to hit their next shot.

If you’re looking for a tournament format that is both challenging and fun, alternate shot is a great option.  Can be played as Gross and/or Net Format.

A skins game is a golf tournament format in which each hole is worth money or “skin.” The value of each skin is usually set by the number of participants in the tournament and the overall prize pool.

For example, in a four-player tournament with a $100 purse, each skin might be worth $25. The winner of each hole gets the skin, and if there’s a tie, the skin carries over to the next hole.

Golfers can play skins games with any number of players.

Skins games are also popular as betting games, with each player typically putting up their own money for the pot. At the end of the round, the player with the most skins wins.

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Can be played as Gross, Net, Combined Pot.  If there is a large field of players with wide array of handicaps, we recommend trying half stroke, net skins with no strokes awarded on Par 3's.  This option seems to work great for high and low handicaps alike.

The Nassau golf tournament format is a three-part competition where the low score on the front nine, the back nine, and the overall 18 holes is the winner. This format gets it's name from the Nassau Country Club on Long Island, NY, one of the first clubs to use it in tournament play.

The Nassau has become a popular choice for casual and serious golfers alike because it provides a fair test of your short and long games. In addition, the Nassau can be adapted to any size group, making it a great choice for both small and large tournaments.

Whether you’re looking for a fun way to compete with your friends or trying to be serious about your game, the Nassau is a great tournament format for you.  Can be played as Gross and/or Net format.

For Uneven Groups or Individuals:  Stroke Play, Stableford, Quota, Skins

For 2 Person Teams:  Best Ball, Match Play, Nassau, Alternate Shot

For large number of players at beginner level:  Scramble, Shamble

For 4 person teams:  Scramble, Shamble, Best Ball where you count 1, 2, 3 or 4 balls - the more balls you count increases the level of difficulty for teams in the field and can also contribute to slower pace, so keep that in mind.

For groups of 8 players:  2 person teams, Best Ball against the field.

Match Play, Nassau formats are best when playing in a bracket type tournament across multiple days, or Ryder Cup format as part of a bigger tournament across multiple rounds.