Golf league formats and points systems
The three formats most weekly leagues play, how points are usually given, and the side games that keep league night fun.
Two-person teams
Each team has an A and a B player: the lower handicap is A that week. A plays the other team's A and B plays their B, each a match of its own, and the team's combined net score plays the other team's.
| Points | Usual |
|---|---|
| Each hole won (net) | 1 (½ each for a halved hole) |
| Lower net total of each match | 1 |
| Lower team net total | 1 |
Over nine holes that is 21 points a week between two teams. A player who can't come either sends a sub or forfeits: their opponent takes the points of that match with a posted card.
Match play
Player against player, the same points for holes and the total. The higher handicap gets the difference in strokes, on the hardest holes by stroke index.
Stableford
Everyone plays the field. Net points per hole: 1 for a net bogey, 2 for net par, 3 for a net birdie, 4 for an eagle. The season table adds the points up, so a missed week costs only that week.
Side games
- Skins: a hole's skin goes to the one player with the lowest score on it, gross or net; tied holes have no skin.
- Closest to the pin on each par 3.
- Low net and low gross of the week.
Nines and schedules
Nine-hole leagues usually alternate the front and back nines week by week. A round-robin schedule has everyone play everyone once, then starts over. Make a round-robin schedule.