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Scoring Formats

tplgolf supports 11 scoring formats. Here's how each one works.

Team Formats

Match Play (Best Ball with Backup)

How it works
Two-person teams. On each hole, both players' net scores are compared. The team with the lower best ball wins the hole. If both teams' best balls tie, the backup (second player) net score breaks the tie. True ties are halved — each team gets half a point.
Standings
Points are accumulated per match. Most points at end of season wins.

Best Ball

How it works
Two-person teams. Lowest net score on each hole counts. If best balls tie, the hole is halved immediately — no backup comparison.
Difference from Match Play
No backup player tiebreaker. Ties are halved outright.

Two-Person Net Aggregate

How it works
Both players' net scores count on every hole. The team with the lower combined net total for the round wins.
When to use
Good for leagues that want both players to matter equally on every hole.

Individual Formats

Individual Match Play

How it works
Head-to-head pairings within each match. Each pairing awards a point to the player who wins more net holes. Ties are possible.
Team scoring
Points from individual pairings add up for the team total.

Stroke Play (Net)

How it works
Lowest net total for the round wins. Full handicap strokes applied by hole based on the course's stroke allocation.
When to use
Traditional tournament-style scoring with handicap adjustment.

Stroke Play (Gross)

How it works
Lowest raw score wins. No handicap strokes applied.
When to use
Scratch leagues or events where you want raw scores only.

Points-Based Formats

Stableford

How it works
Points awarded per hole based on net score relative to par: double bogey or worse = 0, bogey = 1, par = 2, birdie = 3, eagle = 4, albatross = 5. Highest total points wins.
Why players like it
Bad holes don't ruin your round — you just get 0 and move on.

Modified Stableford

How it works
Aggressive weighting that rewards birdies and eagles more while penalizing blowups. Double bogey or worse = -3, bogey = -1, par = 0, birdie = +2, eagle = +5, albatross = +8.
When to use
For groups that want bigger swings and more aggressive play rewarded.

Points Quota

How it works
Each player has a quota target derived from their handicap (36 minus handicap). Points are earned Stableford-style. The team with the highest combined over-quota total wins.
When to use
Levels the field — every player is competing against their own target.

Specialty Formats

Nassau

How it works
Three bets in one round: front nine, back nine, and total 18. Each segment awards one point. A team can win up to 3 points per match.
When to use
Classic format that keeps the match interesting even if the front nine was lopsided.

Skins

How it works
Lowest net score on each hole wins a skin. If two or more players tie for low, the skin carries over to the next hole. Unclaimed skins accumulate until someone wins outright.
When to use
High-stakes, hole-by-hole competition. Great for side games.

Choosing a Format

The most popular format for two-person team leagues is Match Play(Best Ball with Backup). It's the most strategic — both players matter, and the backup tiebreaker prevents excessive halved holes.

For individual-focused leagues, Stableford is forgiving for mixed-handicap groups, while Stroke Play Net is the most traditional.

You can change the scoring format between seasons but not mid-season.