In bogey and par contests, the scoring is done in the same way that it does in match play. Any hole in which a player does not make a profit is considered a loss. The player who is the most successful in the aggregate of holes is the winner.
Scramble (sometimes known as Texas Scramble or Ambrose Scramble):
On each hole, each player in a team (of two, three, or four players) tees off, and the players vote on whose shot was the greatest. The cycle is then repeated until the hole is completed, with other players picking up their ball and playing their second shot from that position. The lifted balls must fit into the designated spot within one scorecard’s width. The balls must be positioned within one putter head of the marker if on the green. Golf societies are fond of this form of tournament.
An Ambrose is similar to a Scramble, except handicaps are employed in the game, as they are in strokeplay. The adjusted handicap is subtracted from the overall gross score to arrive at the net score. The adjusted or team handicap is derived by multiplying the sum of a team’s handicaps by two times the number of players on the team, for example, 1/8 of the aggregate for a four-person team, 1/6 of the aggregate for a three-person team, and 1/4 of the aggregate for a two-person team.
The Texas Scramble is a variation in which both individual and team performance are rewarded since each team member must use a certain number of drives during the round. If you have a beginner golfer on your team, it would be a good idea to use their drives early in the round to relieve some of the pressure for the rest of the game.
Skins:
This is a type of match play game in which each hole is worth a certain amount of points or money, and you can only win the hole if you win it outright. If more than one player achieves the best score for the hole, the money or points are carried over to the next hole, potentially increasing the value of all consecutive holes. If two or more golfers tie for first place on the final hole, a playoff is played until one golfer wins the hole outright.
After the official PGA Tour season ends in November and December each year, there is an annual skins game for male professional golfers. The competition is limited to only four golfers. The PGA TOUR recognises it, although it is not included in the official money list. Merrill Lynch is the current sponsor, and the game is officially known as the Merrill Lynch Skins Game.
Greensome says:
A Foursome variation in which each team’s two partners each take a tee shot and each team chooses which one they prefer. The player whose ball was not chosen takes the second shot and all subsequent even-numbered strokes on the hole, while the other partner takes all subsequent odd-numbered shots.
Patsome:
The first six holes are played in foursome, followed by six holes in greensome, and finally six holes in foursome. As in Foursome, the final stroke count is calculated.
Chapman:
A Four Ball variation in which each player takes a tee shot and then swaps positions to hit the second ball (each player on the same team hits their teammate’s ball), following which they choose one of the two balls to play for the rest of the hole. The other ball is retrieved. After deciding on the ideal position, the teammates alternate strokes until holing out. Also known as “Pinehurst.”
String:
Each player is given a length of string with which they can improve their terrible lies. The length of the string is determined by the handicap of the player (generally 50cm per handicap point). When in a terrible lie, the player cuts off the length of string equal to the distance they transfer the ball to any new location away from where it had previously come to rest (without penalty). That length of string is no longer available once the ball has been relocated. To conserve as many strokes as possible, each player may utilise his string at any time during the round.
Tournaments with flags:
Each player receives a little flag and a number of strokes equal to par plus two-thirds of his handicap. When the player has used up all of his strokes, he sets his flag where the ball has landed. The player who travels the farthest distance wins.