Competions and how they are played... 

Medal - Stroke - The stroke at each hole is recorded on scorecard,  totalled at the end  and the player’s full handicap deducted. The player who completes the stipulated round in the fewest nett strokes is the winner.

Par - After entering the score on the card and applying handicap the result is marked as ‘+’ win, ‘o’ half, or ‘-‘ loss. At the end of the round the plus and minus signs are added and the nett result entered.

Stableford - In a Stableford competition the player takes strokes at holes as in a Par competition using full handicap and scores points on the nett result at each hole. At the end of the round all points scored are added up and the player having the highest points is the winner. In scoring after allowing for handicaps a player who scores par receives 2 points, 1 over par 1 point, 1 under par 3 points, 2 under par 4 points and so on.

Bisque Par - A player uses as many of their handicap strokes as they wish on any hole and score as in a par round.  The player must declare the number of handicap strokes to be used on each hole prior to teeing off the next hole.

Four Ball  Best Ball  - Two players play as partners each taking strokes at holes as in a par competition. If one of the partners wins a hole and the other halves it only the win is counted. If one halves the hole and the other loses it only the half is counted and so on. +, o and – signs are added at the end of the round and recorded as in an ordinary par competition. In a four ball handicap event care must be taken to mark the scores of each player in separate columns headed by the initials of the player.

Four Ball Best Ball Stableford - Played in exactly the same manner as above except that the better ball of the partnership will be credited with points instead of plus, half etc. Played in exactly the same manner as above except that the better ball of the partnership will be credited with points instead of plus, half etc.

Foursome - Teams of two tee off alternate tee and then play alternate shots until the ball is holed out.

Canadian Foursome - Teams of two, both players tee off, the captain chooses the best drive then play alternate shots as in foursome.

American Foursome -  Teams of two, both players tee off then each player playes the others ball once then the captain chooses the best ball which is then played as in a foursome.

Ambrose Competition - Team stroke event, usually played by a team of four or more. Each player plays a tee shot at each hole. The captain then selects the best drive. The other members retrieve their balls and in turn drop within one club length of the selected position and play their second shots. This procedure of selecting the best position continues until a ball is holed. On the green the balls are placed on the selected spot.

African or Multiple Stableford - Teams of two, both play a stableford, at the completion of each hole both stableford points are multiplied to establish a score ie. 2x2=4.  3x1=3.  3x0=0.  3x3=9. 

It is generally accepted when playing stableford or par rounds once the player has had sufficient shots not to be able to score, to speed up play, the ball may be picked up.

For handicapping purposes if this happens a score which attracts zero points should be recorded and ringed.