The Handicap Index has long been used as the great equalizer in golf, allowing seasoned pros and weekend hackers to play together fairly. So why is it that even in net tournaments, players are often separated into flights based on their Handicap Index. The fact is, when it comes to net play, a high handicapper can come out with the game of their life and put up a score that a single-digit handicapper can't touch even on their best day.
So what can you do if every one in your group wants to compete against each other? Thankfully in these situations, stroke play isn't the only way you can keep score. Here are five different games you can play to keep things fair when there's a wide gap in talent in your group:
Photo: GolfLink
This is a favored format of larger groups looking to accommodate players of varying skills without having flights, but can also work for a group of any size. One of the main benefits to this is that it doesn't require players to play any different or alter their approach, but instead alters the scoring versus traditional stroke play.
How it works: Players play each hole individually like they would in stroke play. However, instead of tallying the total number of strokes for the hole, players are awarded points based on their score relative to par. Usually, points are distributed like this:
Why it works: Stableford offers opportunities and benefits to both scratch and high handicap players. Skilled golfers are encouraged to take more chances on the course because the reward of better scores outweighs the limited risk of a bad hole. On the flip side, golfers who are more prone to blow ups won't be done in by one disastrous hole. This also has the added benefit of aiding pace of play, as golfers can simply pick up once they reach double bogey.
One of the classic methods for countering massive skill gaps in golf is to play team formats where skills are balanced out. Most golfers are familiar with scramble or best ball tournaments, so let's discuss a few alternatives here. We'll start with sixes, which offers the best aspects of team games with some added variety.
How it works: This game is scored like standard two-person best ball, except who you're partnered with will change throughout the round. Within your foursome, players will pair up for six holes at a time as follows:
The team that wins each hole earns a point, and the player with the most points at the end of 18 holes wins.
Why it works: Since the teams change throughout the round, it helps maintain competitive balance and increases the variability of who can win any given round. You can also use your Handicap Index in this format, which gives every player an opportunity to feel like they contributed while rewarding play relative to each individual's ability.
Wolf is a similar concept to Sixes, but with even more variability and strategy involved in teaming up.
How it works: Each hole, players rotate who will be the "wolf". The three players who are not the wolf tee off and the wolf gets to select which player they will team up with for that hole based on their tee shot. The caveat here is that the wolf must select if they want to partner with a particular golfer before the next one tees off, meaning that you can't wait until everyone has played before deciding which shot you like best.
Alternatively, you can choose not to take any of the other players and play the hole as a "lone wolf". If you choose to go lone wolf, you'll play solo against a team of the other three in your group.
From that point, every player plays their own ball as usual and the player with the lowest score wins the hole. If the wolf chose a partner, the twosome with the player that scored the best on the hole each earn one point. In a lone wolf scenario, if the lone wolf wins the hole, they're awarded three points. Otherwise, the other three players get one point each. If two players on opposing teams tie the hole, no points are given for that hole.
Why it works: As with Sixes, this format helps eliminate unbalanced teams and gives any player the opportunity to win on any given hole. Playing this game with net scoring can enhance the strategy on how players choose partners and distributes value evenly to all players. The format inherently requires a mix of skill, strategy, and luck, which can keep everyone engaged regardless of their skill or how well they're playing that particular day.
If you haven't caught on to the theme here yet, one of the key parts of making a round fun with a wide range of handicaps is giving everyone the opportunity to score/win at any point. Another way to accomplish this is to take the focus off "traditional" golf scoring all together. Games like Bingo Bango Bongo put an emphasis on how you play the hole instead of how many strokes it takes to finish the hole.
How it works: There are three opportunities for players to score points on each hole:
One point worth making here: since much of the scoring relies on order, it's critical that golfers play their shots in turn (i.e. furthest from the hole). If you're at a busy course and pace of play is an issue, it might be a good idea to pick a game more suited for "ready golf". When you do decide to play Bingo Bango Bongo, make sure that you're ready to hit when it's your turn.
Why it works: With so many chances to score points, this truly can be anyone's game. The purpose of some of the prior games listed was to shift the emphasis off the entire round to just stringing some good holes together. This takes it a step further; all you need to do to score on any given hole is have one or two good shots (and maybe a lucky break).
If you decide that team formats or gimmicky scoring isn't for you, there's nothing wrong with a tried and true classic. What was once used in most major championships before stroke play became the preferred method, match play is arguably sport in its truest form: just you versus your opponent.
How it works: Opponents keep score against each other for each hole. If one player scores better than their opponent, they win the hole and go "1 up". If players have the same score for the hole, the hole is "halved". Play continues for all 18 holes or until one player is up by more holes than there are holes remaining. For example, if Player A is 3 up after 16 holes then the match is over, generally notated as "Player A wins 3&2".
To play a match using handicaps, take the difference of the two players' handicaps and apply that number of strokes to the most difficult holes according to the handicap rating on the scorecard (1 being the toughest, 18 being the easiest). For example, if Player A is 10 handicap and Player B is a 20 handicap, then Player B gets a stroke deducted on the holes rated 1-10 and holes 11-18 are played straight up.
Why it works: As with stableford, the hole-by-hole approach allows for better players to play more aggressively and provides less-skilled players with some forgiveness. Even if you play using handicaps, the higher handicap is only gaining an advantage on the most difficult holes. These holes are either going to be longer or feature serious hazards, which generally plays to the benefit of the more consistent ball-striker so it balances out.
Also, this only requires two golfers so you can play even if you don't have a full foursome. If you do have a foursome (or more), it also allows you to divide the groups into matchups that are more even instead of considering the handicaps of the entire group.
While these are all viable options when dealing with skill gaps, don't forget the most important first step: you've got to keep your Handicap Index. Not only is it a good indicator of where you compare skill-wise to your playing partners, it's the only real way to level the playing field for golfers of all abilities.
Don't have yours yet? Get started here.