Guide to Calculating Golf Scores Accurately in 2024

15/06-2024, 09:18(GMT+7)

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How to calculate golf scores
An important factor that golfers need to understand when participating in golf is how to calculate scores. Once they have mastered how to calculate scores, golfers will confidently participate in competitions, knowing how to choose the most suitable strategy and playing style to win.


1. Golf Scoring Terms Golfers Need to Know
When starting to play the "aristocratic sport" of golf, in addition to learning the techniques of holding the club and hitting the ball, golfers need to understand the terms in golf.

These terms not only refer to the equipment and positions on the course but also how to score in golf. To preserve the meaning and spirit of this sport, the terms are often kept in English.
How to calculate golf scores

To understand how to calculate scores in golf, you should pocket the terms commonly used in golf scoring with specific meanings as follows:


2. The Most Accurate Way to Calculate Golf Scores
Each golf course has a different design in terms of length, width, location of golf holes and obstacles. Therefore, the general principle for calculating points in golf is to calculate from the position of the player's tee box, so that the ball goes into the hole at the green, then continue to the next hole.
How to calculate golf scores

Currently, there are 3 most accurate ways to calculate golf scores: handicap score, net score and negative stroke score.

2.1. How to calculate handicap score in golf (Handicap)
After finishing a round, the player's total score will be calculated based on the scoring standards. The formula for calculating the total golf score is as follows: Par score2 + Bogey score1 + Double Bogey score*0.

The daily handicap score will be calculated according to the System 36 system, accordingly, the player's daily handicap score will be 36 minus the total score.

For example: If a golfer plays 80 strokes with 6 Par, 9 Bogey, 3 Double Bogey, the total score will be 62 + 91 + 3*0 = 21. The Handicap score will be 36 - 21 = 15.

2.2. How to calculate net points in golf
Net points are an important criterion to decide the winner or loser in the game and to fairly determine the player's level. Net points are calculated by the total number of strokes played minus the daily handicap points.

For example: If the total number of strokes a golfer has played is 80 and the daily handicap point is 15, the net point will be 80 - 15 = 65.

2.3. How to calculate negative stroke points - The easiest way to calculate golf scores
Among the ways to calculate golf scores, calculating negative stroke points is the easiest to understand. Negative strokes are the number of strokes that the player does not use in the total standard number of strokes prescribed by the rules of golf. In many matches, a negative score has a decisive impact on a golfer's victory or defeat. The more negative strokes a player has, the higher their chances of winning. Example of how negative strokes are calculated in golf on a standard 18-hole course: Golfers use a total of 72 strokes, distributed as follows: 4 holes played with 5 strokes per hole 10 holes played with 4 strokes per hole 4 holes played with 3 strokes per hole The difference in the number of strokes per hole between holes is due to the varying distances to the holes. The standard number of clubs is the limited number of clubs that a player is allowed to use on that golf hole.

  • If a player hits the ball into the hole within the correct number of standard clubs, it will be considered a Par golf standard.
  • If a player only uses 2 clubs to get the ball into the hole in a standard 3-club hole, it will be counted as -1 point, called Birdie golf.
  • If a player needs 4 clubs to get the ball into the hole in a standard 3-club hole, it will be counted as +1 point, called Bogey golf.

After completing 18 golf holes, the player adds up the total number of unused standard clubs on each hole to get the negative club score.


3. How to Calculate Golf Scores According to Competition Format
How to calculate golf scores

3.1. Individual Competition In individual golf competition, scoring is done according to three main systems:

  • Stroke Play: The winner is the player who completes the round or entire round with the fewest strokes.
  • Match Play: Players compete to score points on each hole. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins that hole. At the end of the match, the player with the most holes won wins the match. When a player reaches a score equal to the number of holes remaining in the match, this state is called "dormie". Stableford: This scoring system awards points at each hole based on the number of strokes the player has taken relative to the hole's index. Scores are adjusted based on the player's handicap. The winner is the player with the most points. This system assigns 1 point for a Bogey, 2 points for a Par, 3 points for a Birdie, and 4 points for an Eagle. 3.2. Team Competition In team golf, scoring is divided into many different formats:

    • Foursome (Alternate Shot): Two teams will choose stroke play or match play. Each team uses a golf ball, and two players on the team take turns hitting the ball into the holes.
    • Four Ball Better Ball: Two members of each team compete against each other, each using a golf ball. The team will choose the lowest score in the shots to record on the results board. For example, if 4 players have scores of 9, 7, 6, 8, then the best score is 6.
    • Greensome: A variation of Foursome, two teams will choose two people to take the tee shots. The best shot is chosen and the person taking the second shot will continue. Then the two players alternate shots until the hole is completed.
    • Bloodsome: A variation of Greensome, the teams alternate tee shots from the golf tee. The person whose shot was not chosen will continue to take the second tee shot.
    • Scramble: Four members of each team alternate shots from the tee box. The best shot is chosen to mark the position for the next shots. Points are scored using stroke play. Texas Scramble: Similar to Scramble, but requires each team member to hit at least 4 strokes to avoid the situation where the player with the best technique hits the first tee shot. The above is a complete summary of the most accurate and legally compliant golf scoring methods that golfers need to know to easily achieve good results in competitions. The above is a complete summary of the most accurate and legally compliant golf scoring methods that golfers need to know to easily achieve good results in competitions. Contact information for booking a tee time. Contact:

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