Stroke play golf: how it works

While there’s no such thing as an ‘average’ round of golf, if you’re just picking up your clubs to head to the golf course for the first time, the chances are you’ll be about to play a round of stroke play golf. But what is that, you might ask?

Stroke play is the scoring system by which professional golf tournaments are judged. For most amateur players, it’s also a great way to keep count of who’s winning and who’s losing when you’re just playing for fun.

Simply put, stroke play golf is all about who completes an entire round in the fewest strokes. While other forms of golf, such as match play, are scored on a hole-by-hole basis, stroke play is all about the bigger picture.

The goal is simple. Complete a round of 18 holes in fewer strokes than your opponent(s). But there are several nuances and caveats that you’ll need to be familiar with before you tee off.

However, part of the beauty of stroke play golf is its simplicity. Everyone can learn how to play and have a good time doing so. After reading this guide, you’ll be well prepared to get out there and play a round.

What is stroke play in golf?

When it comes to stroke play, it really is as simple as completing the round in the fewest number of strokes. This is different from match play golf, where you’re competing with your opponents to win each individual hole. 

Of course, with an emphasis on playing the long game, you’ll have to keep count over the entire round. As a result, it’s best to bring something to write down the number of strokes you’ve used. It’s also a good idea to keep track of both your score and your opponent’s score.

One thing to remember in stroke play is that every single stroke counts towards your final score, even misses and penalty strokes. 

Understanding handicaps in stroke play golf

Another factor to keep in mind is the impact of your handicap. One of the great things about stroke play golf is that golfers of all abilities can play together, but this is facilitated by the inclusion of a handicap when determining a final score.

At the end of each round, your handicap is subtracted from your final score. This means that, in stroke play, there are two different scores: 

• your gross score: your total number of strokes throughout the round
• your net score: your gross score minus your handicap

Because better players have lower handicaps, they’ll get less of a benefit from the reduction of their handicap.

For example, let’s say you’re a beginner with a handicap of 28, and you finish your round with a gross score of 110. That means your net score would end up as 82. Compare that to your more experienced opponent, who may have a handicap of 10 and finished with a gross score of 95, and suddenly their net score is 85. Despite being a less experienced player with a higher handicap, you’ll still have beaten your playing partner’s net score.

This means anyone can play anyone in a game of stroke play golf and still have a chance of winning.

In professional competitions that use stroke play scoring, there’s no net score because handicaps aren’t taken into account; it’s all about the gross score there.

In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker is required. There are various ways you can do this, though. For example, you might compare scores on individual holes or just play another to find a winner. 

Scoring terminology

For each hole, there will be a par. This refers to the number of shots in which you’d be expected to complete the hole. For example, a par-3 hole should be completed in three strokes.

There are other golfing terms you should be familiar with, too:

• Birdie: when you complete a hole in one stroke under par
• Eagle: when you complete a hole in two strokes under par
• Albatross: when you complete a hole in three strokes under par (also known as a double eagle)
• Condor: when you complete a hole in four strokes under par
• Hole-in-One: when you complete a hole in just one stroke (also known as an ace)

On the other hand, shots over par also have their own names:

• Bogey: when you complete a hole in one stroke over par
• Double bogey: when you complete a hole in two strokes over par
• Triple bogey: when you complete a hole in three strokes over par
• Quadruple bogey: when you complete a hole in four strokes over par

Remember, these terms are just used per hole, but they can still be useful to remember even when playing a round of stroke play.

How to play

Stroke play golf isn’t limited to just rounds between individuals. You can also play in team events.

Two of the most common ways of doing this are scramble and best ball.

In a game of scramble, everyone on the team tees off before collectively deciding from where the next shot should be taken.

In best ball, everyone in the team plays their own game, and only the player with the lowest score records it. This way, two players could record very high scores and still do well out of a teammate’s lower score.

Stroke play golf FAQs

What is a penalty stroke?

A penalty stroke is a stroke added to your score if you break the rules. This can include minor infractions, which give a plus one stroke, or more serious breaches, which can result in a plus two. In stroke play, these are included in your final score. 

What is the difference between match play and stroke play?

The fundamental difference between match play and stroke play golf is that your score in match play is determined hole by hole, and at the end of the game, the player who has won the most individual holes wins the round. In stroke play, you add your strokes up throughout the game, and that tally is the number which determines the winner. 

What is the difference between stroke play and Stableford?

Stableford is a form of golf that’s somewhat a combination of match play and stroke play. You’re scored based on your performance at each hole, and then those points are added up at the end of the round.

In Stableford, you win the round by finishing with the most points, not the fewest. If you score four under par, you get six points. If you score three under par, you get five points, etc. and so on. If you score one over par, you get one point, and anything above that you score zero. The game was designed so that players wouldn’t be deterred after one bad hole.

What is the difference between stroke play and medal play?

Medal play is a slight variation of stroke play, and the two are often confused.

In medal play, you’re playing against the course as opposed to an actual opponent. There is a pre-determined score for each course, and your goal is to finish with fewer strokes than that score. The scoring system is the same as stroke play, hence the confusion between the two.

How does stroke play work with handicaps?

There are two ways of scoring a game of stroke play:

• The gross score, whereby the final score is simply the tallied-up number of strokes over the entire round
• The net score, whereby a player's handicap is subtracted from their total number of strokes. The inclusion of a handicap is to ensure players of varying abilities can still play against one another.

In professional tournaments, only the gross score is considered.

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