Tournament Formats & Terminology
ABCD format - refers to a 4-person team grouping (assigned by the tournament committee) where the A player has the lowest handicap in the grouping, while the D player has the highest. There is no set standard for where those handicaps must fall. It will vary from tournament to tournament, and it is up to the committee to establish.
Best Ball - is a format which can be played using 2, 3 or 4 person teams. Each player on the team plays his or her own golf ball throughout the round. On each hole, the low score ("best ball") of the group serves as the team score. Example: A scores 5, B scores 4, C scores 6, D scores 6 - Team Score 4.
Blind Draw - a blind draw (random selection of players) can be used in events to randomly set teams for a competition, or to complete participants on a team that does not have the needed number of players. The Pro Shop may complete the blind draw before, during or after an event is played. Your performance and the luck of the draw will determine your team's result.
Chapman - The "Chapman System" is the name of a 2-person team competition format for golfers where both golfers on the side hit drives, each plays the other's ball for the second shots, the best of the second shots is selected, and from there the two partners play alternate shot into the hole. Chapman is also known as the Pinehurst Systems or American Foursomes.
Gross Score - in the game of golf, refers to the total number of strokes taken during your round of golf plus any penalty strokes. In other words, it is your total score without adjustments: total of all holes scored on your scorecard equals your total gross score for the round.
Match Play - is a competition format in which the round is played head to head with the goal of winning the most individual holes. Example: Player 1 scores 4, Player 2 scores 5 - Player 1 wins the hole. Scoring is kept by comparing only the holes won by each player. If each player has won an equal number of holes, the match is said to be "all square". If Player 1 has won 4 holes and Player 2 has won 3 holes, then Player 1 is said to be "1-up" on Player 2. Player 2 may be refer to be "1-down" on Player 1. If a player's lead exceeds the number of remaining holes left to play, that player wins the match. Example: Final score of 3-up with 2 holes to play (margin of victory at the hole which the match ended)
Net Score - in the game of golf, refers to a golfer's score after handicap strokes have been deducted. In other words, the gross score minus the strokes that his/her course handicap allows to be deducted during the course of that round.
Scramble - is a team format where each player of the group tees off on each hole. The best of the tee shots is then selected and all players play their next shots from that spot. The best second shot is then determined and all players play their third shot from that spot...and so on, until the ball is holed.
Shamble - is a team (usually of 4) format where each player of the group tees off on each hole. The best of the tee shots is then selected and each player plays their next shot from that spot. Each player then continues playing their own ball "as it lies", until the ball is holed.
Stroke Play (Medal Play) - is a competition format in which the total number of strokes taken on each hole of a given round or series of rounds determines a player's final score. The winner is the player who has taken the fewest number of total strokes over the course of the round or rounds.
Ramble - is a 27 hole "Match Play" event. Two-man teams (choose your own teammate) compete in three separate 9-hole matches played within a determined flight (team grouping). Teammate handicaps may not differ by greater than 10 strokes, else adjustments will be made. The winning team of each flight is determined by the total scoring of the three matches.
Ryder Cup - is a season-long scoring event. Anyone who chooses to play in any of the scheduled ABCD events will receive a minimum of 50 points (for each event) just for participating. Additional points are earned based on your level of placement at the conclusion of each event.